P Susheela (80), whose mellifluous songs have enthralled music lovers in all south Indian languages, has been recognised and honoured by the Guinness World Records. The octogenarian playback singer who has sung all kind of songs including romantic, devotional and folk songs has entered the Guinness Book of World Records for recording 17, 695 songs in a career spanning more than six decades.

"Pulapaka Susheela Mohan (born 1935) has reportedly recorded up to 17,695 solo, duet and chorus backed songs in over six Indian languages since the 1960s as verified on 26 January 2016" said the citation of the Guinness World Records. An elated Susheela said her music career began in 1950 and she recorded fer first fim song in 1952 for the Tamil film Pettra Thai.

Susheela has bagged five national awards for the best female playback singer. She was twice honoured for singing in Tamil films (1969 and 1971) while she walked away with the national award three times for singing Telugu songs (1978, 1982 and 1983). Susheela was selected 11 times by the State Governments of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh as the best female playback singer.

"It is a big honour having sung so many thousands of songs. I will sing even now if I get the opportunity," said Susheela when Guinness World Records representatives called on her to present het with the citation. "I am extremely honoured to receive this recognition. This is not the work I did in one hour or 24 hours. This is the reward for my five-decade long career," said the versatile singer whose numbers of the 1960s and 1970s vintage still retain the freshness and charm.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, busy with election related works found time to greet the play back singer. "I feel very happy that you have sung not only for me, but also for my mother. Many films have received the much needed attention due to your wonderful voice," Jayalalithaa said in a message to Susheela. Interestingly, Susheela’s song Chittukkuruvikkenna Kattappadu for the film Savaale Samali (1971) was immortalised by Jayalalithaa, for whom the song was rendered. Old timers still remember the days when traffic came to a grinding halt in Tamil Nadu roads when the song was aired through radio or public address system.

The Guinness World Records had featured Asha Bhosle in 2011 for 11,000 solos, duets, chorus supported songs.