In addition, she recorded thousands of devotionals and private albums and also participated in numerous solo concerts in India and abroad.

[6][7] Renowned for her vocal range and easy adaptability to any difficult composition, Vani has often been the choice for several composers across India from the 1970s until the late 1990s.

Her parents, Duraisamy Iyer and Padmavathi, trained under Ranga Ramunaja Iyengar and enrolled her in his classes, where he taught her a few Muthuswami Dikshitar kritis.

Knowing her singing skills, Jairam persuaded Vani to get trained in the Hindustani classical music and she enrolled under Ustad Abdul Rehman Khan of the Patiala gharana.

[22] When Vani was in Madras (now Chennai) for two music concerts at a Bhajan Sammelan, Viswanathan, who was the chief guest, was impressed by her performance and gave her the opportunity to sing the song.

The songs "Ezhu Swarangalukkul" and "Kelviyin Nayagane" made her popularity soar to heights and she became known as the singer who would always get selected to sing difficult compositions.

She was flooded with singing offers from all the top-rated music composers, including M. S. Viswanathan, Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan, Sankar Ganesh, V. Kumar, K. V. Mahadevan, G. K. Venkatesh and Vijaya Bhaskar.

With Ilaiyaraaja, Vani went on to record many popular songs in the 1980s for the films such as Mullum Malarum (1978), Rosappo Ravikaikaari (1979), Anbulla Rajinikanth (1984), Nooravathu Naal (1984), Vaidehi Kathirunthal (1984), Oru Kaidhiyin Diary (1985) and Punnagai Mannan (1986).

The first Ghazal type song in tamil movies was "Megame magame" written by vairamuthu was sung by Vani jayaram.

Vani's good professional association with Vasant Desai resulted in her breakthrough with the film Guddi (1971) directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

[25] She toured the entire Maharashtra state, accompanying her mentor, Desai, and taught many Marathi songs to school children.

Jairam went on to sing a few songs each for music directors of Hindi cinema, which remain popular, including the Chitragupta song, classical Naushad compositions More Saajan Souten Ghar from Pakeezah (1972) and Dulhan Badi Jadugarni, a duet with Asha Bhosle in Aaina (1977), Madan Mohan composition Pyar Kabhi Kam Na Karna Sanam, a duet with Kishore Kumar in the film Ek Mutthi Aasmaan (1973), R. D. Burman song Zindagi Mein Aap Aaye, a duet with Mukesh in Chhalia (1973), Shyamji Ghanshyamji composition Teri Jheel Si Gehri from film Dhuan Ki Lakeer, a duet with Nitin Mukesh, and the solo song Aa Balam composed by Kalyanji-Anandji in the film Dharm Aur Qanoon.

The song "Mere To Giridhar Gopal" in Meera (1979), composed by Pandit Ravi Shankar, won her first Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer.

Vani Jairam made her Malayalam debut in 1973 by recording the solo song "Sourayudhathil Vidarnnoru" composed by Salil Chowdhary for the film Swapnam.

Vani collaborated with all the popular Malayalam composers such as M. K. Arjunan, G. Devarajan, M. S. Viswanathan, R. K. Shekhar, V. Dakshinamoorthy, M. S. Baburaj, Shyam, A. T. Ummer, M. B. Sreenivasan, K. Raghavan, Jerry Amaldev, Kannur Rajan, Johnson, Raveendran and Ilaiyaraaja.

Her rendition of the song "Aashada Maasam", composed by R. K. Shekhar for the film Yudhabhoomi (1976) met with wide appreciation and further increased her popularity.

In 1981, she sang "Kanana Poikayil Kalabham" along with K. J. Yesudas in the composition of M. K. Arjunan for the film Ariyapedatha Rahasyam directed by P. Venu.

Some of Vani's Malayalam songs including "Olanjali Kuruvi", "Pookkal Panineer", "Etho janma kalpanayil", "Poo kondu poo moodi" (Palangal), "Manjil chekkerum" (Raktham), "Onnanam Kunninmel" (Airhostess), "nanam nin kannil" (kelkatha sabdham),"Manju pozhiyunnu" (Uthradarathri) "Thiruvonapularithan" (Thiruvonam), "Dhoomthana" (Thomasleeha), "Seemantha Rekhayil" (Aasheervaadam), "Naadan Paatile", "manjani kombil", "Nimishangal", "Thedi Thedi", "Moodal Manjumai Yamini", "Ee Raagadeepam", "Mandhaarapoo", "Taarake", "Hrudayathin Madhura", "Neelambarathile", "Navaneetha Chandrike", "Oru Raaga Nimishatil", "Thechi Pootha", "Yamini Nin Choodayil" amongst others are widely popular and considered among the best hits.

After Vijaya Bhaskar gave her a career break, she was employed immediately by top-running composers such as G. K. Venkatesh, M. Ranga Rao, Rajan–Nagendra, Satyam, Upendra Kumar, T. G. Lingappa, L. Vaidyanathan and Hamsalekha.

The combination of Puttanna Kanagal (director) - Vijaya Bhaskar - Vani Jairam produced many popular songs backed by strong female-centric themes.

Some of her most memorable songs include "Ee Shatamanada Madari Hennu", "Besuge Besuge", "Belli Modave Elli Oduve", "Jeevana Sanjeevana", "Deva Mandiradalli", "Haadu Haleyadaadarenu", "Kannada Naadina Karavali", "Priyathama Karuneya Thoreya", "Sada Kannali Pranayada", "Endendu Ninnanu Marethu", "Hodeya Doora O Jothegara".

Some of her works in Odia cinema include mega hits like "Chhota E Ghara E Sansara" in Krushna Sudama (1975)," Mukunda Murari Hey Chakradhari"and "Jogire Khoju Kahin" in Mukti (1977),"Keun Nama Dhari" ,"Tuma Sadhira Ranga" and "Adine Malli Mahaka" in Sindura Bindu (1976)," Megha Barasila Tupuru Tupuru" and "Hayere Haye Garaje Megha" in Sesha Shrabana (1976), "Maa Go Mamatamayee Mata" and"Na Jaa Sajani" in Bandhu Mohanty (1977), "Mo Bhaina Bhaina" in Punarmilan (1977), "Ei Gaanra Maudamani", "Paichhi E Jibane" and "Ki Sundara Aha Ki Anandamaya" in Gouri (1978), "Aahe Dayamaya Biswa Bihari" ,"Holi Holi Re Holi " and "Chikilika Bambalika" in Balidana (1978),"Bhagya Mora Sate Ki", "Ei Jhiatira Pada Talamala" ,"Kuhu Kuhu Bane Kuhu "and "Hey Nagadeva" in Sati Anasuya (1978)," Aliali Kain Sunagori" and "Pirati Chori Chori" in Jay Maa Mangala (1980),"Dhali Dia Saraa" and Jhuli Jhuli Khele Doli" in Tapasya(1980), "Akhila Brahmanda Pati" and "Mo Manara Chadhei" in Ram Balaram (1980), "Aaha Sita" in Ramayan (1980), "Jhumi Jhumi Nupura Baje" in Hira Moti Manika (1980), "Nadire Nadire" ,"Tui Malmali" ,"Emiti Bi Nadi Achhi" and" Hip Hip Hurray Gadi Jae Gadire" in Pooja (1981), "Aha Ki Badhia" in Alibha Daga (1980).

Her other films include Patipatni(1978), Pipasa(1978), Sita LavaKusha(1981), Debjani(1981) Astaraga (1982), Pratidhwani (1984), Para Jhia Ghara Bhangena (1985),Palataka(1985),Gruhalaxmi(1986) etc.

She also recorded "Gita Govindam" composed by Prafulla Kar with Odissi Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra playing the Pakhawaj.

Her mother-in-law, Padma Swaminathan, a social activist and Carnatic music singer, was the last surviving daughter of F. G. Natesa Iyer.

Similarly, In Tamil her first song with msv 'malligai en mannan mayangum',in Malayalam 'Sourayudhathil' followed by Telugu,Kannada,Odia,Gujarati all became very big numbers.

[35] She is always opted specially for any kind of difficult compositions, some examples are "aanathineeyara" from Swathi Kiranam,"brochevarevarura"from Sankarabharanam, "yezhu Swarangalukkul" and "Kelviyin nayagane" from Apoorva Ragangal, "Kavithai kelungal","kanchi kamachi" etc.