Kerala Insider’s 15 Most Influential Singers

With the Malayalam Music Industry making waves of its own, there are numerous names appearing on our playlists day by day. Though times have changed and the industry is revolving every now and then, there is still a never ending list of good songs to listen to from God’s Own Country. Some names can never be erased from memory when it comes to music in Malayalam. From the evergreen Dasettan and Chithra chechi to the very recent members of the squad, listeners are blessed with a lot of good music. There has been a fair share of experiments with the music in Kerala and it has always been appreciated and accepted by its listeners. Kerala Insider has put together a list of some of the most prominent musicians that come to mind when you think of Malayalam music.

K J Yesudas

K J Yesudas needs no introduction. Songs sung by him are evergreen and we find him in most of our playlists. His influence on Indian music is huge and his impact on malayalis even more so. Dasettan is a record eight time National Film Award winning Indian Musician and Playback Singer. When you think of the malayalam music industry, he is considered the King. Yesudas is regarded as one of the Greatest Indian Singers to ever live!

K S Chitra

K S Chithra is a name recognized and loved by music lovers all over India. She is a winner of six National Film Awards and she has recorded over 25,000 songs during her career. K S Chithra was honored with the Padma Shri in 2005, which is only one among her countless other recognitions and accolades. She has a lovable personality and is loved by numerous people for her music as well as who she is as a person.

Sujatha Mohan

Sujatha is yet another name in the music industry that is loved and celebrated. She is now popularly seen as a judge in the TV Show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee Keralam. Sujatha has won the Kerala State Film Awards for Best Female Playback Singer three times. She has sung songs in many languages but is most recognized for her contribution to Malayalam and Tamil music.

M G Sreekumar

M G Sreekumar is a singer as well as a music director. He is one of the faces that constatly appear on Malayalam television. M G Sreekumar has sung over 4000 songs in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telegu and Hindi. He debuted in 1983 with the Malayalam movie Coolie. M G Sreekumar has won two National Film Awards and three Kerala State Film Awards.

Vijay Yesudas

Like father like son. Vijay Yesudas is following his father’s foot steps when it comes to music. He began his career in 2000 and has made his mark with time. Vijay has sung over 300 songs and is recognized for his music in the South Indian Film Industry. Vijay also tries his hand at acting occasionally. In his career of 20 years, he has already won three Kerala State Film Awards for Best Singer. Vijay is known most popularly for the song Malare which he sung for the movie Premam.

Vineeth Sreenivasan

This young man has tried his hands at singing, acting, directing, screenwriting, producing and what not. He is incredibly talented and is a very lively personality. Vineeth made his debut in 2003 singing the song Kasavinte Thattamittu which was very popular and is played on the radio often even now. He recently sung multiple songs in the movie Varane Avashyamund (2020). Vineeth is one of those voices that is easily recognized by Malayalam music listeners.

Sithara

Sithara Krishnakumar is a playback singer that is also well known for her expertise as a ghazal singer. She is trained in Hindustani and Carnatic classical musical traditions. Sithara has won two Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer among several other awards. She has sung numerous songs in 2019, one of the most popular being Nee mukilo.. from the movie Uyare.

Rimi Tomy

Rimi Tomy is a playback singer that is know for her bubbly nature and incredible energetic stage performances. She began her career anchoring music programs and later sang the song Chingamasam in the movie Meesa Madhavan, which was her debut. Rimi anchors TV shows and is also seen as a judge in many music and comedy programs.

Jyotsna

Jyotsna Radhakrishnan is a Malayalam playback singer that rose to fame after her song Karuppinazhuku in 2003. She has sung in around 130 movies. She sings in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu. Jyotsna is loved by her listeners and she is seen frequently at stage shows.

Swetha Mohan

Swetha Mohan is the daughter of Sujatha Mohan, a celebrated singer in the Malayalam music industry. She has won the Kerala State Film Award in 2007 and the Tamil Nadu State Film State Award in 2011. Swetha has sung songs in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu. She is a favorite to many people and listeners look forward to her songs and performances.

Anna Katharina Valayil

Anna is an independent music artist as well as a playback singer in the Indian music industry. She garnered attention after her song Appangel Embaddum for the movie Usthad Hotel. Anna is an Electro Pop/ Afro Funk Artist from Kerala. Anna is also known as Tribemama. She is known for writing her own lyrics which stay true to her feelings and emotions.

Neha S Nair

Neha Nair is yet another playback singer and composer that is making rounds in the Malayalam music industry. She rose to popularity after her song Premikkumbol Neeyum Njnnum in the movie Salt n Pepper. She recently sung songs in the movies Ishq and Trance. Neha also appears as a guest singer with the band Avial.

Amrutha Suresh

Amrutha Suresh rose to fame after her participation in the reality show Idea Star Singer in 2007. She is a playback singer, composer and songwriter. She founded the band Amrutam Gamay in which her sister and her are lead vocalists. Amrutha sang the song Alhamdulillah in the recent movie Sufiyum Sujathayum. She also sang the popular song Minni Minni from the movie June.

Najim Arshad

Najim Arshad is another playback singer who rose to fame after winning the reality show Idea Star Singer in 2007. He works in Malayalam and Tamil music industries predominantly. He recently sang a song for the movie Oru Yamandan PremaKadha. Najim debuted as a playback singer with the song Mizhineer in 2007 after which he has delivered several hits to his listeners.

Anne Amie

Ann Amie kickstarted her career with the song Ethu Meghamari, after which she has delivered multiple songs to her audience. She sang one of the most celebrated songs of 2019 Uyiril Thodum for the movie Kumbalangi Nights. Ann also sang songs for the movie 9, June and Koode. She is one of those artists that has contributed some great hits to Malayalam music in recent times.

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