Top 10 Best South Indian Singers
South Indian music has some of the most talented and beloved singers out there, and this list is all about celebrating their contributions. From classical Carnatic music to foot-tapping film soundtracks, these singers have brought emotion and energy to every note they hit. Whether you've been a lifelong fan or just started exploring the rich world of South Indian music, you're bound to recognize a few legends here and discover some new favorites too.
Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra, often credited as K. S. Chithra or simply Chithra, is an Indian playback singer from Kerala. She also sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. K.S. Chithra crosses genres from classical to musical theatre to pop and beyond. Chithra is undoubtedly the greatest singer of all time. Her voice is so diverse! The ultimate Angel of Music! Chithra's vocal tone is unrivaled in beauty. Her passionate and insightful interpretations in all types of music, including classical, jazz, musicals, folk, pop, and classical crossover, transport the listener into a dreamscape of intoxicating beauty and have won her the most devoted fanbase imaginable.
She is officially the biggest-selling soprano in human history and beloved by those whose hearts are ravished by the unique voice of the Angel of Music. Chithra is the number one singer of all time. The rest aren't fit to lace her boots. She has the most beautiful voice in the whole world! I have never in my life heard a voice as wonderful as hers.
How many singers can boast a three-decade career that's still going strong and can sing anything from classical to musical theatre to pop with ease? Chithra is a great inspiration.
Chithra's voice is unrivaled by anyone in history, the present day, or the future. Her indescribable beauty accompanies her vocal range and musical adaptations with pristine greatness. Many people look up to her for inspiration, and her voice eliminates the stress and frustration in their lives.
The Angel of Music is real, and she is here on Earth, treating us with her divine presence from Heaven. A famous comedian once said, "This man has 'NO PEER'" (referring to Fred Astaire). Well, this applies to K.S. Chithra. Her voice can lift you up to the heavens and beyond.
Fantastic, adaptable voice - like no one else! Yes, very intriguing, so breathy, yet with such expressiveness. She sounds like an angel. She is the greatest singer ever, as she is so versatile and puts so much passion and emotion into her songs! Love you, Chithra! She is the best! Wonderful performance.
You can never compare Chithra to anyone else! To... more
The celestial singer Yesudas is the greatest singer. Yesudas is the God of Music. He has the voice of God.
Although a Carnatic music expert, Yesudas is the only male singer who has completed 50 years in playback singing successfully in India.
Divine voice, melodious singing, deep knowledge, humble and down-to-earth. Yesudas is one of the best.
Other greats like Mohd. Rafi, Kishore Kumar, and SP Balasubramanyam are also as great as Yesudas, but no one has such a superior voice.
No words to describe his voice. Excellent voice. It just seems like honey flowing in our ears when he sings. So melodious, so wonderful.
Janaki is the best singer I have ever seen. Her voice modulation abilities, expressions, dynamics, fluency in language and notes, breath control, and clear bass voice are proof. She is the only singer who can sing all types of songs. She respects co-singers. All music directors composed different complex notes for her. Her uniqueness towards her work is unbeatable.
In duets, she often sings better than her co-singers. There are no arguments. She is the best. Unbeatable too.
She is the most versatile singer India has ever produced. She can sing for any age group. Melodies, club songs, light music, pathos, semi-classical, folk songs, disco, devotionals, lullabies, and many more. She does perfect justice to any genre of song. Lataji and Susheelaji are all good, but they cannot sing all varieties of songs.
One more important ability of Janakiamma is her breath control. Just listen to this Kannada song Omme Ninnanu Kanthumba. Any other singers would take breath many times to sing the paragraphs. S. Janaki is the top female singer in Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, and Telugu.
Hariharan is an Indian playback singer who has sung for Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Gujarati and Rajasthani films, an established and foremost ghazal singer and composer, and one of the pioneers of Indian fusion music . In 2004, he was honoured with the Padma... read more He is a versatile genius. He dominated South India from 1995 to 2005. During this period, he sang a maximum number of super hit songs in every genre. After 2005, the mentality of listeners totally changed. No dominant singer has emerged. Most songs have been recorded by various new singers. Nowadays, the voice of the singer is not considered very much. Anyone can sing any song. Lyrics have become the major factor in determining whether a song is a hit or not.
He is the most versatile singer. He has been an unbreakable singer not only in South India but also in North India. His voice and singing styles are very unique. He brings songs to the top level with his soulful renditions.
Recently, he doesn't sing too many songs. But whatever songs he sings are magical and soothing to music lovers. We are awaiting to hear more songs from Hariji's voice.
Balu! What to say about this legend? He has a completely unique voice which we all want to imitate. So sweet and expressive. There's no doubt in saying that he is the only one who gives the right amount of expression to a song. He completely justifies the song and makes us laugh, feel happy, cry, feel romantic, and everything else with his voice.
Just an excellent singer and has great regard for his language. I think no one can sing as expressively as him. When he sings a duet, his voice completely dominates the female. He sings that expressively.
But, I personally feel the great legend K.S. Chitra is the only one who can compete with him. They have recorded the maximum number of duets together, but it is practically impossible to compete with that expressive voice.
Shreya Ghoshal is an Indian playback singer. She has received twelve National Film Awards, twenty Filmfare Awards and eight Filmfare Awards South to date. I just love her voice. I am reminded of Swarnalatha's voice. In my opinion, she is an amazing singer.
I wish that in the next generation she would be born as my sister. Sis, you rock every time!
I don't know how to express my love for her voice. She is the best singer with a saccharine voice. She has sung in almost 17 languages with perfect diction.
I like all her Malayalam songs, but I don't know Malayalam.
Shreya is the best singer in the world, and my best wishes are always with her. Shreya, just rock the world.
He is overlooked by the rest of the Indian community, but his songs are at least known to Kannadigas.
A very good singer in India. His songs are very nice.
Superb voice and the best singer in India.
Oh, what a sweet voice! What sweet singing and expression! What wisdom! She is the melody queen, not only of India but of the whole world.
However, only South Indians are lucky enough to hear her. Pity for the others!
The best female singer ever! Unique voice! Versatile singing. She is the best.
The only singer to rule first in all South Indian cinema industries. Greatest and fit to occupy the first position.
He is the greatest ever playback singer born - a versatile music director and playback singer. Whatever he sang was just perfect. His voice had good depth and a range extending to three octaves. He ruled the film industry for nearly three decades without any competition, thanks to his genius skills and melodious voice.
He passed away in 1974 but still enjoys huge popularity. Many of his statues have been installed in Andhra Pradesh. No other cine singer enjoys such popularity 37 years after passing away.
She is a versatile singer and has perfect diction.
Just great. Nothing short of the greatest!
She is the best singer for Carnatic classical songs. No one can beat her in classical. She is undoubtedly number one in this genre.
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He has the most melting voice ever. Whenever I hear his voice, I am completely melted.
Great singer who was able to inspire and connect the youth with traditional folk songs.
Her voice most suits that of the legendary versatile singer Hariharan. This combination has been producing the greatest duet songs for the last 21 years consecutively. This is the best duet combination ever.
All the songs have proven to be super hits. They create magic!
She is the only North Indian singer who has received a National Award for a Tamil song. She dominated South India from the late '90s to the mid-2000s.
Her voice is so sweet.
She is one of the Melody Queens. All of her songs are super hits.
A superb singer. He sang the song without hurting words.
He is able to sing melodiously both in high and low pitches. Further, his pronunciation is also too good.
My favorite singer. He touches my heart. I am flying in the sky.
A distinct voice. His command over the language is too good. With Ilayaraja's music, his songs are evergreen.
Great voice in India. Magical voice.
P. Jayachandran is the one and only evergreen voice of music. In 2016, he sang many songs for movies featuring younger actors, such as "Podimeesa Mulakkanakalam" and "Mannappam Chuttu." Now, at 73, his voice and spirit are as vibrant as a 17-year-old's. He has produced countless hits, including "Manjalayil," "Rajeeva Nayane," "Sharadindu Malar," "Sisirakala," "Prayam Thammil," "Neeyoru Puzhayayi," "Kallayi Kadavathe," "Premikkumbol," "Olanjalikkuruvi," "Sharadambaram," "Malarvaka Kambathu," "Ente Janalarikil," "Podimeesa," and "Valmunakkannile" (Malayalam songs).
In Tamil, he has sung songs like "Rasathi Unna," "Indraikku Ean," "Kathirunth Kathirunth," "Kadhal Vennila," "Manjolaikili Thano," "Oru Vanavil Pole," "Azhakaka Sirithathu," "Semmeene Semmeene," "Kathazham Kattu Vazhi," "Oru Deivam Thantha Poove," "Ithu Kadhalin," "Kodiyile Malligai Poo," "Oru Kolaikili," "Poovanathil Maram Undu," and "Sollamale Yaar Parthath." He also sang "Olavina Odugora" (Kannada).
He has even sung Hindi songs. You must listen to "Milo Waha" from the film Ada: A Way of Life, a duet with Alka Yagnik. His rendition of that song is flawless.
Jayachandran didn't receive as many opportunities as his talent deserved, and he did not seek out awards, which is why he has only won a few despite his exceptional skill. He is also known as Bhavagayagan (Singer of Feelings) and Devagayakan (God of Music). A key point to note is that even at the age of 73, he sings with the voice and energy of a 17-year-old.
Any type of song is fully safe in the hands of TMS. The most versatile singer in India, he excelled in pure Carnatic, semi-classical, emotional, melancholy, romantic, peppy, comical, melody, and more.
He had a unique voice adaptable to any genre. He should be the number one top singer in Asia. The BBC Radio Director commented that he was Asia's number one singer.
The only Tamil-born legendary singer to have such a versatile and 'electronic' voice. Even popular Bollywood playback singers Mr. Mohammed Rafi and Mrs. Lata Mangeshkar knew him.
It is noted that Mr. Rafi was an ardent fan of Mr. Soundararajan when he sang at a function in North India.
She has a very sweet voice. She is undoubtedly the best from 1990 to 2010 in Tamil, Malayalam, and Telugu. She has also recorded many songs in Hindi films. Great singer.
Sujatha needs to be in the top 10. She is one of the greatest playback singers in South India.
Sujatha completed more than 35 years in her career. Hats off.
She has a very sweet voice. She is undoubtedly the best, only second to K. S. Chithra in the '90s and 2000s in Tamil, Malayalam, and Telugu.
She has recorded more songs than any other singer except K. S. Chithra in these three languages.
She is a very beautiful singer. She has a very sweet voice and is a great singer also. Sujatha needs to be in the top 10.
She is the only woman who can flawlessly sing Carnatic songs, I guess. I feel like I'm melting somewhere while listening to her. Thank you.
Her voice is superb, equal to Harini's. She is superb in singing, her voice resembling that of a cuckoo. May she be successful in this generation and the next. Continue to rock, Saindhavi.
Congratulations on becoming a great and the best ever playback singer. Regards, your lovely fans.
Saindhavi has a lovely voice!
So many youngsters sing to emulate the voices of famous singers, but no one has been able to touch L. R. Eswari's voice till now.
I pray to God for her long life.
An awesome singer from old songs to the latest songs. She maintains her voice even at an older age.
She is just a queen of voice, and we thank her for the most amazing songs delivered to us.
Also, thanks to Mr. A. R. Rahman for introducing her to the industry at the age of 13.
He maintains a diverse repertoire including old songs, rock songs, devotional songs, and various other types. Rajesh sir's voice is equal to SPB sir's voice.
He has completed 27 years in the industry and celebrates the silver jubilee. Another name for him is the MELODY KING.
Rajesh Krishnan sir is an excellent singer and the melody king of Karnataka.
A good singer in South India. Melody king.
She is my soul, unique, no one like her. Such a great singer. She is really unique with her divine voice. Swarnalatha's voice was a fresh feeling to most of us. I really miss you. Whenever I think of you, I feel like crying. I hope you may physically live somewhere in the world, and virtually you live in our hearts.
I can't digest it. Swarnam is nothing but gold. Her golden voice lives as long as Tamil lives. She has not passed away. She lives forever in the hearts of people like me. I love her and her voice. I salute her for her service to Tamil. Why did God fail to save her? Is there no God?
She is a very talented singer in the Tamil industry. Recently, in the film Kochadaiiyaan, she sang the song Idhayam outstandingly. Other singers try to reach Chinmayi's level, but no one can achieve such high portions with the same feel and tempo. Thanks to AR Rahman sir for introducing such a multi-talented singer to the industry.
Joseph Vijay, better known mononymously as Vijay, is an Indian film actor and playback singer who works in Tamil cinema and his films dubbed into Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Mandarin Chinese. He is one of the highest paid actors in Tamil cinema. He is as cute and talented a singer as he is an actor. I like his voice too much. He should be in the top 10 list.
A wonderful singer. No words to describe his talents.
Cute Vijay Anna. Your voice and Rashi Khanna's voice are cute and the best.