Playback Singer | Carnatic Musician
A timeless voice shaped by classical music, celebrated in cinema, and carried forward by devotion.
A timeless voice shaped by classical music, celebrated in cinema, and carried forward by devotion.
Sunanda is a classically trained vocalist and celebrated Indian playback singer whose sweet, soulful voice has graced some of the most iconic soundtracks in Tamil and Hindi cinema. Known for her range, voice clarity and impeccable control, her songs continue to resonate with audiences across generations.
Born in Calicut, Kerala, into a musically inclined family, Sunanda was immersed in the world of Carnatic music from a very young age. She absorbed the art form by listening in on her elder brothers’ lessons, and began formal training at the age of five under various gurus such as Kunhirama Bhagavathar, Tulasi Teacher and Raja Rao Master. She won the first prize in the Kerala State Youth Festival for Light Music when she was just 10 years old and completed her arangetram in Carnatic music at the age of 12 at the Poornatrayeesa temple in Tripunithura, Kerala. Her musical journey continued with accolades at competitions organized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, as well as inter-university and all-India level contests during her school and college years.
After moving to Chennai in 1983, Sunanda pursued a degree in Music at Queen Mary’s College, where she was awarded the prestigious National Scholarship for Music twice by the Government of India. During this time, she studied under Sangita Kalanidhi Sri T.M. Thyagarajan, and began giving kutcheris.
Sunanda was fortunate to get her first playback singing offer (Kadhal Mayakkam) from Isaignani Thiru Ilaiyaraaja for AVM Productions’ film Pudhumai Penn, directed by Thiru Bharatiraja. From there, Sunanda’s voice became a staple in Tamil cinema through beloved songs like:
🎵 Shenbagame Shenbagame (Enga Ooru Paattukkaran)
🎵 Mannavaa Mannavaa (Walter Vetrivel)
🎵 Poove Sempoove (Solla Thudikuthu Manasu)
Over the years, she has collaborated with musical legends such as Ilaiyaraaja, M.S. Viswanathan, A.R. Rahman, L. Vaidyanathan, V. Dakshinamoorthy, S.A. Rajkumar among others, and ventured into Hindi cinema with Nadeem-Shravan.
Sunanda's voice is instantly recognisable - warm, powerful, and timeless. Her songs continue to feature in fan playlists, nostalgic compilations, and reuploads across platforms like YouTube and Spotify. She's worked on devotional music albums and live performances, and gives kutcheris during the Madras Margazhi festivals.
Whether it's performing, teaching, or exploring new artistic paths, Sunanda continues to discover fresh ways to immerse herself in musical journeys with the same devotion and joy that has always defined her.
For enquiries, collaborations, or messages - please get in touch via email
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