Kerala music has a complex history distinct from Malayalam poetry, with which it is often associated. Though it is often driven by poetry, Kerala also has its roots in Carnatic music. Songs have always been a significant part of early Malayalam literature dating back to the 9th century CE. The significance of music in Kerala's culture can be deduced from the musical poetry that developed in the Malayalam language long before prose. As music evolved in the region, various branches emerged from it
Pulapaka Suseela is an Indian playback singer from Andhra Pradesh associated with the South Indian cinema for over six decades and is referred to as the "Evergreen Nightingale of Indian cinema". She is one of the greatest and best-known playback singers in India. She has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as well as by the Asia Book of Records for performing a record number of songs in different Indian languages. She is also the recipient of five National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer and numerous state awards. Susheela is widely acclaimed as a singer who defined feminism in South Indian cinema and is well known for her mellifluous vocal performances for over 50,000 film and devotional songs across South Indian languages.
Sujatha Mohan is an Indian playback singer who is popular for singing in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu movies. She has also sung for Kannada, Badaga, Hindi and Marathi and more languages movies. As of 2021, she had recorded more than 18,000 songs. She is celebrated as the Melody Queen of South India, she is known by various affectionate titles: Bhava Gayika in Kerala, and Innisai Kuyil in Tamil Nadu. She was affectionately known as "Kavikkuyil Sujatha" in Ceylon due to her association with the hit song from the movie Kavikkuyil. She is also known for her extensive history of collaboration with music composers like A. R. Rahman, Ilaiyaraja, M. M. Keeravani, Koti, Vidyasagar, Mani Sharma, and with the playback singers K. J. Yesudas and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, over the years. Her husky voice and versatile singing style have garnered her a massive fan base.
Star Singer is an Indian music reality television competition, broadcast on Asianet and the show, which selected contestants in the age group of 15–35 years compete based on their skill in singing and entertainment. From season 1 to 7, text messages were sent by the shows' audience to vote for the best-performing participant and a small weightage of this score was considered for a candidate to be shortlisted to next round. From Season 8, voting was conducted on Disney+ Hotstar, Star Network's official OTT platform.The show also features a panel of judges who are prominent personalities in the Malayalam music industry who offer scores and evaluations of performance to the contestants in every stage of the competition. In 2009, Star Singer Junior was launched.
Rekhitha R. Kurup, better known by her stage name Bhamaa, is an Indian former actress who predominantly appeared in Malayalam and Kannada-language films. She made her cinematic debut in 2007 with the Malayalam film Nivedyam, directed by A. K. Lohithadas and had acted in over 41 films.
Javed Ali is an Indian playback singer who predominantly sings in Hindi. He has also sung in various Indian languages including Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, Odia, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.
Pappayude Swantham Appoos is a 1992 Indian Malayalam-language film, written and directed by Fazil.It stars Mammootty and Master Badusha while Shobana, Suresh Gopi and Seena Dadi also appeared in important supporting roles. The music of the movie was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.The movie explores the relationship between a father who is depressed after the death of his wife and his neglected son. Badusha won the 1992 Kerala State Film Award for Best Child Artist. The film was the commercial success at the box office and was the one of the highest grosser of 1992 and played for more than 200days in theatre.
Suchitra Ramadurai, known mononymously as Suchitra, is an Indian radio jockey, popular playback singer, songwriter, composer, voice artist, dubbing artist and film actress. She has sung in multiple languages including Tamil, Malayalam, and Telugu.
K. G. Markose is an Indian playback singer from Kerala. Markose, who is popular for rendering numerous Christian devotional songs, has also sung over 100 film songs during the years 1980's to 2000's. Markose's music career was launched in 1979–1980 with the song "Kannipoomanam" in Balachandra Menon's Kelkkaatha Sabdham. After the success of his debut song, Markose became a regular singer in the "Ganamela" field. He has completed more than 3,000 stage shows in the country, as well as Europe, America, Australia, and gulf nations, among others.
Kaushik Menon is a vocalist and an Indian playback singer working in the south Indian film industry for decades.. He started his professional playback singing career in the year in 2003, and since has been working as playback singer for many films in multiple languages - including Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, kannada, and Telugu. He has so far undertaken about 300 musical projects, in which he has sung over 200 film songs. He is known for his song, "Natkal Nagardu varudangal " – the song of friendship, an award winning solo song, from the movie Ninaithale Inikkum that gave him a major breakthrough as a playback singer. His other famous songs includes: Kanni Vyil along with Shreya Ghoshal, from "Vari kuzhiele kolapathakam" in Malayalam film, Mellena sirippalo solo song from "Theneer viduthi" in Tamil, Choodu Choodu solo song, from the movie "Raja Yogam, in Telugu, Chitranga from the movie " Teluggabhai" along with veteran singer inTelegu along with Min Mini, Ravi varmana from the kannada film "Budhivandha" along with veteran singer Hariharan etc
Amutha is a 2018 Tamil-language psychological thriller film written and directed by P.S. Arjun. It features Sriya Sree, Anees Shaz and Levin Simon Joseph in the lead. The film also features Ashna Sudheer, Shivakumar Raju, Baby Ileanor and Assisi Gibson in other important roles. The film was produced by Shafeeq under the banner Southern Film Factory. Featuring music was composed by Arun Gopan and cinematography by Rajesh Panangat. The film began production in Jan-2018.
Renuka Arun is a classical music singer and play back singer in Malayalam and Telugu. She is the Gulf-Andhra Music Award (GAMA) winner for the best playback singer in Telugu for the year 2017.
Aneesh G. Menon is an Indian actor who predominantly acts in Malayalam films. He has acted in the films Drishyam, Odiyan, Njan Prakashan, Driving License, Kayamkulam Kochunni and Momo in Dubai.
Anne Amie is an Indian playback singer and voice artist. She marked her debut in playback singing with the solo 'Ethu Meghamaari – Reprise' for the film Kochavva Paulo Ayyappa Coelho. She received her first Filmfare Award in 2019 for the song 'Aararo' from the movie Koode. She also won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer in 2023 for the song 'Thinkal Poovin' from Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum.
Vivek Gopan is an Indian television actor who works in the Malayalam soap operas. He is one among the popular players of Celebrity Cricket League's team Amma Kerala strikers.
Neyyattinkara Gopante Aaraattu or simply Aaraattu, is a 2022 Indian Malayalam-language action comedy film co-produced and directed by B. Unnikrishnan and written by Udaykrishna. The film stars Mohanlal with Shraddha Srinath, Ramachandra Raju, Siddique, Vijayaraghavan, Saikumar, and Nedumudi Venu in supporting roles. Rahul Raj composed the film's original songs and background score.
Hridayam (transl. Heart) is a 2022 Indian Malayalam-language coming-of-age romantic drama film written and directed by Vineeth Sreenivasan. It was produced by Visakh Subramaniam through Merryland Cinemas and co-produced by Noble Babu Thomas through Big Bang Entertainments. The film stars Pranav Mohanlal, Kalyani Priyadarshan and Darshana Rajendran. The film's songs and background score was composed by Hesham Abdul Wahab.
Arun Kurian is an Indian actor who appears on Malayalam cinema. He made his feature film debut through a lead role in the coming of age film Aanandam (2016).
Thirike is a 2021 Indian Malayalam family film. The directoral debut of George Kora and Sam Xavier, the film stars Kora and Gopikrishna Varma in lead roles along with Shanthi Krishna, Gopan Mangat, Sarasa Balussery and Namita Krishnamurthy in supporting roles. The story depicts the strong bond of brotherhood between the lead characters, one of whom is a boy with Down syndrome.
Sivaangi Krishnakumar, also known as Jeya, is an Indian actress, playback singer and television personality. In 2012, she participated in the singing competition Super Singer 7, which was aired on Star Vijay. In 2020, she appeared in the comedy-cooking show, Cooku With Comali, which gained her popularity. She is the daughter of Kalaimamani award winners Dr. K Krishnakumar and Binni Krishnakumar. She has acted in films such as Don (2022), Naai Sekar Returns (2022) and Shot Boot Three (2023). She made her debut as a singer in the Tamil film Pasanga (2012) with the song "Anbaale Azhagana Veedu".
