Tamil music has always held an important, meaningful place in the culture of the Tamil Nadu people, however, it is now as popular as ever not only in India but also worldwide. In recent years, Tamil movies and music have gained recognition all over the world and the musicians, actors, actresses, composers, and movie directors continue to put out great content year after year.
The music and movies are always intertwined in the Indian entertainment industry and the biggest chart-toppers usually come from films. This also applies to the Tamil film-making industry known as Kollywood and it has seen departures and arrivals of many great artists.
When it comes to favorite singers, people become fans either because they fall in love with a voice or the way someone sings. So here are some of the most popular ones in India.
Table of Contents
1. Anirudh Ravichander
Image source: highlightsindia.com
This young artist and film composer made his debut at the age of 21. With his unique voice and cheerful, youthful music he has become a favorite for many. As his songs tend to go viral and amass millions of views on digital platforms, he has been dubbed as a viral prodigy.
His debut song titled ‘Why This Kolaveri Di’ went viral worldwide, after which he went on to produce numerous other hits and become one of the most popular South Indian composers.
According to Isaimini, he has an estimated 20 million records sold worldwide, making him one of the best-selling recording artists of Tamil music.
2. Shreya Ghoshal
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Shreya dreamt of becoming a successful playback singer since she was very young and got her to break at the age of 16 when she entered and won a television singing reality competition. At the time, she was noticed by the mother of film-maker Sanjay Leela Bhansali who later featured her on the soundtrack of one of his movies, enabling Shreya to make her singing debut.
She performs in musical concerts all over the world, has won numerous awards for her singing, has appeared as a judge on several reality shows, and in 2017 became the first Indian singer to have her wax figurine in Madame Tussauds Museum.
3. Dhanush
Image source: filmibeat.com
This multi-talented artist has been present in the Tamil entertainment industry for over a decade and a half. He is not only a playback singer, but also a composer, lyricist, actor, producer, director, and screenwriter. He has starred in over 25 movies in the last 15 years and has won many awards for both his acting and singing skills.
He wrote the lyrics for the viral hit ‘Why This Kolaveri Di’ and also wrote lyrics for and sang ‘Rowdy Baby’, a song from the movie Maari 2 which became a huge hit in 2018, amassing over 680 million views as of October 2019.
4. Shruti Haasan
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Following the footsteps of her parents, this talented actress and singer made her debut in 2009. Haasan has established herself as one of the leading ladies of South Indian cinema, has won numerous acting awards, and has been nominated for several singing ones.
5. Vijay
Image source: timesindia.com
This Tamil actor and playback singer is one of the highest-paid entertainers in the industry and has earned the nickname Thalapathy which means commander. He started his career as a child artist and has acted in 62 films since his debut. Vijay has also sung on over 30 film songs starting from Bombay City in 1994 and has also been acknowledged for his amazing dancing skills.
Conclusion
For many, Tamil music is mesmerizing, inspiring, and fun. It represents a mix of various genres and instruments and is easily recognizable. Have a listen for yourself and discover exactly what it is and why it has gained worldwide popularity.