A.R. Rahman
Oscar-winning composer, one of the most prolific in film history.
Ilaiyaraaja
Legendary Tamil film composer with a symphonic legacy.
T.M. Krishna
Renowned Carnatic vocalist and social reformer.
Sid Sriram
Chennai-rooted Carnatic-pop crossover vocalist.
Anirudh Ravichander
Chennai's most prolific modern Tamil film composer.
Karthik
Chennai playback singer.
The Chennai music scene
Chennai (India) is represented on the Genesis of Sound map by 6 bands and artists across 2 genres. Carnatic classical music\'s stronghold, with a modern film-music powerhouse.
The most represented genres are classical (4) and pop (2).
The earliest year on record is Ilaiyaraaja (1943) and the latest is Sid Sriram (1992); the busiest decade on the map is the 1990s with 2 acts.
Notable acts to start with: A.R. Rahman, Ilaiyaraaja, T.M. Krishna and Sid Sriram. Every entry links to Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube searches.
Nearby music scenes
Questions about Chennai music
What music is Chennai known for?
Chennai is known for classical music. Notable acts include A.R. Rahman, Ilaiyaraaja, T.M. Krishna.
How many bands are from Chennai?
The Genesis of Sound map features 6 bands and artists from Chennai, spanning classical, pop.