Anitha Karthikeyan (Tamil: அனிதா கார்த்திகேயன்) is an Indian Playback singer.^[1][2] She has sung more than 250 film songs mostly in south Indian languages including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. It was the song "Mannavane Mannavane" from the 2015 Tamil movie Puli which “has brought her to the limelight.”^[3] In the beginning, she sang more melodious and classical based tune songs, she later became known for fast track hit numbers.^[4] In 2010, she won the Vijay Music award in the popular mass song category for the song “Vaada Vaada Paiya” from Tamil film Kacheri Arambam.^[5] She is also known for singing Jingles for TV commercials.^[4] Besides, she has sung title track for different TV Serials including the “Achuvellam Pacharasi Mavilakku” for Kula Deivam (TV series).^[5] She has performed in numerous live concerts in India and abroad including in Ilaiyaraaja’s orchestras.^[6][7][8]

Anitha Karthikeyan was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. She began her school education at the Saraswathi Vidyalaya School, Chennai.^[4] Simultaneously, she learned western music lessons and Hindustani classical music. She continued her higher education at Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai where she completed her BSc in computer science in 2003. She later graduated with MSc in information technology from M.O.P Vaishnav College for Women, Chennai in 2005.^[5] Since her childhood she was participating in different musical competitions.^[4] However, it was during her studies at Ethiraj College, she developed her singing skills.^[4]

After completing her higher education, she started her professional career as a software engineer in Chennai. When the Vijay TV’s Super Singer Season 1 was announced in 2006, she became one of its contestants.^[3] She won the title "Viewer's Choice super singer" which introduced her to the music world, and changed her career as a playback singer.^[5] In 2007, she made her debut in the movie Marudhamalai by D. Imman, the music director.^[3][4] Under his musical composition, she sang various genres. She soon started singing under the compositions of different music directors in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. She got a chance to meet music director Ilaiyaraaja when she became a part of backing vocals during one of his musical compositions for a Kannada movie. She later rendered classical hits in the Telugu movie Sri Rama Rajyam under the musical composition of laiyaraaja.^[5] She has sung 25 songs for Ilaiyaraaja alone.^[3] Some of Anitha’s popular songs include “Putham Puthu Kaalai” (Megha), “Kattikida” (Kaaki Sattai), “Idhedho Bagunde” (Mirchi), “Loveaa” (Uttama Villain), “Senga Soola Kara” (Vaagai Sooda Vaa), “Shokku Sundari” (Ainthaam Padai) and “Amma Wake Me Up” (Vathikuchi).^[3][5][4]

The discography of Anitha Karthikeyan includes^[9][10]