3,000 songs, 21 years: How Saindhavi grew from a kid crying for temple mic to India’s sensational voice?

For nearly four hours, Saindhavi rendered her most iconic hits like Pirai Thedum, Yaaro Ivan and her award-winning song Ellu Vaya Pookalaye that left fans in both awe and tears. — Pictures courtesy of Astro

First Published: Wednesday, 21 Oct 2026 9:21 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — When Saindhavi Srivatsan was five years old, she cried and insisted on holding a microphone to sing a devotional song (bhajan) at a temple.

Amused by her antics, the devotees obliged. 

Little did they know then that the adamant little girl would grow up to become one of India’s most prominent female singers.

With nearly 3,000 songs in a career spanning more than two decades — more than half of them in Tamil — Saindhavi’s voice is widely cherished in Malaysia, a country she has visited more than 15 times. 

In fact, she has even acquired the taste for a local favourite: milo dinosaur.

However, her recent trip here was to mark a 21-year career milestone, which she celebrated with her fans during the Up-Close & Personal with Saindhavi concert at Jiospace last Sunday. 

The usually reserved singer opened up about her personal journey as a singer and some notable moments in her career.

“I never had a second career choice. Whenever my teachers asked me about my ambition, the answer was always the same: to be a singer,” she said.

One particular song, Kayilae Aagasam, is a song that she holds close to her heart. 

“The song was recorded in my house, and I sat and sang the whole song because I was just days away from my delivering my baby,” she recalled. 

With nearly 3,000 songs in a career spanning more than two decades — more than half of them in Tamil — Saindhavi’s voice is widely cherished in Malaysia, a country she has visited more than 15 times. 

A night to remember 

For nearly four hours, she rendered her most iconic hits like Pirai Thedum, Yaaro Ivan and her award-winning song Ellu Vaya Pookalaye that left fans in both awe and tears. 

She even infused contemporary flavours to some of her favourite classical devotional songs like Enna Thavam Seithanai and Deena Karunakarane Nadaraja, backed by a live band.

Local talents from reality singing shows organised by Astro like Theeban Mahendran and Siddarth Nagarajan also joined Saindhavi to serenade the fans. 

Although Saindhavi’s name is synonymous with soulful melodies, she did not leave a dull moment for her fans and got them grooving to some of her peppy dance numbers and folk beats like Andangkaka Kondakari and Maduraikku Pogathadi.

Dancing live, she said, was something she deliberately avoided in her early years as a singer. 

“I used to think people would not take me seriously as a singer if I dance while singing.

“But, nowadays, we are required to be performers. The love from my fans inspired courage in me to start dancing while singing,” she said. 

The versatile Saindhavi also obliged to song requests from her audience and spontaneously performed Telugu and Malayalam songs as well during the show. 

Saindhavi also obliged to song requests from her audience and spontaneously performed Telugu and Malayalam songs as well during the show.

Tributes to legends 

Prior to official debut as a playback singer, Saindhavi scored her first chance to enter the industry with the legendary music composer Devanesan Chokkalingam, fondly known as Thenisai Thendral Deva to his fans. 

“I was in my 10th standard at that time. Deva sir did not dismiss me as just a child but gave me my first song but it never got released,” she said, recalling her memories with the maestro.

Deva passed away on October 17 at the age of 75 following a cardiac arrest. 

Saindhavi performed an impromptu tribute to the maestro, stringing together a medley of his evergreen melodies such as Nalam Nalariyaval, Mudhal Mudhalil Parthen and Sakalakalavalavane. 

“He always felt people boxed him into the ‘Gana’ label and on many occasions, he kept reiterating that he too has composed some beautiful melodies,” she said.

Saindhavi also offered a similar tribute for legendary female singers who have passed on such as Vani Jairam, Swarnalatha, Asha Bhosle and S. Janaki. 

Both Asha Bhosle and S. Janaki also passed away this year at the age of 92 and 88, respectively.

Directed by Kumaran Ramasamy, the Up-Close and Personal with Saindhavi show will premiere on Astro Vinmeen (Ch 202) on November 9 at 10.30am.