Celebrated playback and Karnatak vocalist Parakkal Unnikrishnan has carved a niche for himself in Indian music, effortlessly moving between classical and film music. He has sung over 4,000 songs, including more than 600 film songs.
A two-time National Award winner, he has enjoyed a career spanning over four decades and collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music industry. He is married to Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam dancer Priya and has two children, Vasudev Krishna and Uttara Unnikrishnan.
During his recent visit to Mysuru for his daughter’s performance, he spoke to Star of Mysore about his musical journey, early influences, family and enduring love for music.
By Bharathi Ghanashyam
I was exposed to music even as a baby.”
“As a baby, I slept to my mother’s lullaby every night. She remembers me making little noises, trying to sing along with her. That was my first exposure to music,” Unnikrishnan recollects, smiling.
I met him while he was in Mysuru in connection with his daughter Uttara Unnikrishnan’s Dasara music performance at the Mysore Palace. Dressed simply in white trousers, a blue T-shirt and snug leather ‘jutis’, he spoke with equal simplicity about his life.
He’s soft-spoken, modest and carries his achievements lightly.
His career as a singer has spanned over forty years and he has effortlessly bridged the gap between pure classical and the more popular film music. As a débutante playback singer in 1994, he won two National Awards — the first time Tamil film songs had received the awards.
The songs, ‘Yennavale’ and ‘Uyirum Neeye’, have resonated with listeners over the years and are still popular. Over the duration of his career, he has sung for Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada films.
“I didn’t plan for a music career.”
“It’s not as if I wanted to be a singer. I was more passionate about cricket. But as I grew up, it seemed like music had taken root in me. I kept going back to it, despite loving cricket or wanting to do all the usual things like getting a degree or a job. I even worked at Parrys Confectionery Ltd., for some years.”
Even while doing the normal things all of us do, Unnikrishnan chose to learn classical music in parallel. His parents encouraged him to do so and ensured he had access to the best gurus available.
“I took inspiration from K.J. Yesudas.”
“My childhood and teenage years were spent listening to light music, particularly by K.J. Yesudas, on a cassette recorder. We recorded music straight from radio programmes and my home was filled with this. That’s probably the reason why I’m equally at ease with both genres of music.”
Unnikrishnan began learning classical music when he was twelve and displays huge respect for all his teachers. He says he is grateful to them for laying the foundations right. He recollects working a full office day, rushing home and changing before going to sing in concerts. He had already cut some albums in classical music when film music beckoned.
His association with the legendary A.R. Rahman has been consistent and some of his best work has emerged while teaming up with him.
“I got a call one day in my office from A.R. Rahman, who had heard one of my numbers. It was the time of landlines and he had called home and taken my office number from my family. Of course, I was thrilled,” he recalls fondly. His eyes gleam even now, so many years later.
Unnikrishnan wasn’t actively looking to sing as a playback singer and Rahman had reached out to him after hearing a number sung in ‘Misra Khamaj’ from his classical album. He was offered the iconic ‘Yennavale adi Yennavale’, followed by ‘Uyirum Neeye’, both for Rahman. There was no looking back after that.
In a happy coincidence, his daughter, who began singing several decades later, also won a national award on debut.
Googling Uttara Unnikrishnan brings up hundreds of pages, YouTube links and tonnes of news about this prodigy.
Unnikrishnan’s daughter, whom he is rightly very proud of, is well entrenched in India’s music ecosystem and has performed with him as well as solo. She too won a National Award for her debut performance, making it a double whammy for their family.
“I love and respect Mysuru and its people.”
“I have performed at Dasara concerts several times and have very fond memories of them. I have a great fondness for the people of Mysuru and its culture. The audience here is knowledgeable and responsive. I’m very glad my daughter is performing here. I wish Mysuru and its people all the best and hope to keep coming back.”
This post was published on November 11, 2026 7:30 pm