Top Singers in India: From Legends to Modern Icons
By Vishal Das,
Hindustani Vocal Faculty
Spardha School of Music
From legendary maestros who defined generations to today's chart-topping icons, the top singers in India have shaped not just the sounds but the soul of the nation. Whether you're a fan of soulful melodies, looking for peace and subtleness, or want to add some energy to your life, this journey through the diverse voices of top singers in India is one you can't miss.
So hit play and let's celebrate the unforgettable voices, from the legends who laid the foundations to the fresh talent reshaping Indian music today!
The Foundations: Legendary Icons
Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar is one of the crown jewels among the top singers in India. Known as the "Nightingale of India," her career spanned from before India's independence until 2022. Her ethereal voice and emotional depth captivated audiences for over seven decades, making her stand out in any list of top singers in India.
Her voice reached audiences not just in Hindi but in Bengali, Marathi, and 36 other languages.
Iconic Songs:
- Lag Ja Gale
- Aap Ki Nazaron Ne Samjha
- Tere Bina Zindagi
She received the Padma Bhushan (1969) and Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1989) from the Government of India. In 2009, France made her an Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour, the country's highest civilian award.
Kishore Kumar
The King of Versatility, Kishore Kumar, brought a playful yet soulful charm to Indian cinema music. Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential voices in India, he sang across different genres. Some of his rare compositions, considered classics today, were nearly lost in time. In 2013, Kumar was voted "The Most Popular Male Playback Singer" in a poll conducted by Filmfare magazine.
In addition to Hindi, he performed in Bengali, Marathi, Assamese, Gujarati, Kannada, Bhojpuri, Malayalam, Odia, and Urdu. His versatility makes him an essential name among the top 10 singers in India.
Iconic Songs:
- O Mere Dil ke Chain
- Dekha Ek Khwaab
- Aapki Aankhon me Kuch
Asha Bhosle
With a record of 12,000 songs in over 20 languages throughout her eight-decade career, Asha Bhosle has earned her place as one of India's most famous and diverse playback singers. She has mastered a wide variety of genres, ranging from Bollywood and classical to pop, qawwalis, and folk music.
Iconic Songs:
- Piya Tu Ab To Aaja
- Dum Maro Dum
The above songs catapulted Asha to fame and launched her into a long-term partnership with the renowned composer R.D. Burman, also known as "The Pancham Express." She has received several prestigious awards for her contributions to Indian music, including the Padma Vibhushan, nine Filmfare Awards, and two National Film Awards. Her legacy continues to inspire music lovers around the world and secures her position among the top singers in India.
The Evolution: Rise of Contemporary Superstars
Udit Narayan
A modern multilingual vocal sensation, Udit Narayan can be considered the "polyglot" of music. He has sung in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Bengali, Sindhi, Odia, Bhojpuri, Nepali, Malayalam, Assamese, Bagheli, and Maithili. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2009 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016 for his contribution to arts and culture.
He sang with Mohammed Rafi in his Hindi playback debut in "Unees-Bees" (1980) and also with Kishore Kumar in the 1980s. He finally made his mark in the 1988 film "Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak" starring Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla with the song Papa Kehte Hain.Papa Kehte Hain Bada Naam Karega -Video Song | Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak | Udit Narayan | Aamir Khan
The above song was a notable performance that earned him his first Filmfare Award in the 1980s. This makes him the only multilingual and versatile singer after Kishore Kumar in the top 10 singers in India.
Notable Song:
- Aankhein Khuli
- Jugraafiya
- Dil Toh Pagal Hai
Kumar Sanu
When discussing who is the best singer in India, one name that cannot be ignored is Kumar Sanu, the maestro icon of the 90s era. Hailing from Kolkata, the epicenter of cultural excellence, Kumar Sanu (born Kedarnath Bhattacharya) began his career in 1983 under his birth name. His first credited playback song was for the 1984 film "Yeh Desh," followed by work on the Bangladeshi film "Tin Konya" (1985).
His first major break in Hindi cinema came with the song "Jashn Hai Mohabbat Ka" from "Hero Hiralal" (1988). Sanu gained wider recognition with the soundtrack for "Aashiqui" (1990), for which music directors Nadeem-Shravan had him sing nearly all the male solos. The film's success established him as a leading playback singer and earned him his first Filmfare Award.
This began a streak of five consecutive Filmfare Awards for Best Male Playback Singer for his work in "Saajan" (1991), "Deewana" (1992), "Baazigar" (1993), and "1942: A Love Story" (1994). His dominance in the 90s makes him one of the top singers in India.
Notable Song:
- Tujhe Dekha Toh
- Chura ke Dil Mera
- Baazigar o Baazigar
Today's Icons: Best Singers of the Present Generation (2000s–2025)
Sunidhi Chauhan
Sunidhi Chauhan is one of India's most exciting playback singers. People love her for her strong voice, amazing control, and energetic performances.
Popular Songs:
- Dhoom Machale
- Beedi
- Kamli
- Crazy Kiya Re
- Ainvayi Ainvayi
All the above songs really put her on the map. She sang all kinds of songs and nailed them every time.
She's known for experimenting with her voice and sound, singing pop, regional tunes, and even indie music outside of Bollywood. From winning a kids' talent show to performing worldwide, she's now a top singer in India and a huge inspiration in music.
Sonu Nigam
Sonu Nigam is definitely one of the most talented and versatile singers India has ever seen. He's got incredible range and puts so much feeling into his voice. He's recorded over 6,000 songs in more than 32 languages.
Hit Songs:
- Kal Ho Naa Ho
- Saathiya
- Suraj Hua Maddham
He has won several Filmfare Awards and even a National Film Award. Sonu has worked all over the world, mixing old and new styles. He still has a huge influence on music in India. In 2022, he received the Padma Shri, a national honor, for his work in music.
His contributions firmly place him among the top singers in India.Explore the top Sonu Nigam Hit Songs that defined Bollywood Music:
Arijit Singh
Arijit Singh is a super-famous playback singer in India. People really love him because he sings with so much feeling and has such a soulful voice.
His breakthrough song Tum Hi Ho from Aashiqui 2 made everyone know who he was. He's great at singing all kinds of songs, whether they're happy, sad, or romantic. Arijit has won several Filmfare Awards and other awards because he's amazing at expressing emotions through his music. Besides singing for Bollywood movies, he also works on regional music and smaller projects, which makes him a huge name among the top singers in India right now.
Hit Songs:
- Sajni
- Ve Kamleya
- Zaalima
The Underrated Modern Singers: Hidden Gems of Indian Music
Kaushiki Chakraborty
Both in India and abroad, Kaushiki Chakraborty continues to surprise audiences with her vibrant presentations. Her renditions of Khayal and Thumri were popular at the Shadaj Music Festival in 2025. As one of the underrated singers, she blends her personal experiences with the conventions of classical music.
She also works hard to spread knowledge about classical music through initiatives like her online music school, which allows anyone, anywhere, to learn from her. Additionally, her CD and web series PANKH demonstrate her creativity by fusing storytelling with musical performances. Kaushiki is devoted to expanding the audience for classical music while keeping it relevant. She serves as an important figure in contemporary Indian classical music and deserves recognition among the top singers in India.
Notable Song:
- Yaad Piya ki Aaye
- Lagi Lagi
- Rangi Sari Gulabi Chunariya
Prateek Kuhad
Indian singer-songwriter Prateek Kuhad is well-known in the independent music industry. He combines pop, folk, and acoustic tones in his heartfelt and reflective compositions.
Popular Songs:
- cold/mess
- Kasoor
The above songs have made him popular all over the world, and with cold/mess, he even became a part of Barack Obama’s list of favourite music in 2019.
Among the underrated singers, Prateek's unique songwriting style and assuring voice have even earned him a spot on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series. He continues to have an enormous impact on India's indie music landscape and is renowned for his authenticity and ability to spread awareness of Indian independent music beyond Bollywood.
Cultural and Social Impact: How Indian Singers Change Culture, Society, and the Global Narrative
The top singers in India have transformed the cultural and societal fabric of the nation. Their music goes beyond entertainment. It showcases India's diverse traditions, customs, and emotions while keeping the country at the forefront of musical creativity and innovation.
The top singers in India have also reshaped the country's global image. By elevating traditional Indian music forms through contemporary approaches, they've made these styles mainstream and accessible to younger audiences worldwide. The web series "Bandish Bandits" exemplifies this perfectly, promoting Indian classical music while showcasing modern fusion, bringing our musical traditions to international attention with songs like Lab Par Aaye from Season 1 and Garaj Garaj from Season 2.
Lab Par Aaye, Bandish Bandits (Season 1)
Garaj Garaj, Bandish Bandits (Season 2)
India's Growing Global Recognition
India's musical influence continues to expand on the world stage. In recent years, Indian artists have received Grammy nominations, marking a significant milestone for the country's music industry.
OAFF's album "Between Flowers," inspired by his personal experience of losing two grandparents while getting married and featuring collaborations with Sid Sriram, Amira Gill, and Divyam Sodhi, received critical acclaim.
Agam's "Arrival of the Ethereal" earned an impressive four Grammy nominations, including Best Global Music Album, Best Global Music Performance, Best Arrangement (Instruments & Vocals), and Best Engineered Album (Non-Classical), showcasing how Carnatic music meets orchestral sounds.
Additionally, Justh's "Unse Jaake Kehdo" was nominated for Best Global Music Performance, a remarkable achievement for an artist who only started releasing music in 2020.
These accomplishments demonstrate that the top singers in India are not just preserving tradition but actively shaping the future of global music.
Conclusion
Indian music is amazing and continually evolving. The voices of Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar paved the path for vocalists like Udit Narayan and Kumar Sanu, leading to a modern paradigm shift with today's top singers in India like Arijit Singh, Sunidhi Chauhan, and Sonu Nigam, who continue to amaze us.
Indian artists continuously try new things while remaining true to their traditions. Each generation adds something new, combining old and modern in interesting ways. The diversity of India's music scene makes it unique. Talented but underrated singers like Prateek Kuhad and Kaushiki Chakraborty, along with other indie musicians, make important contributions to music.
Whether these vocalists stick to classical styles or experiment with new combinations, they showcase India's rich culture. When people ask who is the best singer in India, the answer remains subjective. This list of top 10 singers in India might be challenged or questioned, but one thing is certain: the top singers in India will continue to inspire generations to come.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is the no. 1 singer in India?
The no. 1 singer in India is subjective and popularity depends on the time period. But from old Bollywood, Kishore Kumar, Mohd Rafi, Mukesh, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle are considered some of the best singers. And Sonu Nigam, Shan, Javed Ali, Udit Narayan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal, Neeti Mohan, Shilpa Rao are some of the new popular singers of India.
2. Who are the top 10 most famous singers in India?
Kishore Kumar, Mukesh, Sunidhi Chauhan, Lata Mangeshkar, Alka Yagnik are some of the top 10 most famous singers in India. You can refer the list above to know more about top singers in India along with their hit Bollywood songs.
3. Who is India’s greatest musician?
There is no single greatest musician but prominent figures include AR Rahman, Pt. Ravi Shankar, Lata Mangeshkar and so on.
4. Who is India's most influential contemporary playback singer across genres?
Arijit Singh, famed for emotional ballads and film songs across languages.