Born in 1973 to Prof.Y.Kalyanasundaram and vocal musician Smt.Sharada Kalyanasundaram at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala in India, Krishnakumar started learning Carnatic music (vocal) from his mother at the age of eight..

After receiving the award of the National talent scholarship by the Government of India, Krishnakumar continued his learning in Carnatic Classical music in a very systematic manner from late Prof.Neyyattinkara.M.K.Mohanachandran Nair, former Head of Department of Music at Government Women’s College, Thiruvananthapuram.

By then he also visited Chennai yearly during academic vacations and had advanced training from Padmavibhushan Dr.M.Balamuralikrishna. This bond of Guru – Sishya for more than two decades became very stronger as Krishnakumar moved his residence to Chennai. With the support singing, Krishnakumar also accompanies his mentor Guruji on concerts.

Now a popular musician in the Carnatic classical and film music circles, he is also famous as Trivandrum Krishnakumar.

The Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academi conferred the title "KALASRI" along with the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award 2012 on Carnatic music on both Krishnakumar and Binni.

Doctorate with the PhD Degree in Music from the University of Kerala was awarded on Krishnakumar in 2014.

Academic Qualifications

Krishnakumar is a First-class graduate in Mathematics (1994), a First Rank with first class in both BA (1996) and MA (1998) in Music from the University of Kerala. He is also qualified to be a lecturer in Carnaticmusic according to the norms of the University Grants Commission of India. Krishnakumar has a Doctorate with PhD in Music (2014) from The University of Kerala.

Professional status

Krishnakumar is an TOP GRADE artist as recognised by the All India Radio and performs music concerts regularly at AIR, Doordarsan and other private television channels in Classical music, Light classical music and Light music. 

He has performed noteworthy National, Sangeet Sammelan, South-zone hook- up programmes and ‘invited audience’ special programmes of All India Radio and remarkable Invited Audience Special concerts & Southzone Regional Satellite Network vocal concerts for Doordarsan.