Sithara Krishnakumar is an Indian playback singer, composer, lyricist, classical dancer and an occasional actor.^[1] She predominantly works in Malayalam cinema in addition to Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films. Sithara is a well known singer who is trained in Hindustani and Carnatic classical music traditions and is also a recognised ghazal singer.^[2][3] She is the recipient of several awards which includes three Kerala State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer.

She travels extensively and has performed in concerts and stage shows across the world. Folk and fusion being her other areas of interest.^[4] She has collaborated with various popular musical bands in Kerala as well as collaborated in many stage shows, which includes international shows as well. In 2014, she formed a musical band Eastraga, which focuses on a mix of female oriented songs backed by a team of renowned musicians.^[5] She is also part of the 6-member band named Sithara's Project Malabaricus, an independent venture which features contemporarised folk and classical songs.^[6][7]

Sithara was born in malappuram to K. M. Krishnakumar, an academician and Saly Krishnakumar. Born into a family inclined to classical arts, Sithara was introduced to the world of music as a child and started singing at the age of four. She attended St. Paul's Higher secondary School Thenhipalam, GMHSS Calicut University Campus School and NNM Higher secondary School Chelembra . She did her graduation in English Literature from Farook College, Feroke^[8] and secured her master's degree from Calicut University Campus, Kerala. She married Dr. Sajish M., a cardiologist,^[9] on 31 August 2007 and the couple has a daughter, Saawan Rithu, born on 9 June 2013. The family resides in Aluva, Kochi, Kerala.

She started off her art life as a dancer and eventually became a playback singer. She was trained in Carnatic Music by Sri Ramanattukara Satheesan Master and Palai CK Ramachandran. Sithara also received extensive education in Hindustani Classical music from Ustad Fiyaz Khan. She is also a classical dancer trained by Kalamandalam Vinodini. For her multifaceted talents, she was accoladed with the Kalathilakam title^[10] in Calicut University Arts Festival for two consecutive years(2005 and 2006). She holds master's degrees in Hindustani Khyal Music and Vocal Music from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata.^[11]

Sithara started off her playback singing career in the year 2007 with the song Pammi Pammi in Vinayan's Malayalam film Athishayan. Formerly, she was the winner of several musical talent shows like Asianet Saptha Swarangal (2004), Kairali TV Gandharva Sangeetham (Seniors) and Jeevan TV Voice 2004. She also won Jeevan TV's 20 million Apple Megastars in 2008. She has gained a good reputation as a devoted Ghazal singer and a passionate stage performer of other vocal genres. She has worked with noted composers like Ouseppachan, M. Jayachandran, G. V. Prakash Kumar, Prashant Pillai, Gopi Sundar, Bijibal, Shaan Rahman and rendered her voice to over 300 film songs including Malayalam and other Indian languages.^[12] Her works are of various genres.

In 2017, she turned composer with the single Ente Akasham,^[13] Written by herself. The video which officially got released at a program held by Kerala State Women's Development Corporation to commemorate International Women's Day, picturized the life of night-time female workers.^[13]

She turned film music composer with the film Udalaazham along with Mithun Jayaraj. The film is produced under the banner Doctor’s Dilemma – a doctor's collective which includes her husband Dr. Sajish. M.^[14] She made a cameo appearance in the Malayalam film Ganagandharvan directed by Ramesh Pisharody.

Kerala State Film Awards:

• 2012 – Best Singer – Celluloid – "Enundodee"
• 2017 – Best Singer – Vimaanam – "Vaanamakalunnuvo"
• 2021 – Best Singer – Kaanekkaane – "Paalnilavin"

South Indian International Movie Awards:

• 2014 – Best Female Playback Singer – Mr. Fraud – "Sadaa Paalaya"
• 2019 – Best Female Playback Singer – Eeda – "Marivil"

Asianet Film Awards:

• 2016 – Most Popular Duet Song – Jacobinte Swargarajyam – "Thiruvavani raavu"

Asiavision Awards:

• 2017 – Best Singer (Female) – Udaharanam Sujatha – "Ethu Mazhayilum"

Mirchi Music Awards South:

• 2012 – Best Female Playback Singer in Tamil – Muppozhudhum Un Karpanaigal – "Kangal Neeye"
• 2019 – Best Female Playback Singer in Malayalam – Kumbalangi Nights – "Cherathukal"

Mazhavil Music Awards

• 2019 – Best Female Playback Singer – Madhura Raja – "Mohamundiri"
• 2021 – Best Female Playback Singer - Sathyam Paranja Viswasikkuvo - "Pularippoo"
• 2022 – Best Female Playback Singer – Kaanekkaane – "Paalnilavin"
• 2023 - Best Duet - Sundari Gardens - "Mayamoham" (with Alphons Joseph)

Janmabhumi Film Awards:

• 2018 – Best Female Playback Singer – Eeda – "Marivil"^[15]

Mangalam Music Awards:

• 2017 – Best Female Playback Singer^[16]

Yuva Awards:

• 2017 – Best Female Playback Singer

Red FM Malayalam Music Awards:

• 2017 – Best Female Playback Singer

Anand TV Awards:

• 2018 – Best Female Playback Singer
• 2016 – Best Female Playback Singer

Federation of Kerala Associations in North America Awards:

• 2016 – Best Female Playback Singer – Lailaa O Lailaa – "Nanayumee Mazhai"

Other Awards:^[17]

• 2002 – Baburaj Memorial Award – Best Female Singer
• 2004 – Swaralaya Kairali Yesudas Award – Best Singer
• 2009 – Drishya Award – Best Female Album Singer^[18]
• 2011 – Mohammed Rafi Memorial Award – Best Playback Singer
• 2011 – Vayalar Samskarika Vedi Award – Best Playback Singer
• 2012 – Kannur Rajan Memorial Award – Best Playback Singer
• 2012 – L Channel Award – Best Playback Singer
• 2012 – Inspire Film Award – Best Playback Singer
• 2019 – Johnson Music Awards – Best Playback Singer
• 2020 – Muzic2morrow Awards – Best Female Singer
• 2020 – Movie Street Film Awards – Best Female Playback Singer
• 2022 – Swaralaya – KPAC Sulochana Award