Aruna Sairam was born on May 12, 1960 in Mumbai, India. She is a Carnatic vocalist and Indian classical singer who received her initial vocal training from her mother Rajalakshmi Sethuraman and later studied under Sangita Kalanidhi T. Brinda. Sairam's career began with performances of Carnatic music, influenced by various genres including film, Western, and Hindustani classical music. Her breakthrough moment came in 2011 when she became the first Carnatic musician to perform at the BBC Proms in London. She has collaborated with artists like Shankar Mahadevan, U. Srinivas, and Zakir Hussain. Sairam's achievements include receiving the U.S Congress Proclamation Award in 2008, the Padma Shri award from the Government of India in 2009, and the Sangita Kalanidhi from the Madras Music Academy in 2018.
