Kalpana Raghavendar, Telugu playback singer who attempted suicide, started her musical career when she was just 5

The world of playback singing was jolted by shocking news on March 2 when renowned singer Kalpana Raghavendar was found unconscious in her Hyderabad residence. Reports suggest that the 43-year-old artist attempted suicide by ingesting sleeping pills. A distress call from her apartment¡¯s security guard led to an urgent police intervention, resulting in her being rushed to the hospital. While she is now in a stable condition, she remains under ventilator support, with doctors keeping a close eye on her recovery.

Credit: X

What happened to Kalpana Raghavendar?

What makes this incident even more alarming is that Kalpana had reportedly not opened her door for two days. It was only when the security guard sensed something amiss that her neighbors stepped in and alerted the police. Currently, the authorities are digging deep to uncover what pushed the singer to take this drastic step.

Famous @SingerKalpana attempted suicide by taking heavy dose sleeping tablets...
Kalpana stayed at home for two days without husband alone ....
Police are expressing suspicion on husband
Police are checking Kalpana's phones & gadgets . #singerkalpanasucide pic.twitter.com/lLboUKXjWv

¡ª Priya Gurunathan (@JournoPG) March 4, 2025

According to sources from the KPHB Police Station, Kalpana had ingested sleeping pills, but her condition is now ¡°out of danger.¡± However, the motive behind her actions remains unclear. With the industry and fans in shock, all eyes are now on her recovery and the police investigation that could reveal what led to this distressing incident.

Who is Kalpana Raghavendar?

Kalpana Raghavendar has been hitting the right notes since she was practically a toddler! She started singing at the age of five and even made a cute little appearance in Punnagai Mannan when she was just six. Her first recorded song was a family affair, composed by Saluri Vasurao.

Fast forward to 1999, she made her official playback debut with Mangalagouriki from Manoharam, composed by Mani Sharma. But that was just the beginning¡ªshe went on to collaborate with music maestros like Ilaiyaraaja and A. R. Rahman lent her voice alongside legends such as S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra.

However, playback singing is not the only thing she is famous for¡ªKalpana is a total rockstar on stage! With nearly 3,000 live performances under her belt, she knows how to set the stage on fire. In 2013, she even led a tribute concert for her mentor, Madurai T. Srinivasan, proving that music isn¡¯t just her career¡ªit¡¯s her soul.

And let¡¯s not forget her top hits! From Poda Poda Punnaku to Dikkulu Choodaku and Jiguru Jiguru, she¡¯s delivered some absolute bangers. Whether it¡¯s a high-energy number like Premante Suluvu Kadhura or an emotional melody like Pogiren, Kalpana¡¯s voice always leaves a mark.

Not just limited to music, she also ventured into reality TV, becoming a contestant in the inaugural season of Bigg Boss Telugu, hosted by Jr. NTR. She even had a blink-and-miss appearance in Kamal Haasan¡¯s iconic film, Punnagai Mannan. Some of her recent chartbusters include Kodi Parakura Kaalam from Maamannan and Telangana Tejam from Keshava Chandra Ramavath.