Lalitha Sivakumar is a prominent Carnatic music teacher and composer. She was known for vocally accompanying her mother-in-law and leading Carnatic vocalist, the late D. K. Pattammal, in concerts,. Lalitha Sivakumar is also prominently known as the mother and guru of Dr. Nithyashree Mahadevan, a prominent vocalist in Indian music. She is a very well known eminent and veteran guru(teacher) of the D.K.P's school of Carnatic Music.

she received training in Carnatic music from D. K. Pattammal. Lalitha Sivakumar has composed, and set music to a number of kritis, tillanas, and bhajans, in a variety of Indian languages.