An early Malayalam film song which garnered her acclaim was "Kanneerin Mazhayathum" for composer M. S. Baburaj in Ramu Kariat’s Dweepu (1977).
[3] She began working in Madras during 1977, through Dhananjayan’s Malayalam dance drama Magdalana Mariyam that was choreographed as part of the Vallathol Centenary celebrations.
The song "Nee Varuvaaiyena" from Sujatha (1980) and "Thanniya Potta Sandhosham Pirakkum" from Savaal (1981), both composed by M. S. Viswanathan became a major hit and boosted her career.
Kalyani also sang other popular songs in the period such as "Naan Iravil Ezhuthum Kavithai Muzhuthum" from Suba Muhoortham (1983) and "Theril Vandhaal Devadhai" from an unreleased film called Mookuthi Meengal.
[3] She later worked on songs including the title track from Alaipayuthey, "Adhisaya Thirumanam" from Parthale Paravasam (2001) and for the three versions of Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010) made by Gautham Vasudev Menon in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.