Violinist R K Shriramkumar chosen for Sangita Kalanidhi award by Music Academy

Chennai: R K Shriramkumar, one of the best-known violinists from a family hailing from Rudrapatnam in Hassan district of Karnataka on the banks of River Cauvery, was on Sunday named for the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi award by The Music Academy, Madras.

Trained under his grandfather and eminent violinist R K Venkatarama Sastry, Shriramkumar is a solo violinist and an accompanist who is credited with elevating the performance of the vocalist. Rudrapatnam, a tiny hamlet, has given birth to many musicians from the conservative Carnatic music world, and Shriramkumar is one among them. 

Shriramkumar (58) has the distinction of working with both the legends of Carnatic music like Semmangudi R Srinivasa Iyer, T Brinda, M S Subbulakshmi and D K Pattammal, and the present-day musicians. Known for his wide repertoire, Shriramkumar’s in-depth lecture demonstrations, his tuning of compositions and composing of songs are legendary by now and he is a much sought-after guru as well. 

“In the past few decades, he has been acknowledged as an authority on the Sangita Sampradaya Pradarsini of Subbarama Dikshitar, which remains one of the best-known compilations of Muthuswami Dikshitar compositions,” N Murali, President, Music Academy, said in a statement.

The Sangita Kalanidhi awarded to activist-musician T M Krishna in 2024 had triggered a major row with many of his colleagues from the Carnatic music field taking objection by pointing to his critique of the industry.

Singer Shyamala Venkateswaran, one of the senior artistes in the field and who began learning music at the age of five, and Tavil artist Thanjavur R  Govindarajan have been chosen for Sangita Kala Acharya award. 

While Shyamala Venkateswaran has performed at various venues in India and abroad and is a much-respected guru, Govindarajan has been performing on this instrument for over 60 years, having begun his tutelage at the age of eight.

Madambi Subramania Namboothiri and J T Jeyaraaj Krishnan and Jaysri Keyaraaj Krishnan will be conferred with the TTK Award. 

Considered one of the authorities in Kathakali Music, Namboothiri received training in Kathakali and Carnatic Music and was part of the Kerala Kalamandalam faculty for over 30 years and is known for his strict adherence to the Kathakali idiom in his music rendering and has trained disciples in the art.

Jeyaraaj and Jayasri, who trace their lineage to Muthuswami Dikshitar, had their training on the veena from the Guruguha Gana Vidyalaya, Kolkata where they trained under Brahmasri Anantharama lyer and his sister A Champakavalli.

Prof. C A Sridhara - Associate Professor, University College of Fine Arts for Women and noted Musicologist will be conferred with the Musicologist Award, while Urmila Satyanarayana will receive Nritya Kalanidhi award. 

Apart from being a renowned choreographer, Urmila Satyanarayana is also a much sought-after furu and has trained numerous disciples in the field through the dance school she founded Natya Sankalpaa.

Murali added that the Sangita Kalanidhi awardee will preside over the academic sessions of the 99th Annual Conference and Concerts of The Music Academy to be held between December 15, 2025 and January 1, 2026 and will receive the award on January 1, 2026.

“The Nritya Kalanidhi awardee will receive the award at the Inauguration of The Music Academy's 19th Annual Dance Festival on January 3, 2026,” he said.