Violinist R K Shriramkumar has received the esteemed Sangita Kalanidhi award from the Music Academy for 2025. Meanwhile, the talented Carnatic singer Shyamala Venkateswaran and the highly respected tavil artist Thanjavur R Govindarajan have been honored with the Sangita Kala Acharya award.
Shriramkumar is a prominent name in the world of Carnatic music, hailing from the esteemed Rudrapatnam lineage. He had the privilege of training under his grandfather, R K Venkatarama Sastry, as well as the legendary Sangita Kalanidhi D K Jayaraman. Throughout his career, he has had the honor of accompanying musical icons like Semmangudi R Srinivasa Iyer, T Brinda, M S Subbulakshmi, and D K Pattammal. He is especially celebrated for his deep understanding of the Sangita Sampradaya Pradarsini by Subbarama Dikshitar, which is a significant collection of Muthuswami Dikshitar’s works. This recognition is particularly timely, as 2025 will mark the 250th anniversary of Muthuswami Dikshitar’s birth, as noted by the Music Academy.
R.K. Shriramkumar is widely recognized for his expertise in violin accompaniment, having performed with legendary artists from different generations:
- Yesteryear stalwarts: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, M.S. Subbulakshmi, D.K. Pattammal, D.K. Jayaraman, T. Brinda, T. Mukta, M. Balamuralikrishna, and K.V. Narayanasamy.
- Contemporary musicians: Sudha Raghunathan, Vijay Siva, Bombay Jayashree, Sowmya, and T.M. Krishna.
- His deep knowledge of Sangita Sampradaya Pradarsani, a compilation of Muthuswami Dikshitar’s compositions by Subbarama Dikshitar, has made him an authority in the field.
