Violinist R.K. Shriramkumar Honored with Sangita Kalanidhi Award

Violinist R.K. Shriramkumar has been selected for the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi award for 2025, presented by the Music Academy. The award will be conferred during the Academy’s 99th annual conference and concerts, scheduled from December 15, 2025, to January 1, 2026. This recognition comes in the 250th anniversary year of the legendary composer Muthuswami Dikshitar.

About Sangita Kalanidhi Award

The Sangita Kalanidhi award is among the most esteemed recognitions in Carnatic music. Established by the Music Academy, Chennai, it is awarded annually to a musician who has made significant contributions to the field. The awardee presides over the Academy’s annual conference, delivering insights into musicology and performance traditions.

R.K. Shriramkumar: A Celebrated Violinist

His Musical Legacy and Training

R.K. Shriramkumar hails from the Rudrapatnam family of musicians, known for their deep-rooted traditions in Carnatic music. The ‘R’ in his name stands for Rudrapattinam, a village on the banks of the Cauvery River in Karnataka.

• He is the grandson of the renowned violinist R.K. Venkatarama Shastry, who conducted the Tyagaraja Aradhana at Thiruvaiyaru for nearly 40 years since the 1950s.
• His initial violin training was under Savitri Satyamurthy.
• He further received guidance from V.V. Subrahmanyam and trained in vocal music under Sangita Kalanidhi D.K. Jayaraman.
• His granduncle, Sangita Kalanidhi R.K. Srikantan, and uncles, the Rudrapatnam Brothers (R.N. Thyagarajan and R.N. Tharanathan), are also accomplished musicians.

Contributions to Carnatic Music

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.

Other Honorees of Music Academy Awards 2025

Apart from R.K. Shriramkumar, the Music Academy has announced several other prestigious awards for 2025:

• Nritya Kalanidhi award: Dancer Urmila Satyanarayana.

Sangita Kala Acharya awards:

• Vocalist Shymala Venkateswaran.
• Thavil maestro T.R. Govindarajan.

TTK awards:

• Kathakali artiste Madambi Subramania Namboothiri.
• Veena players J.T. Jeyaraaj Krishnan and Jayasri Jeyaraaj Krishnan.

The Sangita Kala Acharya and TTK awards will be presented alongside the Sangita Kalanidhi award on January 1, 2026, the final day of the Sadas (Valedictory function). The Nritya Kalanidhi award will be conferred at the 19th annual dance festival on January 3, 2026.

Summary of the News