Neela Ramgopal[a] (25 May 1935 – 1 March 2023) was an Indian Carnatic vocalist and Carnatic music teacher. Some of her works included Tamizh Inbam, Rama Upasana and Narayana Enniro. She was a recipient of awards, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Sangita Kala Acharya Award by Madras Music Academy, and the Sangeetha Chudamani award from the Rama Seva Mandali.
Neela Ramgopal | |
|---|---|
| நீலா ராம்கோபால் | |
 Ramgopal in 2022 | |
| Born | 25 May 1935 Kumbakonam, Madras Presidency, British India |
| Died | 1 March 2023 (aged 87) Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Occupations |
|
| Awards |
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| Musical career | |
| Genres | Carnatic music |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1965–2023 |
Biography
editNeela Ramgopal was born on 25 May 1935, in Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu into a Brahmin Iyer family. Her father was a landlord. The family migrated back to their village in Tyagarajapuram where she went to school in Thiruvidaimarudur.[2][3] It was only at the age of 23, she started studying Carnatic music seriously.[4] She started studying Carnatic music with lessons from Sadagopalachari in Kumbakonam and later under N. M. Narayanan, T. K. Rangachary and M. L. Vasanthakumari.[5][6][7]
Ramgopal taught students from 1965, the year her very first independent public concert came in.[4] During this time she performed regularly as a radio artist with the All India Radio rising to be an "A Top" grade artist.[8] She published a book of 50 Tamil compositions in Kannada script.[9] In addition, she also recorded audio CDs of krithis in all the 72 Melakartha Ragas.[9] Some of her recorded albums includedTamizh Inbam, Rama Upasana and Narayana Enniro.[3]
Ramgopal was noted to have trained over 700 students over her career.[7] She was also noted to be an early adopter of technology offering her training lessons online.[10] She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Sangita Kala Acharya award from the Madras Music Academy and the Sangeetha Chudamani award from the Rama Seva Mandali.[10][11]
Personal life
editRamgopal moved to Bangalore in Karnataka after her wedding at 19, initially living in Basavanagudi before moving to J. P. Nagar.[10][12][4] She had two children.[3] She was known to have been a polyglot with works in Tamil, Kannada, and English, and was referred to as Neela Maami by her students.[10][2]
Ramgopal died on 1 March 2023 in Bangalore. She had been diagnosed with cancer earlier. She was aged 87.[7]
Books
edit- Raghavan, Harini (8 November 2015). Neela Ramgopal – A Musical Journey. Nadasurabhi Cultural Association.[3]
Awards and honors
edit- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2016[13]
- Gurukripa Award 2017[9]
- Sangeetha Kala Acharya Award from the Madras Music Academy 2011[14]
- Kanchana Shree title 2018 by the Kanchana Shree Lakshminarayana Music Academy Trust[5]
- Best performer award from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai[6]
- Best performer award from Madras Music Academy[6]
- Gana Prakeerthi award from the Nagarkoil Trust[6]
- Sangeetha Kala Samragni award from the Ramakrishna Gaanasabha[6]
- Sangeetha Chudamani award from Rama Seva Mandali[6]
- Karnataka Kalasri award from the Karnataka state government Sangeetha Nrithya Academy[6]
Notes
edit- ^ Ramgopal was also referred to as Vidushi Neela Ramgopal with honorific title Vidushi for Carnatic music scholars.[1]
References
edit- ^ "Vidushi Neela Ramgopal passes away". Star of Mysore. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
- ^ a b Ganesh, Deepa (4 June 2015). "In her own style…". The Hindu.
- ^ a b c d "A late bloomer « Harmony Magazine".
- ^ a b c "Neela Ramgopal: Music Should Touch The Heart – Silver Talkies". silvertalkies.com.
- ^ a b "City music trust honours vocalist Neela Ramgopal". Deccan Herald. 8 November 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Neela Ramgopal". The Sruti Foundation. May 2018.
- ^ a b c Bureau, The Hindu (1 March 2023). "Noted Carnatic vocalist and guru Neela Ramgopal passes away". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "TEEPOI". www.teepoi.com. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
- ^ a b c "Guru Kripa Awards". www.shankarmahadevanacademy.com.
- ^ a b c d "A paean to Neela Mami". Deccan Herald. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
- ^ "Vidushi Neela Ramgopal passes away". Star of Mysore. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
- ^ "Neela Ramgopal". www.teepoi.com.
- ^ "President of India to confer tomorrow Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Awards for 2016". pib.gov.in.
- ^ "Sangita Kala Acharya". Madras Music Academy.