Lavanya Sundararaman is a Carnatic musician. She received initial training from Poornapragya Rao, and went on to receive further training from her family of musicians.

Lavanya Sundararaman
Background information
OriginChennai, Tamil Nadu, India
GenresCarnatic music – Indian Classical Music
OccupationSinger
Years active2000–present

Early life and family

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Lavanya was born to Gayathri and Dr. R. Sundararaman. She is the great-granddaughter of the prominent Carnatic music vocalist, D. K. Pattammal.[1] She is also the great-granddaughter of Palghat Mani Iyer, who was a mridangam maestro.

Lavanya received music lessons during her childhood from her great-grandmother D. K. Pattammal. She is a disciple of her grandmother and noted singer Lalitha Sivakumar,[2] her mother Gayathri Sundararaman, and is a niece and disciple of renowned singer Nithyasree Mahadevan.[2][3]

Lavanya has completed her post-graduate and undergraduate studies in Music at Queen Mary's College, Chennai and is pursuing her Ph.D. in Music under the guidance of Dr. M. A. Bhageerathi.[citation needed]

Musical career

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Touring

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Lavanya has performed at major sabhas in India, particularly during the annual December music festival in Chennai. She has also presented songs and concerts in the United States of America,[2] Canada,[2] Sri Lanka,[4] and other destinations.

Notable performances by Lavanya have included:

  • Concert with great-grandmother D. K. Pattammal, grandmother Lalitha Sivakumar, grandfather I. Sivakumar, and aunt Nithyasree Mahadevan at the Madras Music Academy in September 2000.[5]
  • Thematic concert for Mangalam Ganapathy Trust in February 2008.
  • Concerts with aunt Nithyasree Mahadevan entitled Triveni Sangamam and Vellithirai Ragangal featuring Film songs in 2009.[3]
  • Concert with grandmother Lalitha Sivakumar and aunt Nithyasree Mahadevan in tribute to great-grandmother D. K. Pattammal in 2010 to conclude 25th anniversary celebration for Youth Association for Carnatic Music.[6]
  • Concerts in Mumbai in July 2011.[2]

Television works

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Lavanya has appeared in various television music programs to perform, including:

Discography

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Lavanya has sung songs in Hindu devotional and other-genre music albums, including:

  • Sai Lavanya Lahari for Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust, Prashanthinilayam, Puttaparthi.
  • Karunai Deivame for Giri Trading Agency.
  • Madurakali Amman for Mangalam Ganapathy Trust.
  • Triveni Sangamam DVD for Giri Trading Agency.

Titles, awards, and recognition

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Year Honour Honouring bestowed or presented by Ref
1999 Award Padma Sheshadri Bala Bhavan (PSBB)
2000 6 year Classical Vocal Music Scholarship PSBB group of schools
2000 Oothukaadu Venkatasubaiyar Trust Prize Oothukaadu Venkatasubaiyar Trust
2006 Various Prizes Mylapore Fine Arts
2006 & 2007 Various Prizes Narada Gana Sabha
2007 Ariyakudi KV Narayanaswamy Memorial Trust competition prize Ariyakudi KV Narayanaswamy Memorial Trust
2007 First prize in Tamil songs for ladies and gentlemen Madras Music Academy (presented December 2007)
2007-2008 Platinum Jubilee Year Celebration Music Conference Prize Indian Fine Arts Society
2008 "Northern Star" plaque and title for preserving Tamil heritage PC Riding Association Of Scarborough Centre, Canada (conferred on 7 June 2008 in Toronto)
2008 "Tamil Isai Kuyil" title Tamil Times Inc Toronto, Canada
2009 Krishna Gana Sabha Endowment Prize Krishna Gana Sabha (presented for performance during 54th Arts and Dance Festival in December 2009)
2009 Tambura Prize Neelakanda Sivan Trust
2010 Tambura Prize on Rukmini Ramani's compositions Sivan Fine Arts Academy and Sivanugraha
2010 "Innisai Ilavarasi" title Adi Arul Neri Manram, Canada (conferred in May 2010) [2]
2010 "Isai Ilavarasi" title Tamil Times Inc Toronto, Canada (conferred in June 2010)
2011 Bhagidhari award Government of Delhi (presented by Neyveli Santhanagopalan on 12 December 2011 at Krishna Gana Sabha)
2011 "Amuthagaanavani" title Nallur Kandaswamy Temple Maha Sannidhanam, Sri Lanka (presented during Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of Hindu Education Society in December 2011)

References

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  1. ^ Suganthi Krishnamachari (20 December 2010). "The gene factor – The Hindu". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Bhanu Kumar (23 July 2011). "Blooming bud – Mumbai Mirror". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  3. ^ a b "An evening of melody – The Hindu". The Hindu. 20 March 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  4. ^ Satyajith Andradi (12 November 2010). "An evening of music with Nithyasree Mahadevan". The Island (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  5. ^ K.S. (1 September 2000). "Unique parampara fostered". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  6. ^ "YACM turns 25 - The Hindu". The Hindu. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2014.