Venkat Raman
Auckland, March 20, 2025
Followers of Indian classical music in general and Carnatic music in particular would be delighted to listen to the melodious voice of Sudha Raghunathan when she performs at a Concert organised by the New Zealand Carnatic Music Society in Auckland this weekend.
The prolific singer, who has attained fame for her innate ability to interpret and render a variety of ragas and songs, will perform at the Michael Park School Auditorium, 55 Amy Street, Ellerslie on March 22, 2025. Tickets priced at $30 for Non-Members and Senior Citizens and Children 12 years and below
Embar Kannan and N C Bharadwaj will accompany her respectively on the Violin and Mridangam at the concert.
About Sudha Raghunathan
Born, raised and educated in Bangalore, Ms Raghunathan evinced interest in Carnatic music at an early age, recognising which her mother Choodamani encouraged her talent. She was trained under the careful guidance of Vidwan B V Lakshman.
A concern for perfection, inexplicable devotion to music and the passion to learn the nuances of the art are factors that have made Mrs Raghunathan a singer of distinction. She has been described as the ‘Radiance of Music,’ ‘Jewel of Music’ and the ‘Singing Cuckoo.’
(Photo from Sudha Raghunathan’s Website)
Worthy successor
According to a recitation, “Mrs Raghunathan’s voice of gold enthrals listeners from all over the globe. There is a tantalising mystery behind that cherubic smile. Her deep relish for tradition and mystical old-world charm is supremely addictive.”
She is considered the worthy successor to the late Dr M L Vasanthakumari, one of the stalwarts of Carnatic music, for who she rendered vocal support for a number of years.
“Apart from music, MLV taught me how to live life to its fullest,” Ms Raghunathan said.
She recalled a Concert at which MLV was rendering an Ashtapathi in Ragamalika.
“The song has a Sangathi in Yaman Kalyani at a higher octave. Spontaneously, MLV stopped and allowed me to take over. She was such a generous person on stage in some sense it also reflected how she was in life as well,” Mrs Raghunathan said.
Her authentic renditions of Krithis and refined elaborations of Ragas, the élan with which she breezes through the Kalpana Swaras, her command over the octaves and her supremely confident stage presence combined with unstated humility have given her an enviable pre-eminence in the world of Carnatic music.
Honours galore
Mrs Raghunathan is the recipient of more than 25 Citations and Awards presented in India and abroad. Among them are Sangeetha Saraswathi (1993), Kalaimamani by the Government of Tamil Nadu (1994), Sangeetha Choodamani (1997), Sangeetha Kalasarathy (2000), Padma Shri (2004), Sangeetha Kalanidhi by Madras Music Academy (2013), Padma Bhushan (2015), The Academy of Music Chowdiah Award (2015), Bharathi Thyagaraja Samman by Sadguru Sri Thyagabrahma Aradhana Kainkarya Trust (2015), Stree Ratna Award by The Fine Arts Society, Chembur, Mumbai (2015), Swara Saamraagni by Thyagaraja Samithi, Nellore (2015), Sangeetha Kalasikhamani Award by The Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai (2016), Lifetime Achievement Award by Chennai Cultural Academy Trust (2016), Gold Medal by Lalitha Kala Vedika (2016), Raindropss 4th Annual Women Achiever Awards (2016), Zee Indian Women Award (2016), Isai Mani Makutam (2017), Rama Gaana Kalacharya (2017), Mutthamizh Perarignar by Madurai Tamizh Isai Sangam (2017), Samagana Mathanga National Award by Bharatiya Samagana Sabha (2017), Living Legend Award by Adding Smiles Foundation (2017), Sangeetha Ratnakara by Sri Surabharathi Sanskrit & Cultural Foundation (2017), Sangita Vidya Nidhi by Indian Fine Arts Academy, San Diego (2018), Muscat Tamizh Sangam Lifetime Achievement Award (2018), Balamuralikrishna Award (2019) and Hindu Heritage Award (2019)
