गुरू गोविन्द दोऊ खड़े, काके लागूं पांय।
बलिहारी गुरू अपने गोविन्द दियो बताय।।
Guru & Govind stand before me,
to whom shall I pay homage?
I bow to thee my Guru who
showed me the way to the Lord
Albert Einstein had said,”It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression & knowledge:”
The Guru-Shishya relationship holds almost a spiritual place in Indian life. Gurukripa awards were established to recognise the immense contributions of Gurus or teachers who have strived over the years to create the next generation of talented musicians.
Guru Kripa Awardees 2023
DR. R.N SREELATHA
The only musician of Karnataka to be a leading authority on Carnatic vocal music and musicology. She holds a Doctorate in Music for her research on "Aspects of Manodharma in Carnatic Music" and is known for blending traditional Carnatic classical music with academic rigor. Though firmly rooted in classical traditions, she is equally comfortable with modern interpretations and scholarly presentations. A visiting faculty at various universities across India and abroad, she performs at prestigious music festivals and academic forums worldwide. Dr. Sreelatha has performed in prominent venues such as the Mysore Palace and The Music Academy in Chennai, and has also made appearances in international arenas in Malaysia, Singapore, and the USA. Her performances and workshops have earned her critical acclaim for her contributions to the field of Indian classical music.
GAANA SWARA LAHARI VIDHUSHI SMT. SHAKUNTALA
R. Shakuntala is a South Indian classical vocalist from a traditional musical family, trained by her father, the late S. Rajagopala Iyer, a respected musicologist and author of the book "Sangeetha Akshara Hridaya." She is a graded All India Radio artist and has performed numerous solo concerts. Shakuntala, along with her sister, Smt. Sukanya Narayan has supported demonstrations of her father’s work at prestigious venues like The Madras Music Academy and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. She is a Gold Medalist in the Karnataka State Vidwat examination and has composed music for several productions in India and abroad, including tuning Adi Shankara's Soundarya Lahari slokas in 100 ragas. Shakuntala has a long history of teaching Carnatic music, particularly focusing on techniques like Kalpana swaras, and has trained many students for various state board exams. Her contributions to Carnatic music have been recognized in India and abroad, including honors at the Cleveland Annual Thyagaraja Festival. She continues to teach advanced students and co-authored a book with her sister on Tala calculations based on her father’s teachings.
Guru Kripa Awardees 2021
TARA KINI
Tara Kini is an independent consultant in Education and Music and works with several reputed institutions in Bangalore, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and Ahmedabad, developing curriculum, and training teachers and trainers. Tara has been a teacher and administrator in Mallya Aditi International School for twenty four years. She partnered in setting up the Centre for Education, Research and Training in the Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology. Tara has trained intensively in Hindustani classical music, composed music for theatre, and directed music shows. She has taught a course on the Music and Religion of South Asia in Stanford University and presented research papers on music and education in Sheffield and Helsinki. She is the founder director of a music collective called Sunaad that has presented several shows that demystify classical music.
DR. PRAKASH SONTAKKE
The only musician of Karnataka to get the Independent Music Awards for World fusion Canada, USA, the Nashville Award, Just Plain Folks Award and the International Song writers award. He is the only guitarist of India playing different styles on the Electric Slide Guitar. Though from a very traditional Hindustani Classical background, he is equally comfortable with other genres as he is with classical. A visiting faculty at various Universities all over the world and frequent traveler he performs abroad at leading Music festivals and International forums . He also performs with “Moonarra” from Bangalore, “Lehera” from Canada , “FOOD” from Norway "FIGURA ENSEMBLE" from Denmark and also collaborates and features in various bands like “Tala Taranagini” with Vid TAS Mani and Vid Rama Mani and “Newlife” with Ace Drummer Sivamani and Sufi Singer Runa Rizvi.His performance in the Coke Studio with Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa got rave reviews.
USTAAD ZAKIR HUSSAIN
Ustaad Zakir Hussain is one of the most renowned tabla players globally, celebrated for his virtuosity and innovative approach. He is a pioneer in popularizing Indian rhythms on the international stage, performing with distinguished artists across various genres. Known for his exceptional skills, he blends traditional Indian classical music with contemporary styles. Ustaad Zakir Hussain has collaborated with global icons such as George Harrison, the Grateful Dead, and jazz pianist Chick Corea. He has also been a prominent figure at major music festivals worldwide and frequently tours internationally. His contributions to music have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Padma Bhushan and Grammy Award. His performances and recordings have earned him accolades and widespread acclaim in the music community.
Guru Kripa Awardees 2019
VIDWAN S. SHANKAR
Vidwan S. Shankar is a highly accomplished and popular artist. He was trained by his mother, Rajamma Shastry, and also by Nagarathna Bai and Vallabham Kalyanasundaram, sister of the composer Mayuram Viswanatha Shastry. Shankar is an "A-Top" artiste on All India Radio and Doordarshan. He won the first prize in the AIR competition in 1973, Best Musician Award from the Bangalore Gayana Samaj, and the Best young musician award from The Music Academy, Chennai. Shankar has been awarded titles like Sangeetha Vidyanidhi, Gandharva Vamsha Nidhi and Swananda Kalashri, and was honoured in 2009 by Karnataka Sangeetha Nritya Academy.
PANDIT PARAMESHWAR HEGDE
Vidwan S. Shankar is a highly accomplished and popular artist. He was trained by his mother, Rajamma Shastry, and also by Nagarathna Bai and Vallabham Kalyanasundaram, sister of the composer Mayuram Viswanatha Shastry. Shankar is an "A-Top" artiste on All India Radio and Doordarshan. He won the first prize in the AIR competition in 1973, Best Musician Award from the Bangalore Gayana Samaj, and the Best young musician award from The Music Academy, Chennai. Shankar has been awarded titles like Sangeetha Vidyanidhi, Gandharva Vamsha Nidhi and Swananda Kalashri, and was honoured in 2009 by Karnataka Sangeetha Nritya Academy.
Guru Kripa Awardees 2018
Vidushi Alamelu Mani
Vidushi Alamelu Mani a renowned star in the constellation of Carnatic vocalists, and among the most prominent Carnatic music teachers in Bombay. Having had the privilege of learning from the legendary T. Brinda and Thanjavur V. Sankara Iyer, she has an amazing repertoire of songs which she shares with scores of her students.She was initiated into the Carnatic realm by her husband H.A.S. Mani, who was the first Principal of the Music School, run by the Shanmukhananda Sabha, in Bombay. She has been an A Grade artist of All India Radio, Mumbai, since 1968. She is a distinguished Carnatic Music Teacher and she has been the Principal for more than five decades at the South Indian School of Music (Mumbai).She was also the first guru to her son Hariharan, a versatile playback and ghazal singer who has been honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India. She has trained many students at her school and her contribution in keeping Carnatic Music alive in Mumbai region is admirable.
Vidwan T. A. S. Mani
Vidwan T. A. S. Mani started his career at a tender age of ten. As a performer of South Indian Percussion instrument - Mridangam, he is a preferred accompanist for many leading vocal and instrumental musicians in the South. Rated as an “A top” artist by the All India Radio, he has given many performances in AIR and Doordarshan apart from performing in many other private TV channels. Mani is a living legend in the field of teaching South Indian Percussion music. He started his teaching career five decades back and has trained an unparalleled number of students. Mani’s lessons are simple to understand, structured to provide a gradual learning process and rich in musical quality.
Dr. R.B. Sontakke
Dr. R.B. Sontakke, one of the foremost practitioners of the Gwalior Gharana, was a double doctorate in Vocal and Violin. He was a veritable encyclopaedia on the Hindustani Ragadari system of music (encompassing its science and history) and an equally adept performer. He was the leading disciple of Sangeet Martand Pt. Omkarnath Thakur and one of the founding pillars of the Music College of Benaras Hindu University (BHU). An expert in Hindustani classical vocal music and a gifted violin artiste, he was an educator at the BHU for well over 40 years. He later established the Hindustani Sangeet Vidyapeeth in Bangalore and coached hundreds of students under his guidance.
Vidushi R. A. Rama Mani
Vidushi R. A. Rama Mani is an outstanding vocalist, a much sought after performing artist, a demanding teacher and a brilliant composer. Blessed with a rich and mellifluous voice, she sings with spontaneity and mastery over rhythm and melody. She specialises in vocal improvisations, complex rhythmic patterns and in Konnakol - the traditional percussion language. She is a rare artist who has achieved the distinction of presenting a composition simultaneously set to two different rhythmic cycles. She is the first Carnatic vocalist to have performed with national and international jazz bands. Along with T.A.S Mani, she is the co-founder of Karnataka College of Percussion.
Dr. Mani Sontakke
Dr. Mani Sontakke was a versatile musician, vocalist and a multi-instrumentalist who held Master’s degree in 5 and a Bachelor’s degree in 12 instruments. A disciple of Pt Lalmani Mishra, she was at ease playing any instrument. She educated several students through the CHGS at Benaras and later in 1989 she established Hindustani Sangeet Vidyapeeth with her husband Dr. R.B. Sontakke, to propagate their mission of encouraging people to pursue music as a profession. She is credited with the very successful Hindustani Classical Orchestra of Benaras. The salient feature of this Orchestra was the usage of the rare instruments like Dilruba, Tar Shehnai, Bulbul Tarang, Jalatarang, Kashta Tarang, Lauh Tarang, Hawaiian Guitar, and Jhanjh.
Guru Kripa Awardees 2017
Vidushi Lalith J. Rao
Vidushi Lalith J. Rao is a doyenne of the illustrious Agra-Atrauli Gharana, having received intensive training under the Gharana stalwarts Padma Bhushan Ustad Khadim Hussain Khan and Pandit Ramarao Naik. She has been honoured with the Bangalore Gayana Samaj Life-time Achievement Award, Puttaraj Gawai Samman of Gadag, Karnataka Kalashree Gaurava Prashasthi, BKF-Mallikarjun Mansur Award, Nishagandhi award for Life-time Achievement in Classical Music from the Government of Kerala, Tana Riri award from the Gujarat State Sangeet Natak Akademi, Swaratapasvi by Swara Sankula, Mysore. She was conferred the title Ganakala Tapaswini by Srimad Vadiraja Aradhana Trust for life-time achievement in Hindustani Classical Music.
Pandit Vinayak Malharrao Torvi
Pandit Vinayak Malharrao Torvi is a Hindustani Vocalist of Gwalior and Kirana Gharana. He developed interest in music at an early age by listening to his father Malharrao Torvi, a Harikatha exponent. He has trained under Gayanacharya Gururao Deshpande, and later from Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. Pandit Torvi is the recipient of many awards including Kirana Gharana award from Music Forum Mumbai, Chowdiah Memorial Award, Bangalore, Gyana Gandharva from KGF music association, Rajyotsav Award, Govt of Karnataka, Celebrity artiste of SRA, Kolkata and many more.
Sangeeta Kala Acharya Vidushi Neela Ramgopal
Sangeeta Kala Acharya Vidushi Neela Ramgopal is an accomplished Carnatic music vocalist and is regarded as the most sought after guru in Bengaluru. She started her formal music education under the legendary Sri N M Narayanan and then the illustrious Sri T K Rangachary. She has many accolades to her credit including Best performer award from Krishna Gaana Sabha and Madras Music Academy, title of "Sangeetha Kala Samragni" from the Rama Krishna Gaana Sabha, Sangeeta Chudamani from Rama Seva mandali, and Karnataka Kalashree, the coveted Sangeetha Kalaachrya from the Music Academy and the Sangeeth Natak Academy Puraskar. She has also published a book of 50 Tamil compositions in Kannada script. She also recorded audio CDs of krithis in all the 72 Melakartha Ragas.
Vidushi Dr. T S Sathyavathi
Vidushi Dr. T S Sathyavathi is a mutlifaceted Karnatic classical musician, composer, academician, musicologist and a performer and a scholar in Samskritha. Her mentors include Vid. Vasanthamadhavi and Padmabhushan R K Shrikantan for Carnatic Vocals, Vid. B V K Sastry for Musicology. Dr. Sathyavathi has been awarded the Karnataka Kalashree, Asthana Vidhushi Avani Shankar Mutt, Bangalore, Jnana Samudra, Chennai, Natyaveda, Mallige Kannada Samgha, USA and Musicologist Award-2017, Madras Music Academy to name a few. She holds a Ph. D from the Dept. of Sanskrit, Bangalore University on the Contribution of Abilashithartha Chintamani to Indian music.
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