Gayathri “Kalaimamani” Girish is a Carnatic vocalist. She undertook an archival project titled “Azhwargalum Amudha Tamizhum” to render the Azhwar Pasurams[1] (Divya Prabandams) on DD Podhigai television every week for 8 consecutive years. She serves on the artist panel for the ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) which is an autonomous organisation of the Government of India, involved in India's external cultural relations, through cultural exchange with other countries and their peoples.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

Gayathri Girish
Gayathri Girish
Gayathri Girish
Background information
Born (1973-10-09) 9 October 1973 (age 50)[citation needed]
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
GenresCarnatic vocalist
Occupation(s)Singer

Early life and childhood edit

Gayathri Girish was born in Coimbatore and spent her growing years at Chennai. She has completed her undergraduate studies in Mathematics (Gold Medalist) and holds a post graduate degree in Computer Applications (MCA) both from Meenakshi College for Women, University of Madras, Chennai.[14] Her childhood was entirely filled with music - having learnt to play the violin too briefly as a child. She pursued her saadhana in music religiously, attended numerous competitions, and won several prizes establishing herself as an artiste in the making right from her early years.[13][15]

Her introduction to music began as a child at the age of 6 years under the guidance of her mother Padmini Srinivasan. She subsequently came under the tutelage of Vidwan Vaigal.S.Gnanaskandan and Padma Bhushan, Sangeetha Kalanidhi Madurai T.N.Seshagopalan. She is an “A-grade” artiste of All India Radio, Chennai and performs for Doordarshan and other private television channels. She specialises in lecture-sessions, thematic multi-media presentations integrating Bhakti and Carnatic Music and lecture-demonstrations.[16]

Career edit

Concert tours edit

Gayathri has presented concerts in numerous Sabhas and forums in India including at the Margazhi Isai Vizha (Madras Music Season) in Chennai’s Sabhas from the year 1990.[17] She has travelled internationally and performed at the Cleveland Tyagaraja Aradhana,[18] USA, Festival of India at Russia, Sydney Music Festival at Australia, ICCR Colombo etc. apart from touring Singapore, Malaysia, Muscat, London, USA etc. for concerts.[13] She has delivered Pallavis with complex talas and Jugalbandhis.[19][20][21]

Lecture demonstrations and paper presentations edit

Gayathri's Lec-Dems have covered subjects such as Sathguru Tyagaraja – the Innovator,[22] Isai-tamizh anrum inrum (Tamil music then and now), Sanskrit compositions of Papanasam Sivan, Fundamentals of Music – for schools in Chennai, Handling of Raga Bhairavi by the Music trinity, The place of 'Varnam' in Carnatic Music, Popular Pallavis, Evolution of musical forms in the post-trinity period, Sankeerthana Rathnavali, Compositions of Margadarsi Seshayyangar etc. She has presented workshops on teamwork and leadership to Corporates such as SAP Labs. Papers presented include, 'The music of Muthusvami Dikshitar - a window into his personality' at the Swadeshi Indology Conference organised by BVB at Bangalore in 2019[23] and Vedanta and Music at the 22nd International Congress of Vedanta organised by the Special Center For Sanskrit Studies at JNU, New Delhi in December 2015[24]

Multimedia presentations edit

Gayathri’s has delivered multi-media presentations on topics such as ‘Sapta Vitanka Sthalas of Tyagarajaswamy', 'Sri Tyagarajaya Namasthe', ‘The genius of Muthusvami Dikshitar’, ‘Nagareshu Kanchi’, ‘Compositions of Sathguru Tyagaraja on deities other than Lord Rama’, ‘Shiva-Shakti’, ‘Adi Shankara Bhagavadpada’, ‘Arupadai Veedu’, ‘Ma Ramanan - Uma Ramanan’, ‘Kshetra Darshan of Shiva and Shakti’, ‘Different Aspects of Shiva Bhakti’, ‘Myriad Forms of Lord Shiva’ etc.[22][25][26][27]

Research under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture - Government of India edit

Gayathri's project "Myriad Forms of Lord Shiva”, a thematic multimedia production, was done under the Production Grant, instituted by the Ministry of Culture, New Delhi, and spanned an entire year from February 2013 to March 2014.[28] This series was conceived as a concert-cum-multimedia presentation of temple architecture and iconography of the various forms of Lord Shiva, along with explanations of the nuances of the compositions, philosophical ideas, co-relating them appropriately to the context of authentic Sanskrit texts and treatises. She is also currently doing research work under the Senior Fellowship scheme instituted by the Ministry of Culture.[29][30]

Awards and recognition edit

  • Ph D: Thesis on 'Journey towards liberation as seen through Muthusamy Dikshidar's Kritis' - Madras University Sanskrit department (Year 2021)
  • 'Crazy' Mohan Award of Excellence – Crazy Creations (Year 2019)[31]
  • M S Subbulakshmi Puraskar – Varkala, Trivandrum (Year 2019)[32]
  • Sivan Isai Selvi – Papanasam Sivan Rasigar Sangam Chennai (Year 2017)
  • Ustaad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar – Sangeet Natak Akademi (Year 2014)[33]
  • Sangeetha Sarathy – Sri Matha Samarpanam Trust (Year 2013)[34]
  • Kalaimamani – Government of Tamilnadu (Year 2011)[35]
  • Kalai Nirai Mamani – Tamilnadu Government Music College (Year 2007)
  • Isai Peroli – Karthik Fine Arts, Chennai (Year 2003)
  • Dr.MLV award – Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai (Year 2002)
  • Yuva Kala Bharati – Bharat Kalachar, Chennai (Year 2000)
  • Gaana Rathna – Department of Cultural Affairs, Colombo (Year 1997)[34]

Discography edit

Sl.No Album Released by
1 Karnaranjani Amutham
2 Neelambari Amutham
3 Rama Namam Amutham
4 Carnatic Vocal AVM
5 Ksetra - Arupadai Veedu Charsur
6 Live in Concert- December 2007 Charsur
7 Live in Concert- December 2012 Charsur
8 Chamundi Ashttothara Kritis of Muthiah Bhagavatar – Volume 1 Charsur
9 Chamundi Ashttothara Kritis of Muthiah Bhagavatar – Volume 2 Charsur
10 Chamundi Ashttothara Kritis of Muthiah Bhagavatar – Volume 3 Charsur
11 Vaishnavam Charsur
12 Carnatic Vocal- Margam Series HMV
13 Carnatic Vocal HMV
14 Carnatic Vocal INRECO
15 Swaraadesham Kalavardhini
16 Devi Krithis Kalavardhini
17 Sri Raja Rajeswari Andhadhi Kalavardhini
18 Explosions- Fusion Album - Volume 1 Kosmic Music
19 Explosions- Fusion Album - Volume 2 Kosmic Music
20 Ultimate - Fusion Album Kosmic Music
21 Thrayaa Kosmic Music
22 Layam - Rhythmic Ecstasies Music Today
23 Isaiye Oliye Inaindhidu Nandalala Seva Samithi Trust
24 Isaikku Isaivan Nandalala Seva Samithi Trust
25 Sri Matruka Pushpamala Stuti Nandalala Seva Samithi Trust
26 Kunthalavarali Rajalakshmi Audio
27 Madrasil Margazhi 2006-Music Academy Concert Rajalakshmi Audio
28 108 Divya Kshetra Krithis Rukmini Ramani
29 Pratyaksha Deivame Rukmini Ramani
30 Sunaadha Soundaryam Sangeetha
31 Vande Vaasudevam Sangeetha
32 Captivating Melodies Sangeetha
33 Compositions of Trinity Sangeetha
34 Carnatic Vocal Sargam
35 Raaga Manjari Swatisoft solutions
36 Paattu Dipamai Olirude – Swathi’s Sanskriti Series Swatisoft solutions
37 Shiva-Shakthi- Double CD Album – Swatisoft Solutions Swatisoft solutions
38 Classical Melodies Vani Recording Company
39 Venu Gaanam Vani Recording Company
40 Madhuram Vijay Musicals
41 Bharatiyar Songs Vijay Musicals
42 Varam Tarum Sri Anjaneya Vijay Musicals
43 Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Vijay Musicals
44 Aishwaryam Tarum Sri Lakshmi Hayagreevar Vijay Musicals
45 Vetri Tarum Navagrahangal Vijay Musicals
46 Siragiri Velava Vijay Musicals
47 Tirukkanden Vijay Musicals

References edit

  1. ^ "Gayathri Girish, Carnatic Vocalist, Tamil Nadu, India - Sabhash!". www.sabhash.com. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  2. ^ "'There's so much to learn'". The Hindu. 26 October 2007. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  3. ^ Ramani, Nandini (31 July 2014). "Music for the soul". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  4. ^ Swaminathan, G. (3 July 2011). "Ragas well-articulated". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  5. ^ "Carnatic musicians, dancers honoured". The Hindu. 13 April 2006. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  6. ^ "A brilliant rendition of kalpana swaras". New Indian Express. 14 May 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Life is a beautiful song". The Hindu. 13 March 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  8. ^ "Where being a master is not honour enough". The Times of India. 16 June 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Arya, Tamannah among 74 chosen for Kalaimamani awards". The Times of India. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  10. ^ Balasubramanaian, V. (17 December 2013). "Pace matters". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  11. ^ India. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (2005). Report - Government of India, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. p. 54. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  12. ^ Swaminathan, G. (11 January 2013). "Sustained the tempo". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  13. ^ a b c "Gayatri Girish". carnatica.in. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  14. ^ "Alumni - Meenakshi College for Women". www.meenakshicollege.com. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  15. ^ "Individual Issues". www.sruti.com. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  16. ^ "Sruti Magazine: Gayathri Girish". Sruti Magazine. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  17. ^ "The Magic of Margazhi: Five musicians on their experiences this year". The Indian Express. 7 January 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  18. ^ "Gayathri Girish - rasikas.org". www.rasikas.org. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  19. ^ https://www.pressreader.com/india/the-hindu/20130111/282355447093891. Retrieved 22 August 2020 – via PressReader. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. ^ "FROM THE DIARY OF A SABHA HOPPER - MY ARTICLE IN SAMUDHRA - rasikas.org". www.rasikas.org. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  21. ^ Krishnamurti, P. S. (23 September 2010). "Graceful blend of styles". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  22. ^ a b "MYLAPORE TIMES » Vocalist Gayathri Girish to present saint Thyagaraja theme-based concerts". 23 August 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  23. ^ "Swadeshi Indology Conference – 5". SWADESHI INDOLOGY CONFERENCES. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  24. ^ "Twenty Second International Congress of Vedanta (22Vedanta), Special Center for Sanskrit Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi". sanskrit.jnu.ac.in. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  25. ^ "'Sri Tyagaraja Namaste' is Gayathri Girish's new theme concert series".
  26. ^ Swaminathan, G. (12 July 2018). "What is special about Kanchipuram, heritage or music?". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  27. ^ "Lyrical notes that explore spiritual history". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  28. ^ "CUR_TITLE". sangeetnatak.gov.in. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  29. ^ Ramani, Nandini (31 July 2014). "Music for the soul". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  30. ^ sivakumar, s (11 April 2013). "Vocals, visuals aid vision". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  31. ^ Correspondent, Special (16 October 2019). "Crazy Mohan's birth anniversary to be observed". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  32. ^ "Sruti - October 2019 Digital Magazine from Magzter - World's Largest Digital Newsstand". Magzter. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  33. ^ "Recognising young talents". The Hindu. 19 June 2014. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  34. ^ a b "CUR_TITLE". sangeetnatak.gov.in. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  35. ^ "Kalaimamani awards announced". The Hindu. 29 January 2011. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 August 2020.

External links edit