There is more to her than just music

Chennai

Chennai, Nov 1

She is one of India’s finest classical musicians and recipient of the Sangita Kalanidhi award (2013) and Padma Bhushan (2015) too, honours that seem to be the most appropriate culmination of a journey that Sudha Ragunathan began as a young girl, seated behind her guru, the great M. L. Vasanthakumari (MLV). A decade or so later she would soon occupy centre stage herself globally. Of her guru, she says, “Music was only one of the few things she taught me. She taught me how to live life to the fullest.”

Sudha has a voice that is blessed with swara and shakti, bhava and bhakti. She navigates the musical octaves with ease, adhering with fidelity to classical musical traditions. Like other women artistes, Sudha’s rise to the top has not been easy. “Being a recognised musician requires a tremendous amount of hard work. One good performance alone is not enough and there is a lot of practice one has to do,” she adds.

Sudha wants to give back to society and is the managing trustee of the Samudhaaya Foundation. She hopes to collaborate with other musicians to explore the therapeutic effects of Carnatic music. A devoted spouse and parent, she loves travelling and wants to perform Carnatic music on a gondola in the canals of Venice, which is her favourite spot.

 Compiled by Padmini Natarajan