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Smt Vedavalli's Schedule for this December season:
17th - Sunday - 6-8.30 p.m. - Concert, Naada Inbam @ Raga Sudha Hall
19th - Tuesday 11- 12 noon - Lec Dem _ Tanam - Arohana, Subramanyan Hall, Adyar
21st - Thursday - 8.30-10.30 a.m. - Lec Dem on Dikshitar Paramapara compositions , Music Academy mini hall
24th Sunday - 10 a.m. -12.30 p.m. - Concert , Music Academy
26th Tuesday 8 a.m. - 8.30 a.m. - Devaganavali group presents ( Vachanas in Kannada ), Music Academy mini hall
27th Wednesday 10.30 a.m. - 12 noon - Devi & Thyagaraja - Indian Fine Arts, German Hall, T Nagar
30th Saturday - 5 -7.15p.m. - Concert, Indian FIne Arts, German hall, T Nagar

Titles, awards, prizes and releases

Nachiar Tirumozhi - book with notation and CD-cassette

RV's photo page

Devaganavali Trust organised a function on 3 May 2003 to release the book "Nachiar Tirumozhi" with notation, and the audio cassette and CD sung by Smt. R Vedavalli. This endeavour was undertaken with the encouragement of Sri Srinivasan of Bangalore, in memory of his late wife, a great rasika.

The book presents simple, easy-to-follow notation for all the pasurams. The pasurams have been set to tune by Smt R Vedavalli in suitable ragas and talas depending on the mood and metre. The cassette and CD present the artiste's rendering of the 144 pasurams in her inimitable style.

The release function was presided over by Justice Bakthavatsalam, and speakers included Sri Ramanathan IAS (Editor, Sruti), Smt Sulochana Pattabhiraman, Sri Obul Reddy and Smt Vyjayantimala Bali.

At the Sadas at the Music Academy on 1 Jan. 2000. Photo courtesy: KutcheriBuzz

A brief bio-profile

Born in Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu to Shri Ramaswami Iyengar and Padmasani Ammal.  Her talent for music was identified early by Sangita Kalanidhi Srirangam Iyengar, who bought the five-year-old a harmonium and got her started on vocal lessons.The family shifted to Madras in a few years' time, and Vedavalli came under the tutelage of Sangita Kalanidhi Mudicondan Venkatarama Iyer.  From early in life, Vedavalli won several awards and prizes in prestigious competitions including All India Radio's first prizes for Classical Music and Light Classical Music, awarded by the President of India.

She was a Central Government scholarship awardee and thus specialised in Padams and Javalis with Smt Mukta, in Pallavi with Shri Mudicondan himself.  Although she had been giving performances since childhood, it was Shri Ariyakudi who advised her to turn 'professional' when he heard her sing as a 18-year old.  Since then, there has been no looking back for this gifted performer, who is today an 'A-top' graded artiste.  She has travelled the length and breadth of India, giving concerts and lecture-demonstrations, as also North America, South-East Asia and Far East, and the Gulf.

Smt Vedavalli served in the Teachers' College of Music of the Madras Music Academy for several years, before becoming Professor of Vocal Music in the Government College of Music, Adyar.  She has thus shared her deep knowledge and extensive repertoire with numerous students at these institutions, apart from training some privately.  Among her disciples today are accomplished performers, researchers, teachers and writers.

Smt Vedavalli is also an expert veena player, and has good command of Sanskrit, Telugu and Kannada, apart from her mother tongue Tamil, which helps her sing with artha bhava.

Smt Vedavalli lives in Chennai with her husband Shri D R Santhanam and mother Smt. Padmasini Ammal.

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Page last updated Dec 2006

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