GURU

Sri K.P. Vasu was my first teacher when I was residing in Kochi.  He was retired Principal of the Thirupunithura Music College, Kochi and was residing at Calicut.
I can never forget the 8 long years of basic training that I received from him, when he would take the train every weekend from Calicut to Kochi all the way just to teach me. I had the fortune of learning from him from 1979 – 1987 till the completion of my school education at Kochi.

Smt. Charumathi Ramachandran

Charumati Ramachandran is one of the most brilliant musicians in the Carnatic music arena. She is the true torchbearer of her Guru - the one and only  Dr. M.L. Vasanthakumari. Her style is the epitome of classicism combining creativity and adventurous artistry. She has a vast repertoire of traditional kritis, varnams, darus. Her laya artistry and grip over kaala pramana is seen in her Neraval, Swaram and Pallavi singing. She is known for her ‘Ragam Thanam  Pallavis’ which are extremely complex, at the same time adhering to the traditional classical format.

She has set to tune a number of kritis. Most famous of these is Om Namo Narayana in raga Karnaranjini – a lyric of Ambujam Krishna, a hot favourite of musicians and rasikas. She has also composed Darus and Taranas. She is the first Carnatic Musician to introduce the Hindustani form ‘Tarana’ successfully in her concerts.

She has done the Music Direction and Orchestration for a number of stage productions and albums. Notable is Krishnamritha Tarangini along with her husband Sri Trichur Ramachandran and her disciples.

She has set up the "Raaga Arts Foundation" with the aim of promoting the arts. The first production of this Foundation "Sri Krishna Madhuri" – an operatic presentation combining Music, Dance, Drama, and multimedia featured all the prominent stars in different roles as actors. Many other productions  have been featured through this foundation, like “MeeraBai”, “Swati Tirunal”. All these have been totally conceived, choreographed and directed by her.

I share a very deep and personal relation ship with my Guru, which is very difficult to express in words. I am indeed blessed to have her as my Guru and I owe whatever I am today, I owe everything to my teacher.