Dr.M.Narmadha born 11th April is a celebrated popular third-generation heritage violinist who performs solo violin concerts in both Carnatic and Hindustani classical systems of Indian Music.
She is the daughter of the legendary violinist Padma Bhusan, Padmashree Awardee guruji Shri M.S.Gopalakrishnan.Trained in Violin music, simultaneously in both Hindustani and Carnatic music with her grandfather, Parur A. Sundaram Iyer, her father M.S.Gopalakrishnan and in vocal music with mother Smt Meenakshi Gopalakrishnan, she won her doctoral degree from Delhi University as a University Grants Commission fellow in both Hindustani and Carnatic Music systems with the renowned sitar player Pandit Devabrata (Debu) Chaudhuri and musicologist Dr. K. G. Ginde for her comparative studies in Indian Music ragas and later published as ‘Indian Music and Sancara in Raagas’ which has sold more than 500 copies now. Kalaimamani, Kalashree, Vani Kala Sudhakara Dr.M.Narmadha renowned versatile popular third-generation violinist, daughter and disciple of the legendary Violinist, PadmaShri Padma Bhushan Awardee M. S. Gopalakrishnan and Meenakshi Gopalakrishnan is a happy combination of a violinist, musicologist, and vocalist. Dr. M.Narmadha received her Ph.D. in Music from Delhi University as a Senior University Grants Commission {UGC} fellow, under the able guidance of Sitar virtuoso Prof.Debu Chaudhuri and renowned musicologist Dr.K.G.Ginde. A career gold medalist, top-grade artist of All India Radio, and outstanding empanelled artist ICCR, outstanding empanelled artist Ministry of Culture, she has performed violin solo, Jugalbandhi, and duets in both Hindustani and Carnatic classical styles with equal command, thanks to her initial simultaneous rigorous training in both styles. Initially, she got trained under her grandfather Parur A. Sundaram Iyer, after whom the ‘Parur’ style has been named (He was the pioneer who introduced Hindustani Music in South India and introduced the Violin in North India as early as 1925.)
Having completed more than 10,000 concerts in close to 5 decades of Musical journey, she is a brilliant Academician, Composer, Musicologist, Vocalist, and her Musical foundation “Sancara” coaches students in vocal and violin. Dr.M.Narmadha has charmed audiences all over the world like the USA, UK, Russia, Holland, South Africa, Australia Singapore, Barcelona, Malaysia, Hongkong She has received the Best Violinist Award from the Music Academy, Madras eight times consecutively. She performs in total versatility in vivacious expressions in Jugalbandi collaboration concerts, Fusion Concerts, and Thematic special concerts in various languages embracing classical and semi-classical zones.