Profile

Born on 8th December 1953 at Karamana, Trivandrum as the second daughter to Late P. Padmanabha Iyer and Smt. VP Bhagayalekshmi. She is the grand daughter of Late A. Padmanabha Iyer, author of illustrated works like Modern Travancore, Modern Mysore, Dussehra Festivals, collected works of important events of Travancore, etc , and a powerful journalist whose writings reflected the life and times of those days. Due to this, many important VIPs and Musicians were regular visitors to their house. This atmosphere of music, discussions generally created a music environment and naturally, Music came to her very easily. More over Karamana agraharam which is the centre for frequent vocal concerts by eminent artists also kindled her taste.

Karamana is a Tapoboomi since it is where Neelakanda Sivan, the great Tamil Vaggeyakara spent his life penning his immortal kritis addressed to his Ishta Devata.

Her eldest sister, late Smt Meenakshi Subramoniam was also a well known vocalist, who worked as Professor in Swati Thirunal Music College, RLV Music College and retired as the Principal of Chemmbai college of music, Palakkad.

She was introduced and trained in the basics of carnatic music by her mother from her younger days. After schooling, she joined HH Maharaja’s College for Women where she did her graduation and Post Graduation in Music. She topped as the first Ranker. She is also an expert Veena Player and an established musician and musicologist.

She was awarded Ph.D. Degree for her research on “Contributions of Mahararaja Swati Tirunal to Music” under the guidance of the renowned Scholar and Musicologist Dr.S. Sita. Professor & Head, Department of Music, University of Madras.