Dr. M. Narmadha is an Indian violinist in the Carnatic and Hindustani traditions.
Narmadha is the daughter of violinist M. S. Gopalakrishnan. She trained with her grandfather, Parur A. Sundaram Iyer, and later, her father. She achieved a doctoral degree from Delhi University as a U. G. C. fellow under sitar-player Prof. Debu Chowdhari and musicologist Dr. K. G. Ginde. Her doctoral thesis compares North and South Indian music styles.
Born into a family of Renowned, accomplished and popular musicians, Dr M Narmadha is the third genre of Parur-MSG tradition with formal training from her grandfather Shri Parur A Sundaram Iyer from the age of four, father Padmashri and PadmaBhushan Awardee M.S. Gopalakrishnan and mother Smt. Meenakshi Goplakrishnan with the rare privilege of learning both Carnatic and Hindustani systems simultaneously from her father in violin and from her mother Smt.Meenakshi Gopalakrishnan and Sangitha Kalanidhi Shri T.M.Tyagarajan in vocal and has since proved her mettle in both styles.
A career gold medalist, top grade artiste of All IndiaRadio, Narmadha won her Doctorate from Delhi University as a Senior U.G.C fellow for her unique thesis on Comparative study of Raagas of IndianMusic later published as a book titled. ‘IndianMusic and Sancara in Raagas’ under the guidance of Sitar maestro Prof. Debu Chaudhuri and vocalist Dr.K.G.Ginde
Narmadha had performed violin duets with her father (late) PadmaBhushan M.S.Gopalakrishnan for many years. Not only she is a most sought after violin soloist, she accompanies leading Carnatic vocalists and has 45 years of service to Indian Music with around 7000 concerts. She performs vocal concerts, having been vocally trained by her mother and Shri. T. M. Tyagarajan. She has toured all over the world including USA, UK, Holland, South Africa, Australia, Singapore, Spain, Malaysia, Hongkong etc. She was awarded the Best Violinist award by the Music Academy, Madras, eight times consecutively.
Narmadha the most sought after soloist in Violin in both Karnatak and Hindustani traditions of presentation, having performed more than 6000 concerts is a unique soloist, accompanist and has played violin duets with her father Shri M.S.Gopalakrishnan, She has also presented Jugalbandi concerts in Hindustani and Karnatak styles and has widely performed in India and abroad and also released CDs in both styles of Indian music.
Endowed with effortless bowing and elegant precision, melodies directly appealing to the heart, treading the path of trend and tradition, completing 45 years of service to Indian Music, Narmadha, has charmed audiences all over the world with her vivacious expressions on her Violin marked by total involvement, complete commitment and dedication and occupies a very important place in the world of Indian classical music.
Narmadha has won several awards for career excellence in performance and Lecture Demonstrations. In recognition of her contribution to Indian Classical Violin Music. She was conferred, Kalaimamani ‘by the Govt. of Tamil Nadu for excellence in violin, Shanmukhananda Sangeeta Shiromani by the Shanmukhananda Sangeeta Sabha, Mumbai, Yami Award for the Best Accomplished Violinist by Music Today Group, Mumbai and Shantidoot Award, from Mahamountirth Ashram Ujjain,Vadya Bharati from Bharatam, Trissur,Bhavans Award for Excellence in Violin from the Chief Justice of India Mr.Sadasivam, from Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan, Tantri Vadya Visharada, San Francisco.
Narmadha speaks English, Sanskrit and French. Her articles on music have been published in journals throughout the world. Her book on Hindustani and Carnatic forms of music, Indian Music and Sancaras in Ragas, is published by Daryagang Publishers, New Delhi. Her aim is to propagate Parur-MSG style in violin playing.
Narmadha"s music Foundation School 'SANCARA' Perpetuates Parur MSG Violin legacy, teaching Violin, Vocal and Musicology. Every student is trained to become a practitioner of the rich classical traditional Indian music and also educated on the technicalities and niceties of this classical heritage Parur MSG Guruji Violin style. She teaches violin music, musicology and vocal music through Skype,throughout the world.