Bombay Lakshmi Rajagopalan
Lakshmi Rajagopalan | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Born |
Matunga, Mumbai, India | 12 March 1959
Genres | Indian Carnatic music |
Occupation(s) | Carnatic Vocalist |
Years active | 1970-till date |
Website | http://www.bombaylakshmi.tripod.com/ |
Lakshmi Rajagopalan (born 12 March 1959) is a leading Carnatic vocalist in India.
Early life and background
Lakshmi was born in Matunga, a suburb in Mumbai, to Radha and T. V. Panchapakesan. She has four sisters who have also been honed in music. She started learning music at the age of 3 from her mother and was equally well supported by her father. She did her graduation in Commerce and C.A.I.I.B from Mumbai University. She completed a 5-year music course at Bharatiya Music & Fine Arts, in Mumbai. Later underwent 2 years of advanced training in Raagam, Thanam and Pallavi under the tutelage of Smt T.R. Balamani.
She started singing at three, winning a major competition and awarded a prize at the age of eight from M. S. Subbulakshmi.
Performances
Smt. Lakshmi Rajagopalan has sung in various popular stages and in many TV channels including Jaya TV, Amrita TV and Asianet. She has performed in All India Radio & Doordarshan Kendra as an ‘A’ Grade Artist. Being residing in [Navi Mumbai] she constantly gives performance in almost all popular sabha's in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. She has also conducted lecture cum demonstrations in Mumbai at Shivali Cultural Society, Kalamanjari and at Navarasa Music Academy.
Her voice lends itself well to the Indian Carnatic classical songs. She has sung in more than seven languages including Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Marathi and Sanskrit through her long career in music.
City wise list of performances in India
Mumbai
- Bharatiya Music & Fine Arts, Matunga.
- Vashi Fine Arts.
- Mulund Fine Arts.
- Gana Kala Vidya Nilayam, Goregaon
- Kala Mandal, Thane
- Music Triangle, Santacruz
- Asthika Samaj, Matunga
- Bhandup Fine Arts.
- Nadalaya, Andheri
- Kandivili Fine Arts
- Powai Fine Arts
- Navi Mumbai Tamil Sangam
- Baktha Rasiga Ranjana Sabha, BARC
- Nerul Ayyappa Sangam
Chennai
- Nada Inbam, Mylapore
- Satguru Sangeeta Sabha at Pammal
- Satguru Sangeeta Sabha at Villivakkam
- Maharajapuram Vishwanatha Iyer Trust
- Perambur Sangeeta Sabha
- Triplicane Rasikas' Trust
- TTD Devasthanam, Chennai
- Parthasarathy Sabha, Triplicane
- Nungambakkam Cultural Academy
- Papanasam Sangeeta Sabha, Madipakkam
- Nada Sudha, Chennai
Andhra Pradesh
- Brahmotsavam at Tirupati.
- Thyagaraja Utsavam at Tirupati
Kerala
- Chembai Sangeeta Utsavam on Guruvayur Ekadasi Day (Live Telecast – 2005)
- Chembai Memorial Trust, Trivandrum
- Teerthpada Sangeeta Utsavam, Trivandrum
- Sri Ranjani Sangeeta Sabha, Kottayam.
Kolkatta
- Rasika Ranjani Sabha
- Kolkatta Bhajan Samaj
Awards and recognition
Lakshmi has won several 1st prizes from,
Music Academy, Chennai; Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai; Krishna Gana Sabha; “Gold Medal” & prestigious Tambura prizes in the competitions conducted by "Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts" Mumbai and Sri Swathi Thirunal Kalakshetra, Mumbai.
Titles
She was honoured as “Asthana Vidhushi” & awarded the title of “Sangeeta Visharada” by His Holiness Jagadguru Sankaracharya of Bhadri Sakatapuram Sreevidya Peetam.
She also has been honoured as “Sangeeta Sevamani” by His Holiness Sri Sri Jayendra Saraswathi of Kanchi Peetam.
Audio Releases
To her credit, she has released the following audio CD.
1. Kanchi Sankara by RLV Productions
2. Devi Saranam by RLV Productions
3. Carnatic Classical by CBS Gramaphone Recording Co.
Press releases
Her concerts are highly rated and many positive reviews have been published. Some of them are listed here.
1. DNA-navi mumbai : 20 November 2007 Keertananjali's Carnatic treat enthralls audience
2. NEW BOMBAY −23. 11.2007 Bombay Lakshmi Rajagopalan's Diwali Musical Fireworks
3. THE HINDU 12 January 2007 Casting a magic spell
4. DNA – navimumbai 20 May 2006
5. IN NEW BOMBAY 20 to 26 May 2006 Stalwart Smt.LakshmiRajagopalan's Magnificent Concert
6. THE HINDU, New Delhi QUALITY MUSIC
7. The Indian Express, New Delhi Singing from the heart
8. THE INDIAN POST, KOLKATA Good song selection
9. THE INDIAN POST, KOLKATA Great Singer
10. FREE PRESS JOURNAL Melody & mime
11. THE INDIAN EXPRESS, MUMBAI Pleasing Concert
12. THE HINDU – 30 May 2008 Music that marks a puritan
References
- Syed Muthahar, Saqaf (12 January 2007). "Casting a magic spell". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
- B.R.C, Iyengar (30 May 2008). "Music that marks a puritan". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
- WMC News Dept. (20 September 2008). "The Navratri Music Festival in Mayur Vihar – Delhi (India) 2008". World Music Central. Retrieved 10 July 2009.