Carnatic Violin Concert by Akkarai Sisters

SRUTI is pleased to present a Grand Violin concert featuring the Akkarai sisters accompanied by R Sankaranarayanan on the Mridangam and Chandrasekara Sarma on the Ghatam

Akkarai S Subhalakshmi (Violin)

Akkarai S Subhalakshmi hails from a musical family.  She started learning vocal and violin under her father, Akkarai Shri S Swamynathan, a veteran violinist who founded the Swara Raga Sudha school of music.  She was joined on the stage by her younger sister, Akkarai S Sornalatha at an early age. They are together known as ‘Akkarai Sisters’ and hold the unique distinction of being highly sought-after as both violinists and vocalists. Subhalakshmi also trained under Shri V Janakiraman, Shri O V Subramanian, Padmabhushan Shri P S Narayanaswamy and Chitravina Ravikiran.

Subhalakshmi is one of today’s leading violinists and is known for her unique tone reminiscent of the human voice, and her soulful music that is a harmonious blend of virtuosity on the violin and the fine nuances of Indian classical music. She is equally enthralling as a vocalist with her mellifluous voice and depth of creativity and sensitivity. She has shared the stage with legends like Dr M Balamuralikrishna, Dr N Ramani, G Harishankar, T V Gopalakrishnan, Palghat R Raghu, Umayalpuram K Sivaraman, Vikku Vinayakaram, A K Pazhanivel.  She has also been a part of several of Sri T M Krishna's collaborations.

Subhalakshmi has performed widely in India, and around the world. She has been featured at the Théâtre de la Ville Festival (Paris), the farewell concert for Zubin Mehta (Munich), the Darbar Festival and Sadler’s Wells Theatre (U.K.), Kalman Sultanik Confederation House (Israel), a special duet with her sister for the Emperor and Empress of Japan. She has also given talks and lecture-demonstrations on Carnatic music, the art of accompaniment, at various venues.

Subhalakshmi was conferred with the "Rajiv Gandhi Yuva Puraskar" award by the President of India at the age of thirteen, and has since earned a host of other awards including the "Yuva Kala Bharathi", the "Kalki Krishnamurthy" Memorial Award, the "Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar" award from the Sangeet Natak Akademy, "Vani Kala Nipuna", and the "Shanmukha Sangeeta Shiromani". In 2019, she became the youngest violinist to achieve the 'A' grade at All India Radio and Doordarshan. The sisters received the prestigious "Kalaimamani" award in 2019. 

Subhalakshmi’s first album was a rare feat featuring her vocal with her own violin accompaniment at the age of fifteen. Her other albums include ‘Keeravani’ and ‘Varali’, and duets with her sister such as ‘Double Bow’, ‘Ananda Tandavam’, ‘Inta Saukhyam’, and Charsur’s ‘December Season’ Series.

Akkarai S Sornalatha (Violin)

Akkarai S Sornalatha hails from a musical family.  She started learning vocal and violin under her father, Akkarai Shri S Swamynathan, a veteran violinist who founded the Swara Raga Sudha school of music, who continues to guide her.  Under his intensive training, she made her concert debut by the tender age of eight.

She is the younger sister of the renowned violinist and vocalist Akkarai S Subhalakshmi, and, performing together as 'Akkarai Sisters', they hold the unique distinction of being highly sought-after as both vocalists and violinists. Sornalatha also trained under Shri O V Subramaniam, Padmabhushan Shri P S Narayanaswamy and Chitravina Shri N Ravikiran.

Sornalatha's acclaimed style of playing, characterized by a sweet tone and sensitive fingering, is a confluence of intellect and aesthetics. She has also touched the hearts of many through her vocal music with her soulful and creative style. She has played with several leading musicians such as Chitravina N Ravikiran, T M Krishna, Shrimushnam V Raja Rao, Hyderabad Sisters, P Unnikrishnan, S Shashank, and others.   She has toured widely in India and abroad, performing at prestigious venues, such as a special duet concert with her sister for the Emperor and Empress of Japan, Kalman Sultanik Confederation House (Israel), Umeå Jazzfestival (Sweden).  She has also given talks and lecture-demonstrations on Carnatic music, the art of accompaniment, at various venues around the world.

Sornalatha is a gold medalist MA music graduate from the University of Madras and an A-Grade artiste in both vocal and violin at All India Radio and Doordarshan;  She has received several honors & awards including the "Best Violinist" award from the Indian Fine Arts Society, and the "Kalki Krishnamurthy" memorial award.  She also received the "Shanmukha Sangeeta Shiromani" from the Shanmukhananda Sabha Mumbai, "Outstanding Vocalist" award from the Madras Music Academy, and the "Yuva Purandara Award" from Indiranagar Sangeetha Sabha, Bangalore together with her sister. The sisters received the prestigious "Kalaimamani" award in 2019. 

She has released many duet albums with her sister, such as 'Ananda Tandavam', a vocal duet in their early teens, as well as 'Double Bow', 'Inta Saukhyam', and Charsur's 'December Season' series.

R Sankaranarayanan (Mridangam)

Sankaranarayanan hails from a traditional music family of the legendary Sangeetha Kalanidhi Papanasam Sivan. His father, Papanasam Sri R. Ramani Bhagavathar is one of the direct disciples of Sri Sivan and an eminent Nama Sankeerthanam exponent. He started learning Mridangam from Vidwan Papanasam Sri Kumar and is now under the guidance of Kalaimamani Shri V. Rajarao.

Sankaranarayanan started performing in concerts at the age of 9.  Since then, he has accompanied senior artists including Dr. M. Balamurali Krishna, Shri. P. S. Narayanaswami, Dr. N. Ramani, Shri. T. N. Seshagopalan, Sikkil Sisters, Bombay Sisters, Dr. Sudha Raghunathan, and has performed at venues worldwide.  He has performed in Jugalbandi concerts with senior Hindustani musicians and collaborated with Western musicians.  Sankaranarayanan is an ‘A’ grade artist on the All India Radio.

G Chandrasekara Sharma (Ghatam)

Chandrasekara Sharma, a Ghatam artist and Vocalist, hails from an illustrious family of Carnatic musicians. His father, Shri. T. H. Gurumurthy is a veteran Carnatic violinist, his uncle Shri. T H 'Vikku' Vinayakram is a legendary Ghatam Vidwan.  

Chandrasekara Sharma initially started learning Ghatam from his uncle Sri. T.H. Subash Chandran. He has played with senior musicians including Shri T.K Murthy, Shri. Guruvayur Dorai, Shri. Thiruvarur Bhakthavatsalam. He has also given his contribution to Cinema Music Albums and TV serials.

Chandrasekara Sharma is also a professional vocalist, and a disciple of Sri Vijay Siva & Sri R K Shriramkumar.