Mar 08 2026 to Mar 08 2026 11:30 a.m.

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

Sthree Thaal Tharang is a thoughtfully curated all-women presentation that reflects on the presence, authorship, and artistic agency of women within the Carnatic tradition.

The repertoire draws from the vachanas of Akkamahadevi, addressed to Chenna Mallikarjuna and marked by spiritual intensity and metaphysical longing; the compositions of Ambujam Krishna, known for their lyrical clarity and devotional depth; and the verses of Andal, whose poetic imagination and theological vision shaped Tamil bhakti literature. The programme also includes bhajans of Mirabai, whose voice articulated a deeply personal and fearless devotion.

In addition, the ensemble revisits compositions popularised by pioneering women performers of the twentieth century, acknowledging their role in shaping modern concert practice. The evening culminates in laya-oriented creations by Sukanya Ramgopal, integrating Ghata Tharang with percussive textures and melodic interplay.

Rather than a thematic tribute alone, Sthree Thaal Tharang situates women not at the margins but at the centre of Carnatic music’s evolving history — as composers, interpreters, and custodians of a living tradition.

This event is a part of our programming to celebrate International Women’s Day. Music, theatre, and conversation: by women, for everyone.

Supported by:

Performers

Sukanya Ramgopal
Ghata Tharang, Ghatam & Konnakol
Sukanya Ramgopal is one of the frontline musicians of India and the first woman ghatam artist of the country. Over the past 40 years, she has mastered the art of playing the ghatam in Carnatic music.

Sukanya began training in the mridangam at the age of 12 at Sri Jaya Ganesh Talavadya Vidyalaya in Chennai, under the tutelage of Sri T. R. Harihara Sharma. She also learnt the violin under Sri Gurumurthy. However, it was the ghatam that was her true calling. Under the able guidance of Sri Harihara Sharma and later under his son, ghatam maestro Sri Vikku Vinayakram, Sukanya trained rigorously on the ghatam. Over the last five decades, Sukanya has mastered the unique ghatam fingering techniques and is today considered the torchbearer of the Vikku baani of ghatam playing. She is also a proficient performer on the Konnakol (vocal percussion). Sukanya has provided ghatam accompaniment to several senior Carnatic musicians. Besides performances across prominent venues in India, she has also enthralled audiences across the world. The GhataTharang(multi-ghatam) is a unique idea conceptualised by Sukanya. Her commitment to breaking new ground has inspired her to play the GhataTharang with 6 – 7 ghatams of different shruthis, thereby creating melody on a percussion instrument. This is the first time that a percussion instrument has come to occupy the centrestage in a Carnatic concert.

Sukanya is an ‘A Top’ grade artist of the All India Radio. She received the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar for the year 2014. Sukanya leads an all women’s instrumental ensemble called Sthree Thaal Tharang. In 2017. She is also the author of Sunaadam:The Vikku baani of Ghatam Playing, the first textbook for ghatam learning.

Srividya Ramanath
Vocals
Srividya Ramanath began her musical journey under the nurturing guidance of the illustrious Neyveli Sri R. Santhanagopalan. She later received advanced training in Padams and Javalis from the legendary T. Mukthamma, and learned select Dasa Kritis from Leelavathi Padmanabhan.

She has been adjudged Best Vocal Musician by several prestigious sabhas in Chennai and Bangalore.

With over 25 years of dedicated teaching experience, Srividya has trained numerous young aspirants in Carnatic music, many of whom have successfully stepped into the concert arena.

She serves as one of the Directors of the Department of Music at Manava Seva Kendra, a care-and-share organization founded by Sri Guruji Viswanath.

An ‘A’ Grade artiste of All India Radio, Bangalore, Srividya has also produced numerous audio and video recordings—not only as a vocalist but also as a composer who has set several songs to tune.

Prema Vivek
Violin
Prema Vivek received her initial training in violin under Sangeetha Kalaratna (Late) H. V. Krishnamurthy in Bangalore. She subsequently underwent advanced training under Sangeetha Kala Acharya Neela Ramgopal and received further guidance for several years from Sangeeta Kalanidhi A. Kanyakumari.

She has performed extensively across Karnataka and beyond, both as a solo artiste and as an accompanist in numerous prestigious sabhas. Over the years, she has had the privilege of accompanying many distinguished Vidwans and Vidushis.

For the past twelve years, she has also been performing as part of a women’s VVV ensemble.

She was awarded the Best Accompanist prize at the Youth Festival concerts आयोजित by Gayana Samaja.

Lakshmi Rajasekar
Mridangam
Lakshmi G is a distinguished female mridangam artist from Karnataka, rooted in a rich family tradition of music. She began her artistic journey at the age of four, training in Carnatic classical vocal music and Bharatanatyam, which laid a strong foundation for her rhythmic and aesthetic sensibilities.

At the age of 13, Lakshmi commenced her formal mridangam training under eminent gurus Vidwan Sri. Gurumurthy Thangavelu, Vidwan Sri. Ulsoor Shanmugam, and Vidwan Sri. Vasudeva Rao. She further refined her artistry under the legendary NADA BRAHMAM Prof. Sri. T.V. Gopalakrishnan, deepening her mastery of laya and percussion performance.

Lakshmi holds a First Class Bachelor of Arts degree and was awarded the prestigious Human Resource Development Scholarship by the Central Government of India in recognition of her talent. In January 2009, she secured a gold medal in the National Level Competition (Percussion Category) organized by the Government of India. In 2010, she was conferred the title “Mridanga Kalai Mani” by the Bangalore Tamil Sangam.

An accomplished performer, Lakshmi has presented numerous concerts across India and internationally, earning acclaim for her skill, dedication, and contribution to the field of Carnatic percussion.