Chennai based vocalist Gayathri Shankar has been chosen to receive the 'Padma Shri' award this year, for her contribution to Carnatic and ancient Tamil music.
A visually impaired musician, Gayathri had her initial lessons in Carnatic music from her mother Subbulakshmi Gurunathan. She also did her diploma and post diploma in music from Kalakshetra and is now undergoing advanced training under the senior violinist Lalgudi Jayaraman.
Gayathri is an 'A' grade artiste of All India Radio and an empanelled artiste of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi.
Gayathri says that her way of reaching classical music to people is by conducting workshops on ancient Tamil music, Tamil isai and devotional songs.
She has been conducting workshops in ancient Tamil music which include Silappadhikaram, Yettu Thogai and Pathupattu besides Tamil isai comprising Thirupugazh, Thevaram and Nalayira Divya Prabandham.
She recalls one memorable event she organised with the Mylapore based Clarke School for Deaf and Dumb. "I did a unique programme in Music Academy for the children of this school in 1996. The students danced Bharatanatyam watching my lip movement, while I sang listening to their foot movement," she said.
Gayathri also teaches music to visually and physically impaired students. She conducts free classes for poor students.
Gaythri Shankar resides at A/G4, Mahaveer Apartments, 4, East Coast Road, Thiruvanmiyur.
Ph: 24415043, 98401 64745
