Kala Ramnath
Emerging rapidly as one of the most outstanding violinists in the Hindustani
Classical genre in India today, young Kala Ramnath, from the Mewati gharana
has adapted this western instrument to express the deep and intense spiritual
lyricism and power of the classical Indian tradition. Hailing from a family
to which the music world owes two of its front-ranking violinists, Prof.
T.N. Krishnan in Carnatic and Dr. Smt. N. Rajam in Hindustani music, Kala
began playing the violin from the age of three. She started her training
with her grandfather, Vidwan Shri Narayan Iyer and simultaneously, from
her aunt, Dr. Smt. N. Rajam. For the last seven years, she has been undergoing
intensive
Kala's violin playing is characterized by an immaculate bowing and fingering
technique, command over all aspects of laya, richness and clarity in sur.
All this innate artistry and technical brilliance combined with a rare
and exquisite emotional quality are the hallmarks of her style.
Kala has performed at many major music festivals like Tansen Sangit
Sammelan, Swami Haridas Sangit Sammelan, Pandit Motiram Sangit Samaroh,
Sangit Natak Academy's Music and Dance festival, Ustad Amir Khan Samaroh,
Spirit of Unity Concerts, Harvallabh Sangit Sammelan, Vishnu Digambar Jayanthi
etc. In the year 1984, she won the first prize in the prestigious All India
Radio Music competition. In 1988, she became the first ever Hindustani
musician and violinist to record for CBS India Limited.
Beisdes being a brilliant and charismatic musician, Kala has also an
outstanding academic record. A University 1st in her Graduation and Post-Graduation,
she won the junior and senior Government scholarships in the years 1979
and 1984 respectively. She is also an A-grade broadcaster and telecaster.
Kala has won the acclaim of critics and discerning audiences nationwide.
She recently performed in the world music festival at Montreal, and the
Canada Council's festival 'Rhythms of India' in Ottawa, both in Canada.
She has also extensively toured in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Mauritius.
Her 1995 tour in the United States and Canada has been specially fruitful
for Kala, as she blazed a whirlwind trail across the continent, gaining
accolades and ovations wherever she went. Soloing in June last year in
Los Angeles, for Pandit Ravi Shankar's 75th birthday celebration, Kala
left an unforgettable imprint on the minds of her listeners.
training with Pandit Jasraj, master vocalist of the Mewati gharana..
This has brought a rare vocal emotionalism to her art.