Meet Carnatic Vocalist Dr K Omanakutty, The Recipient Of Swathi Sangeetha Puraskaram

Who is Dr K Omanakutty: Carnatic vocalist Dr K Omanakutty is currently trending as she has been chosen for the prestigious Swathi Sangeetha Puraskaram, the government's highest honour for musicians.

A.K. Balan, the Minister for Culture said that the award will comprise of a purse of ₹2 lakh, plaque, and citation. He also stated that Dr Omanakutty has played a pivotal role in researching, and designing the music syllabus for Kerala University. Let us take some time to know her better.

Here is what we know of Dr K Omanakutty:

• Carnatic vocalist Dr K Omanakutty was born in a family of musicians in 1943 in Kerala. Her family played a very important role in nurturing a passion for music within her at an early age.
• She has two brothers M. G. Radhakrishnan and M. G. Sreekumar who have made a mark in the field of music.
• Omanakutty graduated in Zoology in the year 1963 from a college affiliated to the Kerala university. She then joined a Thiruvananthapuram-based Music Academy  to pursue a music course called 'Gana Praveena.'
• Later, she started working as a lecturer in the department of music of Maharaja's College for Women in Thiruvananthapuram. She was then promoted to become a Second Grade professor, and taught music for 6 years.
• The college then promoted her to the post of First Grade professor for her impeccable quality of teaching. During this time, many renowned musicians of today flocked to her to complete the Music course she taught. Later on, she completed her post-graduation and doctoral programs in music from the same place.
• She started researching the evolution and origin of Kathakali music in Kerala for her doctoral degree.
• Omanakutty holds 37 years of experience in music and retired as the head of the department of music in 2003.
• The vocalist has performed at a lot of concerts while working as a lecturer. She has also tried to popularise the 'Swathi krithis' as well. She has also played an important role in analysing the works of musician Swathi Thirunal and started using his compositions at concerts.
• She established Sangeeta Bharati, an organisation meant for exploring the effect of music on the psyche of animals and humans. She has also worked towards administering medical cure via music at the Panakaja Kasthuri Ayurvedic Medical College.
• Omanakutty is the recipient of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award, 1997, Subbulakshmi Award in 2013. She had won the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship in 2012.