Bio

ABOUT:

Born on May 30,1970 into a family of musicians and kathakali artists in ShreeKrishnapuram, Kerala, India.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Trained in Classical Music- Carnatic Vocal style by Shri K. Krishnan under the "Guru-Shishya Parampara". Received expert training in the "Sopanam" style of music under my father, Shri V. N. Narayanan Namboodiri- A renowned Sopanam singer in Kerala.

PERFORMANCES

Debut solo performance as a Carnatic vocalist at the age of 9 years at Eashwara Mangalam Mahaganapathy Temple. Performed on "All India Radio" and "Doordarshan" on both Regional and National programmes. Been and continue to be the main vocalist for many a Studio Recordings for Dance Ballets in different styles of Bharatanatyam, Mohiniattam, Kuchipudi and Kathakali dance forms. Been an integral part of the music ensemble as a lead vocalist for innumerable dance performances, shows and "Arangetrams" with renowned Dance schools in Mumbai and many other cities in India. New York, Houston and other cities in the United States of America. Amsterdam, Switzerland, Norway, Italy, France and Germany to name a few places abroad from the year 1987 till date.

Accompanied legendary Gurus such as Shri Kelucharan Mahopatra, Kalaimamani Kadirvelu Pillai, Guru Ramaswamy Bhagavatar Smt Chitra Vishveshwaran, Shri Vempatti Chinnasatyam, Kottakkal Nandakumar, Padmabhushan Smt Darshana Zhaveri, Guru Raji Narayan, Guru Smt Raghu, Dr. Sandhya Purecha, Smt. Mandakini Trivedi, Shri Deepak Mazumdar, Smt Kousalya Reddy. Shri Jayarama Rao and many other artistes and performers.

Performed and continue to as a lead Vocalist in various bands that create Fusion Music and perform live jugalbandis with other genres of music for eg Hindustani vocal and instrumental. Performed and continue to be an Independent artist of Carnatic vocal music. Performed as an accompanying artist for Dancers of Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohiniattam and Kathakali.

WORK & TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

Founder & Director of "Shrutilaya Fine Arts", Vashi under auspices of which conduct festivals of Dance and Music to Preserve, promote and propagate India's diverse and rich Cultural Heritage. To extend a platform for upcoming budding artistes of Dance and Music, both Vocal and instrumental.

Presently also Conducting customized workshops in "Music Therapy" to release Stress and regain Mental and Physical well-being on request for Corporate Companies, MNC's and Government organizations for people in high stress jobs.

Independently composed and set music for adaptations from great works of Literature like Kalidas' "Shakuntalam", Dasopant/ Margam, "Ganga", "Ardhanari", "Gandhi", "Vitthalagaatha", "Satyavaan and Saavitri", "Mandodari & Sita", "Katha", "Neelima" and many other for Mohiniattam and Bharatanatyam styles.

At present Director & Head (Music) at LIOTA- Laavanya Institute Of Traditional Arts, Mumbai

Have been a faculty of Bharata College of Fine Arts & Research Centre, Dadar, Mumbai. Conduct personal classes for Beginners and professional singers. Invited to judge various music competitions, at school and college level. Invited as Examiner for examinations conducted in Music for Carnatic Vocal.