Kalaimamani Dr. M. Lalitha and Kalaimamani M.
Nandini – LN sisters
Violin Duo, Fulbright Fellow, USA and CWIT
Fellow, UK
Internationally acclaimed Violin Maestros Dr.
M. LALITHA and M. NANDINI have been widely applauded as the `QUEENS OF
VIOLIN’ - Weekend of the present generation. Popularly known as the `VIOLIN
SISTERS', these outstanding musicians have enthralled the audiences with
their spell binding music and have been acclaimed as the “ONLY FEMALE DUO IN
ASIA to perform the World music, South Indian Classical, Fusion and Western
Classical music” - Le Mauricien.
Hailing from an illustrious family of
musicians, Lalitha and Nandini have the privilege of being the fourth
generation of musicians in their family. To quote the renowned music critic
Subbudu “`Music runs in their blood, they must have played music even when they
were in their mother’s womb. ” Lalitha and Nandini are the torch bearers of a
unique musical tradition but yet have evolved a distinct style of their own.
Their musical genius manifested at the tender
age of three and has blossomed into a top notch violinist of Today. With a
career extending over two decades LALITHA and NANDINI are regarded as highly
imaginative virtuoso Violinists with immaculate bowing along with dexterous fingering
techniques. They have been endowed with a sweet and rich tone, which along with
their innate artistry and technical brilliance makes their music unique. There
is a rare spirituality about their music which soaked in bhakti bhava has
endowed their music with a transcendental quality. Their rare musical insight
combined with their innate artistry, technical brilliance and original
creativity, has enraptured their critics and connoisseurs alike. The music that
cascades from the Duo's Violin's is known to be sublime, brilliant, traditional
and celestial. Though much sought after violinists of today, their firm
adherence to tradition or sampradaya suddham and patantara suddham adds credit
to their style of performance. With their irresistible urge for perfection they
have revolutionized the violin playing technique to great heights.
Their music is envisioned by the sisters as
an offering to the divine, which in their musical vogage is a sole endeavor to
alleviate the soul which results in an rare aesthetic and emotional musical
quality. They enrapture their audience with imaginative improvisations and
intricate rhythmic patterns fused with melodic sweetness. Couched in deep
classicism, melody, creativity they have set a new standard for violinists.
They have specialized in playing varnam-s in different grades of tempo
and in playing Kalpana Svara-s in many grades of speed, which is a
prominent and unique feature of their style of Violin playing.
As Cultural ambassadors of India’s rich
musical heritage, Lalitha and Nandini have traversed the four corners of the
globe - spreading the message of global harmony through music. They have
performed extensively in Major Music Festivals in India and in other countries
including USA, Singapore, Malaysia, Norway, France, Germany, Luxembourg,
Australia, Nepal, United Kingdom, Middle East, South Africa, Mauritius, New
Zealand, Europe, Srilanka, Abhudhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Sharjah. They are
empanelled artistes of the ICCR.
Artistic
Collaborations
The
talented Violin duo sisters apart from performing Violin duets have also
collaborated with musicians representing different genres of music including
their Uncle and Guru Legendary Violinist Dr. L. Shenkar – Double violin, Mike
Albert of Megadeth fame, Ustad Shahid Parvez, George Brooks, Miguel Chachowski,
Carl Rathus, Fazal Qureshi, Pirpauke – Finnish band, Homayoun Sakhi – Rebab
(Afganistan), Abbos Kosimov – Doyra (Uzbhekistan), Ricardo Averbach – Conductor
Miami State Orchestra, Sameer Chaterji, Boschbela String Orchestra, SA,
Tiruvalaputhur T. A. Kaliyamurthy, Tirupungur Muthukumaraswamy, Ronu Majumdar,
Tarun Bhattacharya, Mannargudi Vasudevan, Abhijeeth Banerjee, Purbhayan
Chaterjee, Quatre Bonne String Orchestra, Mauritius, Jazz Musician Reisa, Gaurav
Majumdar, Tenor Boys to name a few.
Their recent collaboration with their
uncle twice grammy award winning Double violin Maestro DR L Shenkar have won
them much acclaim.
MILESTONES:
ONLY FEMALE DUO IN
ASIA to perform the World music, South Indian Classical, Fusion and Western
Classical music.
FIRST SOUTH INDIAN
MUSICIANS TO BE INTERVIEWED AND TO HAVE PERFORMED OUR CARNATIC VIOLIN DUET BY
THE BBC RADIO 3
FIRST INDIAN
MUSICIANS
TO PERFORM IN THE FREE STATE PROVINCE BLOEMFONTEIN, SOUTH AFRICA WHICH MARKED
A HISTORICAL EVENT - ICCR.
FIRST INDIAN FEMALE
VIOLINIST to perform at the Houses of Parliament, Westminister, United Kingdom
for the Commonwealth PSU.
Lalitha and Nandini
are the pioneers to introduce and perform the Carnatic Music in the University
of London.
Awarded the highly
coveted INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS of Fulbright from USA and the Charles Wallace
Fellowships from United Kingdom in performing Arts. FIRST INDIAN MUSICIAN
SISTERS to receive these fellowships.
First Indian Female
Musicians to perform in the Quatre Bonne Conservatoire.
Faculty in the very
prestigious World Music Summer School, England.
Invited to present a
unique program to commemorate the 50th year Golden Jubilee Celebrations of
Indian Independence.
Awarded the prestigious
title of `KALAIMAMANI’ which is the Highest Honour
in Music and Performing Arts conferred by the State Government of Tamil Nadu.
BEST SENIOR VIOLINIST from both the Madras
Music Academy and the Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai on the same
year.
FIRST female
violinists
to have the Thavil as an accompanying instrument in a Carnatic Music Concert
(Violin Duet)
FIRST female
violinists
to perform Fusion Concerts combining Carnatic Music, Western Classical Music
and World Music (Egyptian, Arabic, Russian, American, Irish, Norwegian, Jazz,
Blues, Spanish etc.)
Experts in the fields
of Musicology and Ethnomusicology.
Albums in the TOP 1
Rating.
FIRST INDIAN VIOLIN
DUO to perform in the Opera House, Port of Elizabeth, SA.
Presented concerts
along with the Tavil and Ghatam which rates them as the pioneers in having
these accompanying instruments.
FIRST INDIAN WOMEN
CONDUCTOR from South India to have Conducted the Boschbela string
orchestra, South Africa.
Invited to present
concert for the India Week Festival, Hamburg.
LALITHA
and NANDINI have been awarded several prizes, awards and titles by various
organizations in recognition of their talent and dedication in the field of
South Indian Classical Music including
`GOLD MEDAL’ awarded by His Holiness Shri
Shankaracharya Swamigal of KANCHI KAMAKOTI PEETAM,
`KALAIMAMANI’ which is the Highest
Honour in Music and Performing Arts conferred by the State Government of Tamil
Nadu,
Title of `BHARATHA VIOLIN VADHYA
THILAKANGAL’ by His Holiness Sathguru Srimath Santhananda Swamigal
in Chennai – 2002,
BEST SENIOR VIOLINIST from both Madras
Music Academy & Indian Fine Arts Society in the same year.
Title of `SAI GANA MANI’ awarded by
Sai Spiritual Centre, Chennai.
Title of `YUVA KALA BHARATI’ awarded
by Bharat Kalachar, Chennai.
Title of `INNISAI JNANA KALA MANIGAL’
awarded by Sri Kalikambal Kamadeswarar Devasthanam, Chennai.
Honoured by the organization MOHANAM as
`THE MOST TALENTED ARTISTES’ of 1991, Chennai.
`TAMBURA PRIZE’ for the `BEST
CONCERT’ of the Music Season, awarded by The Indian Fine Arts Society,
Chennai.
Title of `NADA VINODINI’ awarded by
Sri Ranjani Trust, Chennai.
RAJAMANIKAM PILLAI CENTENARY AWARD for `Excellence in
Violin Playing’ by the Sri Ragam Fine Arts, Chennai.
Lalitha and Nandini were awarded the title of
`Asthana Vidwan’ of the Sri Bhuvaneswari Peetam and Sri Sri Judge Swamigal
Adistanam, Pudukottai.
Lalitha and Nandini were awarded the title of
`BHUVANA SANGEETHA PRAVAHINI’ by the Chennai Om Sri Skandasramam trust for
their services and contribution in the field of music.
INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS AWARDED Dr. M. Lalitha and
M. Nandini have been awarded with the US and UK Governments highest award. Dr.
M. Lalitha has been awarded the `FULBRIGHT FELLOWSHIP IN PERFORMING ARTS’,
FULBRIGHT NEHRU LECTURE FELLOWSHIP and
OLF AWARDEE, while M. Nandini has been awarded with the `CHARLES WALLACE
TRUST FELLOWSHIP IN PERFORMING ARTS’ which are highly competitive and
prestigious awards.
Both the sisters collaborated and worked on World
music, ethnomusicology and fusion. They have been selected as CULTURAL
AMBASSADORS and dignitaries to the US and UK respectively.
Honoured as `ISAI PUYALGAL' in the Murugan Temple, London.
Honoured as `GANA VARSHINI' in the Mahalakshmi Temple, UK.
Honoured with `Gold Chains' in the Muthumari Amman Temple, UK for their services
towards Music.
Dr. M. Lalitha and M. Nandini were honoured
with the title of `Shrividya Tapasvi'
by the Tapas Academy and Yuvakeertana Trust for their services to Music and
Bhakti Oriented traditional Music.
Awarded the Title of `Thantri Gana Mani’ by His Holiness Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal
of Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt for services to Music on the occasion of his 77th
Jayanthi Celebrations.
Awarded
the prestigious MINISTRY OF CULTURE, GOVT OF INDIA Production grant where Dr M
Lalitha and M Nandini are presenting a series of thematic presentations on
`Musical Instruments in Divinity.
‘
PERFORMANCES AT MAJOR
FESTIVALS AND THEATERS / HALLS
LALITHA and NANDINI
have performed widely for PRESTIGIOUS MUSIC FESTIVALS in Music theaters / halls
all over the globe.
PERFORMANCES IN RADIO
AND TV NETWORKS
LALITHA and NANDINI
have performed in several Radio and TV networks to their credit such as
ALL INDIA RADIO - India
BBC -
Britain, UK
APT TV -
India, Malaysia
ASIANET -
India
ASTRO VANAVIL -
Malaysia
DAN TV -
Srilanka
DEEPAM TV -
Europe
DOORDARSHAN - India
DUTCH RADIO -
Denmark
E TV -
India
GEC -
India
GEMINI TV -
India
JAYA TV -
India
K TV -
India
KAIRALI - India
MUSIC ASIA -
India
NDTV -
India
NILA TV -
India
NRK -
Norway
PODIGAI -
India
RAJ DIGITAL PLUS - India
RAJ -
India
RUPAVAHINI -
Srilanka
SAHARA - India
SBC -
Singapore
SLBC -
Srilanka
SS MUSIC -
India
STAR NEWS -
India
STAR VIJAY -
India
SUN -
India
SURYA TV -
India
TELEVISION NETWORK - USA
TEJA TV -
India
UDAYA -
India
VIJAY -
India
WIN
TV -
India
ZEE TV -
India
SABC - South
Africa
TV -
Mauritius
Radio
Sydney -
Australia
Radio
New Zealand - New
Zealand
TV -
Malaysia
Radio
France -
France
Radio
Germany -
Germany
SPECIAL PROGRAMMES
LALITHA and NANDINI
had the honour of presenting a special music program for the 50th year Golden
Jubilee celebrations of India's Independence for the Doordarshan (DD)
television network for which LALITHA and NANDINI scored the music, performed
and orchestrated the patriotic songs of various composers.
LALITHA and NANDINI
presented a special program for Tamil New Years Day where they performed Tamil
Compositions of different composers along with orchestration. The music was
composed and orchestrated by Dr. M. Lalitha and M. Nandini.
LALITHA and NANDINI
presented a unique thematic program of compositions apt for instruments in
South Indian Classical Music.
LALITHA and NANDINI
have presented exclusive concerts on the compositions of Saint Tyagaraja,
Muthuswamy Diksitar, Syama Sastri, Swati Tirunal, Othukadu Venkatasubbaiyer.
LALITHA and NANDINI
have also presented concerts along with the Tavil and Ghatam which rates them
as the pioneers in having this accompanying instruments.
LALITHA and NANDINI
presented a special thematic program of Goddess Devi compositions for
Navarathri Festival which was telecast on the RAJ TV.
LALITHA and NANDINI
have presented exclusive concerts on the compositions of Saint Raghavendraswamy
by various composers.
LALITHA and NANDINI
presented a unique Trans Global Fusion Music on Diwali Day for the SUN TV where
different styles of music were presented.
LALITHA and NANDINI
have presented special concerts on the compositions of Saint Purandaradasar and
other Dasars.
LALITHA and NANDINI performed
a unique concert of three sections in the Royal Nepal Academy where they played
the South Indian Classical music, the semi classical section and their trans
global fusion.
LALITHA and NANDINI
performed a special concert on the Ganges (on a floating stage) and at
Tiruvannamalai on the occasion of Mahasivarathri where they rendered
compositions exclusively on Lord Siva, Goddess Shakti and Mother Ganges.
LALITHA and NANDINI
gave an exclusive concert on the Compositions of Saint Tyagaraja having `References
to Music’, in Chennai.
A Multimedia
presentation on the Musical Stalwart Sri Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar.
LALITHA and NANDINI are highly proficient in
Western Classical Music and World Music, ethnomusicology and Trans Global
fusion music. They have specialized in the different traditions of world music
like the Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian music (Gamelan), African music and
drumming, Middle Eastern including the Turkish, Iranian, Persian, Egyptian,
Jazz, Latin American, Brazilian, Spanish, Blues, Folk traditions to name a few.
WESTERN CLASSICAL
MUSIC
LALITHA and NANDINI
have also learnt Western Classical Music and have passed the final grade (8th
grade) examinations conducted by the Trinity college of Music, London in
Western Classical Music in Violin. They have also learnt the Theory of Western
Classical Music. They are acclaimed as the `ONLY FEMALE VIOLIN DUO’ in
INDIA to know both the systems of music - the Western Classical and the South
Indian Classical Music.
SOUTH INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC (VOCAL)
LALITHA and NANDINI
were initially trained in vocal under their grand father Shri. V.
Lakshminarayana and now they are under the tutelage of their mother Mrs.
Subhalakshmi Muthuswamy in South Indian Classical Vocal Music. They have also
undergone advanced vocal training from the doyen of carnatic music `Padma
Vibhushan' Dr. Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. They are undergoing specialized
training in the compositions of Muthuswamy Diksitar from Mrs. Ramani.
COMPOSITION WRITING
Dr. M. LALITHA and M. NANDINI have also
forayed into the realms of composition writing. Their Trans Global Fusion
concerts consist of their compositions, which portray global styles and colours
of music which bears ample testimony to their skills. They have done music and
experimented with different media including theatres, opera, dance, film,
dramas, short film, dance drama, orchestra, tele film, and dance dramas.
TRANS GLOBAL FUSION
CONCERTS
Dr. M. LALITHA and M.
NANDINI have been widely acclaimed as outstanding `VIOLIN VIRTUOSO’S and
QUEEN’S OF FUSION MUSIC’. They have presenting a lot of Trans Global
fusion concerts in India and in abroad, which has been receiving rave reviews.
Lalitha and Nandini presented a special Trans Global fusion where Lalitha and
Nandini composed and arranged the music. This has been released as an album
`LALITHA, NANDINI’S REVELATION’ through the Dreams Audio and is in the `Top
10’ Rating in India.
Lalitha and Nandini’s
latest fusion album `THINKING OF U’ has been released recently and has
already hit the chart in the `Number 1’ position for many weeks.
They presented their
Trans Global Fusion concert for the prestigious SAARANG 2002, the famous
cultural fest of IIT, Chennai.
They performed the
Trans Global Fusion for the finale of `Soundz of Musique’ for the GOLDEN
JUBLIEE Celebrations of the ALLIANCE FRANCAISE de Madras.
They
performed the Trans Global Fusion for the inauguration of the Bangalore IT.Com
which was well received and attended by several delegates from all over the
world including the IT Minister of State Shri. Inamdar.
Lalitha
and Nandini performed the Trans Global Fusion for the Silver Jubliee Valedictory
celebrations of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Rajaji Vidyashram.
They
performed for an audience of 10,000 for the freedom Jam on August 15th
in Bangalore.
Lalitha and Nandini
performed the Trans Global Fusion `REVELATIONS’ for the 20th
Anniversary Celebrations of the Orient Express Lines in Singapore for a global
audience.
Lalitha
and Nandini performed with a Finnish band `Pirpauke’ recently in Bangalore and
Chennai which was a charity show for the victims of Tsunami.
They
performed for the `Atmarisha’ of the PESIT college, Bangalore for a spell bound
crowd of 20,000.
Recently
they performed for the Bangalore. It. In at the Palace grounds which was well
attended by delegates from all over the world including the Trade Commissioner
of London and the Minister of IT, Ghana.
Performed
Indo – Japanese Fusion concert for the Golden Jubliee Celebrations of Sri
Ramachandra Medical College.
Performance
for the Sastiabhdapoorthi celebrations of Superstar Sri Rajinikanth.
Performance
at the Inauguration of The International Film Festival with special narration
by Smt. Suhasini Maniratnam.
Performance
at the Chennai Global Music festival with Legendary Saxophonist George Brooks,
USA.
Performance
with Miguel Chachowski, Flamenco Guitarist from Poland at Codissia Amphi
Theatre, Kovai and for Radio One Group at Music Academy, Chennai.
DR. M. LALITHA AND M. NANDINI’S TWIN
CONCERTS
The talented sisters
Dr. M. Lalitha and M. Nandini are also presenting unique TWIN CONCERT combining
both the SOUTH INDIAN CLASSICAL and TRANS GLOBAL FUSION MUSIC. They gave this
special concert for the IIT, Chennai and for many World Conferences in India
and abroad. They presented the TWIN CONCERT for the inaugural concert of
SAARANG 2002, the prestigious cultural fest of IIT, Chennai.
The
Violin sisters performed both classical and Trans Global Fusion Music at the
Royal Nepal Academy which was well attended by several delegates including the Ambassador
of India in Nepal Mr. Shyam Sharan and the Nepalese Minister of Culture,
Tourism and Civil Aviation Mr. Kuber Sharma.
Lalitha and Nandini
presented the twin concert for the DRDL and RCI – Hyderabad, Ministry of
Defence for their National workshop.
Lalitha
and Nandini presented their twin concert for the World Conference of COMPAS in
Chennai for a global audience.
CHARITY CONCERTS
Lalitha and Nandini
performed a charity concert with a Finnish band `Pirpauke’ in Bangalore for the
victims of Tsunami.
To raise funds for
the victims of Tsunami Lalitha and Nandini performed a charity concert and
presented their trans global fusion in Chennai.
Lalitha and Nandini
performed a fund raising concert for a temple building in London.
Special
Mention.
Hosted
a series of programs `SUGAMANA RAGANGAL’ in Kalaignar TV for the breakfast show
for an year on Music related topics which has won lot of acclaim.
Hosted
a series of programs for Kumudam Web TV on Learning Carnatic Vocal for an year.
Hosted
a series of Programs for Kumudam Web TV on Learning Violin for an year.
Did
a special program for Star Vijay TV for Margazhi Vaibhavam.
AS COMPOSERS
Dr.
M. LALITHA and M. NANDINI have also forayed into the realms of composition.
They are acclaimed as the `ONLY FEMALE COMPOSERS IN ASIA IN FUSION’.
Their Trans Global Fusion concerts consist of their compositions, which portray
global styles and colours of music.
Lalitha and Nandini
have scored music for French and Norwegian Theatre productions.
They have also
composed music exclusively for Dance Ballets.
MUSIC DIRECTORS
The
versatile Violin sisters are also Music Directors having done the Music
Direction for `KAAICHA MARAM’ a short film directed by the famous Actress
cum Director Mrs. Suhasini Maniratnam produced by the famous Madras Talkies.
The
sisters have scored the music for another documentary film based on a true life
story.
The
sisters scored the background music for the documentary on Mrs. Y. G.
Parthasarathy as part of her 80th birthday celebrations.
The
Violin duo has composed the music for a teleserial in UK.
LALITHA and NANDINI have performed in several
Radio and TV networks and have been featured by many recording companies like
AVM Audio, HMV, Music Today, Pan Music, RPG, Sony, Kosmic, Dreams Audio, EL. V.
Audio, Gitaa, Prashanti Nilayam (live), Raj Video Vision, Sangeetha,
Santhananda Sounscapes, Saragam to name a few.
M. LALITHA has been awarded the degree of DOCTOR
of PHILOSOPHY (Ph. D) in Indian Music, from the University of Madras for her
thesis `A Comparative Study of the Violin Techniques in Western and South
Indian Classical Music’
while
M. NANDINI holds Triple Master's
Degree - one in Information Science from the University of Madras -
one in Indian Music from the Mother Teresa’s Women’s University,
Kodaikanal and one in ETHNOMUSICOLOGY from the School of Oriental and
African Studies, University of LONDON.
Both of them have published books and written
numerous articles relating to Music and religion.
A multi talented duo, well versed in foreign
languages including French and German their other interests include painting,
Tanjore Painting, Fashion designing, social service, writing poems,
photography, Yoga, Reiki and meditation.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
Dr. M. LALITHA and M.
NANDINI have distinguished themselves academically also.
LALITHA has been
awarded the degree of DOCTOR of PHILOSOPHY (Ph. D) in Indian Music, from the
University of Madras for her thesis `A Comparative Study of the Violin
Techniques in Western and South Indian Classical Music.
LALITHA also holds a
M. Phil. degree (Master of Philosophy) in Indian Music from the University of
Madras.
LALITHA holds a
Master's Degree (M A) in Indian Music.
LALITHA’S thesis has been published as a book `Violin Techniques in
Western and South Indian Classical Music – A Comparative Study’, New Delhi,
2004.
LALITHA is a Research
Scholar and has been awarded the Research Fellowship (JRF) by the University
Grants Commission (UGC) of the Govt. of India.
LALITHA worked as a
Guest Lecturer in
Department of Indian
Music, University of Madras,
Department of Music,
Institute of Distance Education – University of Madras and Queen Mary’s
College, Chennai.
She has taken classes
for the B.A, M.A, B. Music, M. Music and M. Phil students.
She was also a guest
faculty for the Department of Music, Mother Teresa’s Women’s University,
Kodaikanal where she took classes for the M. Phil students.
Dr. M. LALITHA has
taken lectures to the students of the University of Pittsburgh, University of
IOWA, University of Florida, USA and Davenport Community School.
LALITHA served as a
Co-ordinator for Music, institute of Correspondence Education, University of
Madras.
LALITHA is a Rank
holder in B A., M A., and M Phil., and has received several awards and prizes
for her academic achievements.
LALITHA served as the
Secretary and Representative of the Department of French, Queen Mary's College.
LALITHA holds a
Pre-Diplome in French from the Alliance Francaise de Madras.
LALITHA has been a guide cum supervisor for M. Music projects of the
Department of Music, Institute of Distance Education, University of Madras and
M. Phil thesis of the Department of Music, Mother Teresa’s Women’s University,
Kodaikanal.
LALITHA is the Director of the Muthuswamy
– Subbulakshmi - MS Academy of Global Music.
PAPER PRESENTATIONS
Presented many papers on music.
"Analysis of the Varnam Kalyani and abstraction of the Violin
techniques", seminar for Ph.D. Research scholars, Dept of Indian Music,
University of Madras. Assisted Prof. Dr. N. Ramanathan, Department of Indian Music,
University of Madras to present a paper at the symposium organised as part of
the birth centenary celebrations of late violinist Mysore T. Chowdiah. Topic -
The 7 stringed Violin: its advantages and disadvantages.
Provided a transliteration from the
Oriental Manuscripts in Staff Notation by A.M. Chinnaswami Mudaliyar for a
presentation on "Nandanar Caritram" for the Music Academy, Chennai.
Compared the Violin Techniques in
Eastern and Western music, Chennai.
Compared the raga-s in film music
& South Indian Classical Music-Chennai.
EXAMINER
LALITHA
has been an examiner for the Practical examinations of the Department of Music
& IDE, University of Madras, Queen Mary’s College, Chennai and Mother
Teresa’s Women’s University, Kodiakanal.
She
has also been the Examiner for the M Phil thesis for the IDE, Mother Teresa’s
Women’s University.
She
also set the question paper for the internals for the students of world music,
University of Pittsburgh, USA.
NANDINI holds a
Master's Degree in Information Science from the University of Madras.
NANDINI also holds a Master’s degree in
Indian Music from the Mother Teresa’s Women’s University, Kodiakanal.
NANDINI holds a
Bachelor's Degree in English literature.
NANDINI also holds a Bachelor's
Degree in Indian Music.
NANDINI is working
towards her Masters in Ethnomusicology from the School of Oriental and African
Studies, University of London.
NANDINI is credited as being the `FIRST
INDIAN’ to do MUSIC in SOAS.
NANDINI is working for her Ph D from the
University of Madras.
NANDINI has been awarded the TAMILNADU
JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP from the University of Madras.
NANDINI is a rank
holder in B. A. as well as in M. Sc. and has received several awards and prizes
for her academic achievements. She has secured the First Rank in English and
the Tmt. Gayathri Devi Memorial Prize for French from the Queen Mary’s College.
She has served as the
Secretary and Representative of the Department of French, Queen Mary’s College,
Madras.
NANDINI has passed Grundstufe
in German from the Max Mueller Bhavan, Madras.
NANDINI has been a visiting lecturer
in the Department of Music, Institute of Distance Education, University of
Madras and has taken classes for the students of music. She has also taken
classes for the students of the University of Madras (regular).
Nandini has taught music to aspiring
students of music in TWAN in London.
EXAMINER
NANDINI
has been an examiner for the Practical examinations of the Department of Music
& Institute of Distance Education, University of Madras and Queen Mary’s
College, Chennai.
LALITHA and NANDINI have contributed
many articles relating to music to many magazines, journals and web sites and
have also reviewed books.
Articles written
include,
1) V. Lakshminarayana – a legendary Vocalist,
Violinist, Musicologist, Teacher
2) Tiruvaiyaru
Kshetra kriti-s of Saint Tyagaraja
3) Raga
Kalyani- A Study
4) Poet
Subramanya Bharati
5) Raga
Hamsanadam – A Study
6) Raga
Shankarabharanam – A Study
7) Saint
Tyagaraja and his musical compositions
8) Raga
Mayamalavagaula – A Study
9)
A Comparative Study of Muthuswami
Diksitar’s Navagraha Kriti `Ankaragamaasrayamyakam’ with Gustav Holst’s
Orchestral Suite `The Planets’- Mars.
10) Comparison
of the compositions from film music and South Indian Classical Music belonging
to the same raga-s.
11) Group kriti-s of Saint Tyagaraja.
12) Group kriti-s of Muthuswami Diksitar.
13)
Group kriti-s of Syama Sastri.
14)
Group kriti-s of Purandaradasa.
15) Group kriti-s of Svati Tirunal.
16) Group kriti-s of Othukadu
Venkatasubbaiyer – Kamakshi Navavarnam-s.
17) Group kriti-s of Neelakanta Sivan.
18) Group kriti-s of Harikesanallur
Muthiah Bhagavathar.
19) Group kriti-s of Ponniah Pillai.
20) Group kriti-s of V. Ramiah –
Bhuvaneswari Navavarnam-s.
21) Group kriti-s of Koteswara Iyer –
Pancharatna kriti-s.
22) Compositions of Ganam- A Study
23) Kriti-s of Svati Tirunal on Lord
Shiva
24) Musical Compositions on Sathguru
25) Siva Kshetra kriti-s of Svati
Tirunal – A Study
26) Guruguha Vibhakti Kriti-s on Guru
25) A Compilation about the Temples and shrines
of goddess Bhuvaneswari all over the world
27) Elementary aspects relating to right-hand
techniques in South Indian Classical music
28) Right-hand
techniques in South Indian Classical music
29) The different types of bowing in the South
Indian Classical music.
30) Violin playing techniques Svara-vil
and Sahitya-vil in South Indian Classical music
31) Violin techniques in Western Classical
music
32) Violin techniques in Eastern and Western
music.
33) Shri Judge Swamigal, Shri Swayam Prakasa
Swamigal and Shri Shantananda Swamigal - Saints of the Dattatreya Parampara.
34) Compilation of the construction and playing
techniques of the following membrophones or Percussion instruments or the Avanaddha
Vadyas.
1. Tavil
2. Mridang
3. Pakhawaj
4. Dholak
5. Kanjira
6. Pancha Mukha Vadyam
7. Nagara *1
8. Nagara *2
9. Glass Dholak
10. Chandra Pirai
11. Surya Pirai
12. Daff and Tammate
13. Gna
14. Pambai
15. Hudukka (Udukkai)
16. Dhole
17. Idakka
35) Compilation
of the construction and playing techniques of the following idiophones or Solid
instruments or the Ghana Vadyas.
1. Ghatam
2. Morsing
3. Jalatarangam
36) Compilation
of the construction and playing techniques of the following Chordophones or the
Stringed instruments or the Tata Vadyas.
1. Violin
2. Dilruba
3. Esraj
4. Nagavina
5. Balasaraswati or Mayuri
6. Sitar
7. Yazh and its varieties
8. Sarangi
9. Surbahar
10. Sarod
11. Swaramandal
12. Maha Vina
13. Katyayana Vina
14. Vichitra Vina
15. Rebab
16. Santoor
17. Sarinda
18. Vina-Mysore Variety
19. GettuVadyam
21. Agappai Kinnari
37) Compilation
of the construction and playing techniques of the following Aerophones or the
Wind instruments or the Sushira
Vadyas,
1. Flute
2. Nagasvaram
3. Ottu
4. Chinese Flute or Dize
5. Harmonium
6. Clarinet
38) Navagraha
kriti `Ankaragamasrayamyakam’ of Muthuswamy Diksitar – A Study.
39) Sapta
Ratna-s of Othukadu Venkatasubbaiyer – A Study.
40) Ghana
raga Pancharatna kriti-s of Saint Tyagaraja - A Study.
41) A
Study of Muthuswamy Diksitar’s Navagraha
kriti `Suryamurte’.
42) Comparative
Violin techniques in Western and South Indian Classical Music.
43) International Library Review: 1987-1991:A
Bibliometric Study.
44) Voice as a medium.
45) Music
and Religion.
46) History
of Fusion – Sruti Magasine
47) Nagasvaram – a multi faceted instrument
48) Origin of Fusion Music – The Brew Magasine
49) Orchestration
of a Genre – Ongaku Japanese Traditional music – The Brew Magasine
Both are well versed
in several languages including Tamil, English, French, German and Sanskrit.
LALITHA and NANDINI
were also Music Critics for well-known websites.
PREPARATION OF STUDY
MATERIALS
Both of them have also prepared and
translated the study materials for the Music courses of the Institute of
Distance Education, University of Madras from English to Tamil and Vice Versa.
LECTURE,
DEMONSTRATIONS, WORKSHOPS
Dr. M. LALITHA and M.
NANDINI have also given lecture demonstrations and conducted workshops in India
and abroad. They presented a workshop for the Embassy of India in Nepal on ` A
Comparative study of the three systems – the South Indian Classical, North
Indian Classical and Western Classical music’.
They
presented a workshop for Sangit Bharati, Trivandrum on the `Techniques of
Violin Music’ and on `Fusion Music’.
Gave
lecture on Comparative violin techniques in Western and South Indian Classical
Music for Saraswathi, Chennai.
Gave
lectures for the students of World Music, University of Pittsburgh, USA on
Indian Music, Folk music of India and Bollywood music.
Spoke on `Voice as a
medium’, Department of Music, University of Pittsburgh, USA.
PRESS QUOTES
LALITHA and NANDINI
whose music has been varied described as sublime, ebullient, soul stirring,
virtuous and so on have been widely acclaimed by several music critics.
The festival of India ' 93 started with the
Violin Duet of LALITHA and NANDINI sisters whose sublime music cascading from
the lively strings of the Violin, made the listeners sit spell bound. The young girls converted their duet
performance, the first programme in the Festival Series, into an unforgettable
experience to the discerned listeners of Carnatic Music. -Mathrubhoomi, Cochin.
For Raga Tarangini, the ebullient violin duo
LALITHA and NANDINI treated the audience with their joyful flow of music with
skill well embossed on their playing technique. -SVK, The Hindu
To wield the bow and keep the audience
enthralled with soul stirring melodies is child's play form M. LALITHA and
M.NANDINI as music runs in their blood. -Shanthi Bhaskaran, Coromandel Star
Virtuosity was displayed with striking
felicity by the nimble fingered sisters.
It was balanced well with carnatic flavored sweetness. -NMN, The Hindu
LALITHA
and NANDINI have indeed mastered the Violin technique.- Subbudu, Indian
Express.
South
Indian Violin Duo mesmerizes audience -
The Kathmandu Post, Nepal
LALITHA and NANDINI, popularly known as the
‘Violin Duo’, not only demonstrated their intelligence in contouring the raga
bhava but the flamboyant & temperamental gesture shown on stage kept the
audience captivated. -
Space Time Today, Nepal
THE WOODS GET ROCKING AGAIN : SAARANG - Full credit to M.
Lalitha and M. Nandini who took to the stage, captivating their audience….the
highlights of the show included `Egyptian Magic’ piece that oozed the Egyptian
flavour pepped up with Jazz. -
The Hindu, Chennai
EAST MEETS WEST: East and West did
meet each other harmoniously…thanks to the Trans Global Fusion music played so
enchantingly by the popular Violin Duo of Dr. M. Lalitha and M. Nandini. - The
Indian Express, Chennai
VIOLIN DUO CAPTIVATE AUDIENCE: Nepal could never boast of watching world
renowned violin player such as Yehudi Menuhin playing live on stage of our
country. And today it was the audience present at Royal Nepal Academy who took
pleasure watching the Outstanding Violinists Lalitha and Nandini play. - Space Time Today, Nepal
STRIKING A CHORD: The duo have the
distinction of sharing the stage with their uncles for World Music and have
interacted with legends like Sir Yehudi Menuhin and Arve Tellefson from Norway. - Successzone,
Society, India
LOVELY RAGAS, LILTING JAZZ: The superfast
western song Sunshine was an instant success - City Express, Chennai
They have a superb command over the
instrument and anyone who wish to find a flaw with them will surely be
disappointed. The speed and tonal variation in their rendition is astonishing.- Hamaracd.com
The ace Violin duo of the sisters Lalitha
& Nandini… their music sounds like a variation of Bach’s toccata and fugue,
with elements of Jazz and carnatic styles thrown in. They have played to
audiences all over the world and last august held 10,000 strong crowd
spellbound at the Freedom Jam festival in Bangalore. - Anurag Jain’s
Blog on Bangalore, In.htm
Lalitha and Nandini
performed at the Nehru Centre in London: The concert was a resounding success
and the sisters captivated their multicultural audience with their sweet
presentation of traditional Carnatic Music. -
Ashok Ray, London
They’re
excellent violinists. – from London - flickr.com
`QUEENS OF VIOLIN’ -
Weekend, SA
“ONLY FEMALE DUO IN ASIA to perform the
World music, South Indian Classical, Fusion and Western Classical music” -
Le Mauricien, Mauritius.
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