A. Kanyakumari

For other uses of "Kanyakumari", see Kanyakumari (disambiguation).

Padmashri Avasarala Kanyakumari is one of the leading violinists from South India who specializes in Carnatic music. She is the first woman violinist to receive the Sangeetha Kalanidhi award.^[1] Kanyakumari’s violin playing is admired for many qualities but most pronouncedly for its exceptional quality of vocalism, innovation and fearlessness.^[2]

Vidushi A. Kanyakumari
Violinist A. Kanyakumari
Background information
Origin	Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh
Genres	Carnatic music
Instruments	Violin

Career

Kanyakumari is a native of Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh and has lived in Chennai for more than five decades.^[2] Her parents, Avasarala Ramarathnam and Smt. Jayalakshmi encouraged her to pursue music. She is a disciple of 3 great legendary gurus: Ivaturi Vijeswara Rao, M. Chandrasekaran and M. L. Vasanthakumari.^[3] She is renowned for her 'vocalising the violin' (gayaki style). She was mentioned in the congressional record of the US on August 6, 2021, for her selfless services teaching Carnatic Violin lessons free of cost to everyone as a way of paying it forward and honouring the contributions made by her teachers to developing her talents.^[4] She also often performs at SPIC MACAY Concerts throughout India. She has trained over 150 students and emphasises that students master the lyrics or sahityam too.

She is the first female violinist to create ragas.^[5] Many of her beautiful renditions of classical Carnatic ragas and her own compositions can be found throughout Spotify and YouTube. She also has a website with videos teaching how to play violin in the Carnatic style for students to learn.^[1]

Awards and Honours

A Kanyakumari was awarded the Sangeetha Kalanidhi award of the Madras Music Academy for the year 2016. She is the first female violinist to get the award.^[6] Other awards include

• Padma Shri by Government of India (2015)^[7]
• Sangita Kalanidhi from the Music Academy, Chennai (2016)^[8]
• Kalaimamani from Govt. of Tamil Nadu^[4]
• Ugadi Puraskar from Govt. of Andhra Pradesh^{[citation needed]}
• Top Rank by A.I.R^{[citation needed]}
• Honorary citizenship of the state of Maryland, U.S^{[citation needed]}
• TTK Award from the Music Academy, Chennai^{[citation needed]}
• Asthana Vidhwan of TTD on honorarium for the period of five years, from 15 June, 2013.
• Asthana Vidushi of Sringeri Sarada Peetam, Ahobila Mutt and Avadhoota Peetam^{[citation needed]}
• "Saptagiri sangeetha vidwanmani from Sri Tyagaraja Festival Committee of Tirupathi.^{[citation needed]}
• Dhanurveena Praveena, a title bestowed on her by M.S. Subbulakshmi, commemorating Kanyakumari's 25 years in concerts^{[citation needed]}
• Sangeeta Kala Nipuna, from the Mylapore Fine Arts Club, 2002 ^[9]
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, 2003^{[citation needed]}
• Sangeetha Chudamani Award from Krishna Gana Sabha, 2012^{[citation needed]}

She was selected for Limca Book of Records 2004 for her various achievements in music as a versatile woman violinist.^{[citation needed]}