Lavanya Sundararaman
# Lavanya Sundararaman

Lavanya Sundararaman is a Carnatic musician. She received initial training from Poornapragya Rao, and went on to receive further training from her family of musicians.

## Early life and family

Lavanya was born to Gayathri and Dr. R. Sundararaman. She is the great-granddaughter of the prominent Carnatic music vocalist, D. K. Pattammal. She is also the great-granddaughter of Palghat Mani Iyer, who was a mridangam maestro.

Lavanya received music lessons during her childhood from her great-grandmother D. K. Pattammal. She is a disciple of her grandmother and noted singer Lalitha Sivakumar, her mother Gayathri Sundararaman, and is a niece and disciple of renowned singer Nithyasree Mahadevan.

Lavanya has completed her post-graduate and undergraduate studies in Music at Queen Mary's College, Chennai and is pursuing her Ph.D. in Music under the guidance of Dr. M. A. Bhageerathi.

## Musical career

### Touring

Lavanya has performed at major sabhas in India, particularly during the annual December music festival in Chennai. She has also presented songs and concerts in the United States of America, Canada, Sri Lanka, and other destinations.

Notable performances by Lavanya have included:

* Concert with great-grandmother D. K. Pattammal, grandmother Lalitha Sivakumar, grandfather I. Sivakumar, and aunt Nithyasree Mahadevan at the Madras Music Academy in September 2000.
* Thematic concert for Mangalam Ganapathy Trust in February 2008.
* Concerts with aunt Nithyasree Mahadevan entitled Triveni Sangamam and Vellithirai Ragangal featuring Film songs in 2009.
* Concert with grandmother Lalitha Sivakumar and aunt Nithyasree Mahadevan in tribute to great-grandmother D. K. Pattammal in 2010 to conclude 25th anniversary celebration for Youth Association for Carnatic Music.
* Concerts in Mumbai in July 2011.

### Television works

Lavanya has appeared in various television music programs to perform, including:

* The Ragamalika music show on Jaya TV in 2004 for a special Tamil New Year program.
* A special Diwali program telecast in 2009 on Raj TV.
* Season 2 of Airtel Super Singer Junior for their Karthigai Special program in November 2009 on Vijay TV.
* The Theanamudhu music program on Makkal TV telecast in India in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
* Navarathiri Nayagiyar special music program telecast on Jaya TV during the Navarathri Festival in the year 2015

### Discography

Lavanya has sung songs in Hindu devotional and other-genre music albums, including:

* Sai Lavanya Lahari for Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust, Prashanthinilayam, Puttaparthi.
* Karunai Deivame for Giri Trading Agency.
* Madurakali Amman for Mangalam Ganapathy Trust.
* Triveni Sangamam DVD for Giri Trading Agency.

### Titles, awards, and recognition

| Year | Honour | Honouring bestowed or presented by |
| - | - | - |
| 1999 | Award | Padma Sheshadri Bala Bhavan (PSBB) |
| 2000 | 6 year Classical Vocal Music Scholarship | PSBB group of schools |
| 2000 | Oothukaadu Venkatasubaiyar Trust Prize | Oothukaadu Venkatasubaiyar Trust |
| 2006 | Various Prizes | Mylapore Fine Arts |
| 2006 & 2007 | Various Prizes | Narada Gana Sabha |
| 2007 | Ariyakudi KV Narayanaswamy Memorial Trust competition prize | Ariyakudi KV Narayanaswamy Memorial Trust |
| 2007 | First prize in Tamil songs for ladies and gentlemen | Madras Music Academy (presented December 2007) |
| 2007-2008 | Platinum Jubilee Year Celebration Music Conference Prize | Indian Fine Arts Society |
| 2008 | "Northern Star" plaque and title for preserving Tamil heritage | PC Riding Association Of Scarborough Centre, Canada (conferred on 7 June 2008 in Toronto) |
| 2008 | "Tamil Isai Kuyil" title | Tamil Times Inc Toronto, Canada |
| 2009 | Krishna Gana Sabha Endowment Prize | Krishna Gana Sabha (presented for performance during 54th Arts and Dance Festival in December 2009) |
| 2009 | Tambura Prize | Neelakanda Sivan Trust |
| 2010 | Tambura Prize on Rukmini Ramani's compositions | Sivan Fine Arts Academy and Sivanugraha |
| 2010 | "Innisai Ilavarasi" title | Adi Arul Neri Manram, Canada (conferred in May 2010) |
| 2010 | "Isai Ilavarasi" title | Tamil Times Inc Toronto, Canada (conferred in June 2010) |
| 2011 | Bhagidhari award | Government of Delhi (presented by Neyveli Santhanagopalan on 12 December 2011 at Krishna Gana Sabha) |
| 2011 | "Amuthagaanavani" title | Nallur Kandaswamy Temple Maha Sannidhanam, Sri Lanka (presented during Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of Hindu Education Society in December 2011) |
