Season - 4, episode 1 of “ZENPod”, featuring Smt. Dr. Sudha Ragunathan, Padma Bhushan awardee, Sangita Kalanidhi, ‘Kalaimamani’ – India’s foremost Carnatic Vocalist. Founder, Sudhaarnava Academy for Musical Excellence & “Samudhaaya” Foundation. A disciple of the legendary Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. ML Vasanthakumari, Sudha has evolved a style of her own.
“Spirituality is my surrender to a power that orchestrates everything that happens within the Universe. It is the path where I get to know who I am, where I am heading, what are my Goals, where did I come from, my goals what have I done for…..” – says Smt. Dr. Sudha Ragunathan in her talk with Venkatesh Mahadevan
Sudha Ragunathan led the largest Carnatic band along with Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancers to acquire a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Sudha has the distinction of being the only Carnatic musician second to Bharat Ratna MS Subbulakshmi, to have sung at the United Nations. Louisville, Kentucky (United States) declared 19 May, 2019 as Sudha Ragunathan Day in recognition of her service to the field of arts for the past four decades.
Serving society
Her Sudhaarnava, Academy for Musical Excellence was launched on 14 April, 2017 with the objective of training senior level students and nurturing talent to produce high class performers.
She launched “Samudhaaya Foundation” in 1999, which has so far disbursed funds to the tune of over INR 50 million for various causes, focusing primarily on children - pediatric cancer care, pediatric heart surgeries, mentally challenged destitute children, abused children, the deaf blind children and towards palliative care.
Under Project Anugraha, Sudha has helped musicians who have lost their livelihood because of the pandemic, by giving them a monthly amount for sustenance for a period of three months
Awards
Sudha Ragunathan is the recipient of the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award of India, for the year 2015. Some of her awards include :-
· Music Academy’s ‘Sangita Kalanidhi’
· State Government’s ‘Kalaimamani’, ‘Sangeetha Choodamani’, ‘Sangeetha Saraswathi’, ‘Sangeetha Visharaadh’, ‘Sangeetha Sampoorna’, to name a few, &
· Lifetime Achievement Awards
· Conferred the “Aasthaana Vidwan” title from religious institutions such as Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Ahobila Mutt, Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Srirangam Srimad Andavan Ashram & Sri Narayani Peedam
Away from the mainstream
1. During the lockdown 2020, Sudha has conceptualized Expressions Espresso, a chat show with leading personalities.
2. Teaming with jazz wizard Amit Heri, she has toured the United States along with some memorable performances in India as well
3. Having sung some very popular numbers in Tamil and Malayalam films, she is currently into composing music for two Tamil films.
4. Sudha has walked the ramp as ambassador for the Parampara pattu, a customized brand of silk sarees, that has now culminated in the Parampara awards for recognizing outstanding performers in the field of art and culture
“ZENPod” is a Podcast series that features trailblazers from different walks of life, with a purpose to build an empowered eco-system where learnings and experiences from these enlightened professionals, will be available within “arms reach of desire” for those who aspire to scale higher and wish to contribute, in their life’s pursuit.