SUGUNA PURUSHOTHAMAN
Akademi Award: Carnatic Vocal Music

Born in 1941 in Chennai, Shrimati Suguna Purushothaman received her training in Carnatic music from towering musicians in the field, including Shri Musiri Subramanya Iyer, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Thinniam Venkatarama Iyer, and P. Sambamoorti. She also acquired proficiency in playing the Veena, which she learnt under Shrimati Lalithabai Shamanna.

Over the years, Shrimati Purushothaman has won recognition as a leading Carnatic vocalist. A distinctive feature of her music is the dwi-tala avadhana —the art of keeping two different talas, producing intricate rhythm. She is a top-ranking artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan, and has produced many recordings of her own compositions — Padavarnams, Kritis, thematic Ragamalikas, Javalis and Thillanas. She has authored a book of her compositions titled Kadambam. She has performed widely in India and abroad.

For her achievement as a singer and composer, Shrimati Suguna Purushothaman has been honoured by various institutions. These distinctions include the title of Sangeetha Choodamani conferred by the Sri Krishna Gana Sabha (2004), the Vaggeyakara award of The Music Academy, Chennai (2006), and the Kalaimamani title bestowed by the Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Manram (2006).

Shrimati Suguna Purushothaman receives the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for her contribution to Carnatic vocal music.