Smt. Akhila Krishnan
My guru, Smt. Akhila Krishnan - a senior Carnatic Music artist from New Delhi - was initiated into Carnatic music by her father, the renowned violinist Erode Sri Vishwanatha Iyer. She joined the “Sri Thyagaraja Sangeetha Vidyalayam” run by her uncle (Periappa) Flute Vidwan Sri. N R Krishna Iyer.
She later joined the Central College of Music, Madras where she had the fortune of learning from Carnatic legends such as Musiri Subramania Iyer, K.V. Narayanaswamy, G.N. Balasubramaniam, the sister duo Brindha & Muktha, among others! She learnt from Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri T K Jayarama Iyer on a Government of India scholarship. Her repertoire included several composers (both known and unknown) in popular and rare ragas!
Akhila Mami', as we fondly called her, also sang for several dance maestros including Yamini Krishnamurthy & Sonal Mansingh, touring and performing with them in India and all across the world.
She is a winner of many awards including the New Delhi Sangeetha Samajam's "Life Time Service Award" for her musical service and Shri Venkateshwara Fine Arts Trust's "Madhura Gana Ranta" award.
Classes with Akhila Mami also included the additional guidance and encouragement from her husband Flute Vidwam Sri. P N Krishnan.
He has composed and set music to several Kritis in Sanskrit and Tamil. He has also released a book translating the sthothrams of ‘Sriman Narayaneeyam’ from Sanskrit into Hindi.
Both Mama and Mami dedicated their lives to teaching Carnatic Music and very affectionately taught us disciples with abundant generosity in sharing their wealth of knowledge.
Learning from them has been a true honor.
I am glad to be able to share my knowledge with my students, too!
