About Swathi

Swathi considers herself as a lifetime student of Indian Classical Music.

Currently, she learns from her guru (whom she dearly calls Akka) Dr. Sumithra Vasudev (Carnatic Classical Vocal, 2012 – present), who is the pradhana sishya of Sangita Kalanidhi Smt. R. Vedavalli. It is Dr. Sumithra who nurtured Swathi with perspectives and stimulating conversations on Music practice, Research and Languages – all of which Swathi continues to learn from her guru and thrives to showcase in her unwavering approach to music.

Music in Swathi’s life traces back to her childhood days – when she was about 6 or 7 years old. Since then, she came under the training of her guru & grandfather Late Thirupoonthuruthy Sri V Venkatesan (Carnatic Classical Vocal, 1994 – 2017). She also had the good fortune of coming under the tutelage of Sangita Kala Acharya Late Chingelput Sri Ranganathan (Carnatic Classical Vocal, 2002-2011). According to Swathi – “He was a guru, who was always giving and expected nothing else from his pupils.” Both her gurus were students of Alathur Brothers and this rich Parampara helped Swathi with a very strong foundation in Carnatic Music as well as her life.

Swathi also learnt from Late Parur Sri. M S Anantharaman & Akkarai Sri. S Swamynathan for a brief period learning the western instrument, Violin (Carnatic Classical Violin, 1995-2010).

An innate interest for Hindustani Classical form of Music led to an association with Guruji  Late Ustad Ghulam Akbar Khan, who belongs to the Rampur Sahaswan Khayal Gharana, from whom she learnt Hindustani Classical Vocal (2012 – 2015). She continues to learn Hindustani Music from guru Sri. Samrat Pandit (Hindustani Classical Vocal, 2021 – present), an exponent of Patiala Gharana, a school of Hindustani classical vocal music. Born into a family surrounded by music – his father late Pt Jagdish Prasad was a disciple of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, the doyen of Patiala Gharana and his grandfather Pt Badri Prasad was a court musician of Raigarh. 

Chennai, considered the land of opportunities for music enthusiasts paved way for Swathi to learn from several stalwarts. At various points in time,  in the form of workshops, lectures, seminars, scholarship programs, she gathered musical experiences from Smt. R Vedavalli, Smt. R S Jayalakshmi, Smt. Suguna Varadachari, Trichy Sri. J Venkatraman, Sri. B Krishnamoorthy, Smt. Rama Ravi, Sri S R Janakiraman, Sri. Vijay Siva, Smt. Rukmani Ramani, Smt. Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi, R K Sri. Shriramkumar, Chitravina Sri. Ravikiran to name a few.