Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman

Born on 17 December 1935 in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, Shri Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman received his training in the Mridangam from a number of well-known teachers including Natesa Iyer, Tanjore Vaidyanatha Iyer, Palghat Mani Iyer, and Kumbakonam Rangu Iyengar. He represents the Tanjore school of Mridangam. He is admired for his mastery also over the Kanjira and Ghatam, and for his rendering of Konnakkol.
A top-grade artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan, Shri Sivaraman has been performing on the concert platform for more than sixty-five years. He has distinguished himself both as soloist and accompanist on the Mridangam. He has participated in Talvadya Katcheris with eminent percussionists of both the Hindustani and Carnatic streams. He has also performed with jazz artists such as the renowned Belgian group Aka Moon. He has trained a number of students, and lectured at several institutions in India and abroad. Besides a monograph on the Mridangam, he has published a book titled The Voyage of Mrudangam and its High-voltage Art.
For his service to music, Shri Sivaraman has been honoured with a number of awards. These include the title Kalaimamani conferred by the Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Manram (1977), the Padma Shri (1988), the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1992), the Padma Bhushan (2003), the Sri Swathi Puraskar Award (2007) bestowed by the Government of Kerala, and the Padma Vibhushan (2010).
Shri Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman is elected Fellow of Sangeet Natak Akademi for his contribution to Indian music.