Sangeet Acharya Ratna Award 2016: Smt. Shivatharini Sahathevan Sivatharini was born in a music loving family in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. In her toddler years, her parents noticed a rare phenomenon in the child and further realized the prodigy in her. She developed an unconscious attachment to the Veena and desired to learn this divine instrument in her childhood years. Initially, she was taken to Sangeetha Pushanam Sri Arumugampillai, in Jaffna. In a few years, she learned and captured the intricacies of Veena playing and began giving solo performances at the age of 12. Subsequently, she went to Chennai and enrolled at the Tamil Nadu Music Academy in Adyar (currently known as Tamil Nadu Music University) to fulfil her childhood ambition of becoming a Veena Vidwan. She learnt under the tutelage of Kalaimamani K P Sivanandam and Kalaimamani Kalpakam Swaminathan and later graduated. Sivatharini was awarded the prestigious title of “Sanageetha Vidwan”. She successively joined the Education Department in Jaffna, Sri Lanka and served as a Music Lecturer for a number of years. In 1982, Sivatharini moved to London. Sivatharini is a Composer, Pioneer, Musician, Teacher and an Artiste. As a composer, Sivatharini has scored music for several fusion and orchestral performances. Blending the traditional and the innovative in her music in terms of content, technique, virtuosity and expression. As a pioneer, Sivatharini established her own music school ‘Veenalaya’ and devotes much of her time to enlightening young minds about music through teaching and workshops. She strongly believes that learning to play such complex instruments can impact one’s life positively and greatly enhance the academic performances of the students. Sivatharini continues to preserve our beautiful culture and has been exploring and discovering new frontiers of music through the Veena. As an artiste, Sivatharini seeks to express the true voice of the Veena which transcends the boundaries of language and religion. She is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing and technically beguiling artists now performing. Her admirers who have been enraptured by her melody, Bhava purity of Sahithyam, Thala Suddham and Layam constitute a great majority of music lovers in London and abroad. Her virtuosity and the rich tonal quality she draws from her instrument have won her appreciation from audiences everywhere. Rasikas have always enthusiastically received her performances, both solo and accompanied by her students. Sivatharini was recently honored and awarded the title of “Veena Natha Sudar” by the International Hindu Youth Forum in London, in recognition of her unsurpassed service and talent in the Veena music field. As a Teacher, Sivatharini is a very disciplined and dedicated Guru, continuing in the tradition of her Guru’s. Her success is due to her creative ability, capability to impart knowledge
to others, her infinite patience and unquestionable dedication. Her personal charisma coupled with her eminent capabilities has earned her many disciples. She has brought several of her students to stages at religious and cultural programs with great confidence. She frequently organizes and performs benefit concerts with her disciples for charity. Furthermore, Sivatharini has successfully staged over 35 Arangetrams till date and more importantly, she ensures that all her students continue to advance in the field of Carnatic Music after this. Sivatharini and her students have performed in many parts of the world including India, Malaysia, and Canada. Currently, she is teaching Veena at the London Tamil Centre and Harrow Tamil School. She is also the Director of Veenalaya.