Papanasam Ashok Ramani
.Papanasam Ashok Ramani is a multi-faceted musician and the Founder Director of Sivan Arts Academy, a music school in Chennai that imparts training to hundreds of students. He is also the Assistant Secretary of the Thiruvaiyaru Thyagabrahma Mahotsav Committee and the Joint Secretary of the Papanasam Sivan Rasikar Sangam. He is a composer and conductor of Carnatic Music Realty TV shows. He also propagates the vast legacy of Papanasam Sivan compositions through performances and workshops worldwide.
Music Training:
Born on April 10, 1964, Papanasam Ashok Ramani is the grandson of Brahmashri Papanasam Sivan, a legendary composer who was honored with the titles Padma Bhushan and Sangeetha Kalanidhi. Papanasam Ashok Ramani is the son of Dr. Rukmini Ramani, who is Papanasam Sivan’s daughter. He commenced music training at a very young age with his mother, Dr. Rukmini Ramani. Subsequently, he studied under the tutelage of Dr. S. Ramanathan and later became a disciple of Palghat K.V. Narayanaswamy for over 17 years. He also had the fortune of continued training under Vidwan Sri P.S. Narayanaswamy. Calcutta K.S. Krishnamurthy and Bombay Ramachandran played a major role in his formative musical phase. He also learned Mridangam from Kumbakonam Rajappa Iyer.
Academics:
Papanasam Ashok Ramani holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from the College of Engineering, Anna University, Chennai.
Professional Work Experience:
He has over 15 years of work experience as the Manager of Purchase at Reliance and SPIC Heavy Chemicals Division.
- He has performed in all major concert venues in India and worldwide.
- Papanasam Ashok Ramani is an ‘A’ grade Vocal artist of All India Radio, Chennai, and has performed on All India Radio and Doordarshan. He has also appeared on leading TV channels like Sun, Star Vijay, Raj TV, etc.
- He has been accompanied by senior artists on the Violin, Mridangam, and other percussion instruments.
- His audio cassettes have been released by Sangeetha Cassettes (Sunaadha Sugandha), Saraagam Cassettes, AVM Double Album, and HMV. Sunaadha Sugandha has been released as a CD by Sangeetha. Other CDs include Thendral, Ramaniyam, Todi, etc.
- Since 2010, he has served as the Assistant Secretary of the Thyagabrahma Mahotsav Committee, Thiruvaiyaru.
- In 2001, he composed, conducted, and released a CD-ROM on Papanasam Sivan at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Festival. The CD-ROM includes the life history of Sivan, rare audio and visual clippings of Sivan, and over 50 songs performed by leading artists.
- He holds the position of Joint Secretary of the Papanasam Sivan Rasikar Sangam and is responsible for fixing and coordinating artists and programs.
- He convened and conducted the Music Forum of the Papanasam Sivan Rasikar Sangam every week for one year. The forum featured lectures and talks on Sivan’s contributions by eminent personalities in Chennai.
- As the Founder Director of Sivan Arts Academy, a music school in Chennai, he has established three branches with a student strength of 600. The school has been running for the past 15 years.
- He organizes the December music festival featuring eminent artists from India and abroad every year in Chennai.
- He is the creator of “Tanishq Swarna Sangeetham,” a Carnatic music reality show on RAJ TV that ran for three years from 2012 to 2014.
- He has been performing at the Thyagaraja Aradhana Festival in Cleveland since 1996.
- He has conducted lecture-demonstrations and workshops worldwide on the topic “Origin, Basics, and Contributions of Carnatic Music & Works of Papanasam Sivan.”
- He regularly performs in the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada since 1995.
- He organizes the Papanasam Sivan Festival, music competitions, and concerts every year in Singapore, Malaysia, San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago, New Jersey, San Joes, New York, London, Germany, Toronto, etc.
Awards Received:
- Awarded “ Sangeetha kala sagaram “ award by Cleveland Tyagaraja Aradhana Committee -2023
- “Sangeetha Kala Sarathy” by Sri Parthasarathy Swamy Sabha in 2016.
- “Sree Sathsangh Papanasam Sivan Award” in 2017.
- “Kala Ratna” conferred by Naadhadhweepam Trust, Trichy, in 2017.
- “Isai Peroli” conferred by Karthik Fine Arts.
- Youth Excellence award by Maharajapuram Vishwanatha Iyer Trust.
- Awarded Isai Bharathi.
- Best Vocalist award by Indian Fine Arts Society.
- Best Raga Alapana award by The Music Academy, Madras.
- Yuva Kala Bharathi awarded by Bharat Kalachar.
- Awarded Best Junior Vocalist award by The Music Academy, Madras.