Chitra Srikrishna, carnatic musician, teacher and writer, is a graded artist of All India Radio. As a carnatic vocalist for over three decades, she’s performed live, on the radio, and television, across India, the USA, Canada, Malaysia, and Singapore. Her classical albums include devotional poetry of the Tamil Alwars & Dasa mystics and thematic compositions on Rama and Hanuman. Chitra runs the podcast Raga Ruminations and was the producer of RaagTime, a radio program on Indian music in Columbus, Ohio. As a music teacher and educator, her focus is on making Indian music accessible to a wider audience through workshops and thematic productions such as Antah Prerna, Bhakthi, and HumRaag. Moods & Melodies is a musical presentation on how melodies can influence our moods at a given time. Vivartana debuted in June 2022 at the Bangalore International Centre.
Chitra’s writing on culture, musical and social topics has appeared in leading newspapers such as Deccan Herald, The Hindu, Mint, San Jose Mercury News, Sruti, India Currents and others. Her stories have featured in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Early in her career, she worked as a technical writer for a software company in the San Francisco Bay area and has been the editor of an online music portal. As adjunct professor of music at Ahmedabad University, she teaches courses such as Musical Traditions of India – An Introduction, How Music Shapes Cities:Varanasi to NYC and Bhakti & Music: Oral Tradition Radical Change to students across various disciplines.
Please use the form below to contact Chitra Srikrishna.
Chitra Srikrishna 
Dear Chitra,
Nice Site
It is relevant to place on record my sincere appreciation for the manner in which ” Saranagathi ” has been rendered
All the best
Dr Nagendran
LikeLike
Do you teach online? I live in the US
LikeLike
Smt.Chitra Srikrishna -Vocalist
I even to-day heard Vetern Vocalist Smt.Seethalakshmi Venkateshan Teaching You Poorvikalyani Raga,rendering the Muthuswami Dikshitha’s Kruthi Ekambreshwara Natham,with kalpana swaras in FM 100.1 – This I am hearing from Monday to Saturday everyday from 7.15AM to 7.30AM in Gurukula Music. Somedays back & This episode is again heard for this week. So excellent… Thank you both & also I heard Smt.Seethalakshmi Venkateshan being interviewed in the Sampada also. They have all dedicated life for music & Music alone.Salute..
With Regards.
M.G.Gopalakrishnan -Mridangam Vidwan Son of Sangeetha Vidwan Late Sri. M.S.Govindar Rao (Retd.LICI ), No.533,”Laya Vinyasa”,BHEL Housing Society,2nd Stage Extension,Pattanagere South,Sri Raja Rajeshwari Nagar,Bangalore 560 098,Mobile.9901421208, Admin.Officer,Fin-Excise & Ind.Taxes,BHEL-EDN,Mysore Road,Bangalore 560 026, Phone 080-26998830/8478 email:gopalakrishnanmg@bheledn.co.in
LikeLike
Hi chitra,
Harsha and I are spending a couple of months in our new flat in Bengaluru. Can you please send your e-mail id so that I can get in touch with you. I do not have your ph.# or e-mail id.
Thanks.Pushpa
LikeLike
Hi Chitra,This is Rakshitha, not sure if you recollect me, we met in Kumarans last year…!Anyways, it is really nice listening to you this evening on Amrithavarshini…Regards,Rakshitha
LikeLike
iam interested in taking classes from you. can u please let me know where u stay in bangalore. please provide your contacts details i would like to talk to you
LikeLike
Sub: Music Technology Concept.
Respected Vidushi,
1. I thought it is prudent to share a research review paper on “Music technology: A perceptive prospect”, published by me in the International Journal of Music and Dance, May 2013 issue, visit: http://www.academicjournals.org/JMD/PDF/Pdf2013/May/Ramanamurthy.pdf,.
2. Scholarly music professionals and academicians like: Prof Yella; Akella Mallikarjuna Shrama; TM Mahadevan, Violinist, Scientist and Director (Retd), Atomic Minerals of Atomic Energy, Professor. Dr. Er. Ratnam V. Raja Kumar, VC, Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies, among many others, who had appreciated my suggestions.
3. The US based Guru Swara attempt http://www.guruswara.com/ , Virtual Practice For Vocal Excellence is a good beginning, but it is not an end in it-self, because, it does not address the core issues and lot more to be done in terms of computer software.
4. British Professors of Music have developed individualized Musical therapeutics, for seriously ill and suffering from life threatening mentally challenged children, which is yielding good results. http://www.songsoflove.org
5. Also, techno-commercial feasibility and job potential exists.
6. Kindly acknowledge and also solicit valued your feedback.
virtually.Wishes, M.v.Ramanamurthy,
LikeLike
Thank you for your feedback. I will check your links and get back to you over email.
LikeLike
i am very happy to see the manner in which “Sarangathi” has been rendered. I request you to inform me about details of your programmes in future/any other cultural/spiritual programmes as i am interested in attending the same.
Regards Smt. L.Kalyani
LikeLike
Nice to Know about you New Venture, Mam! Please mail me more of ur Programmes. Any need for a vocal support u can pl. call me through Mr. Ramanathan, the Famous Mrudangam Vidwan.
Thank You,
Regards, Vid.Mythili Mandayam
LikeLike
Thank you. I will be posting upcoming programs here.
LikeLike
Dear Chitra madam, really loved your writing. I believe its a must read for every beginner rasika and a music student as it gives a basic understanding on the beauty of ragas and kritis. Thank you for your efforts. Keep on your writing, travel and devotion.
I would like to clear a doubt on the basic sadhaka training for beginners. I learnt the basic music lessons including a few basic keerthanas in my childhood, but unfortunately couldnt continue after my 12th class. Now Im settled and want to continue learning the music. But the problem now is whenever I try to sing gamakas i use my jaws than my throat. Im used to it unknowingly that Im not able to get rid of it. It puts me in a pathetic situation . Can you please help me to overcome this situation? I believe that sadhaka can cure this but I dont know how to do sadhaka for this. I will be grateful if you could provide me help. Thanking you.
Revathy.
LikeLike
You need to relax your facial muscles while singing. Here’s a link that throws some light – http://your-personal-singing-guide.com/jaw-tightness.html
Sing with an open throat – the sound has to come from the abdomen/chest and you don’t need to open your mouth wide.
LikeLike
Hi,
I am Anuja- a student from IISc Bangalore. I recently came across your blog and was highly impressed. I especially liked your podcasts where you include snippets from not just carnatic music, but also hindustani music. I have been a student of hindustani music for the past 2 years. Even though I learnt carnatic music when i was small, I couldn’t continue due to various reasons. I wonder if you teach music? If yes, could you teach me? My mail id is: anujaj3891@gmail.com. Kindly let me know.
LikeLike
Respected Madam, May I have your opinion about the ragam of Meera Bajan rendered by Smt.MS as a record in 1947? Is it Chandrakauns? Was the music by Piano Vaidhyanathan or by S.V.Venkataraman? I tend to think, it was by SVVENKATARAMAN as the same raga is used in Thamizh Meera song Characharam . I have given links to both the songs . Kindly emnlighten me.
https://sites.google.com/site/homage2mssubbulakshmi/home/06-pyaare-dharsana
http://picosong.com/zvRt
LikeLike
Dear madam,
I loved your soulful rendition of Kulasekara azhwar pasuram on thiruvengadam. I have added it in my nithya parayanam/ pooja.
What are the hindustani ragas for verse 3 & 7 after Kambodhi & charukesi ?
Please do an album on Azhwar Pasurams ,if you find time.
Best regards
Jayanth
Ex GM SCR
Mob-95024995
LikeLike
Namaskaram. Thank you for your kind words. I will certainly do an album on Pasurams. Here is the list of 30 ragas in which the verses of Saranagathi have been rendered.
Canto 3
Saranga, Purvi Kalyani, Karaharapriya, Revati, Mayamalavagowla, Dhanyasi, Nasika Bhooshani, Atana, Saveri
Canto 4
Thodi, Bilahari, Vasanthi, Chandrakauns, Kaanada, Charukesi, Kalyana Vasantham, Kamas, Pantuvarali, Kaapi, Kuntalavarali
Canto 5
Shubha Pantuvarali, Dwijavanti, Saurashtram, Dhenuka, Latangi, Varali, Dharmavati, Lalitha, Kalyani, Brindavana Saranga
LikeLike
Thank you madam for your prompt reply. Very kind of you.
Best regards
Jayant
LikeLike
Dear Chitrasri
I’m Anand, a former student of Carnatic and now a student of Dagarbani with Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar in Delhi.
I stumbled on your post on Varati Varali yesterday after I sang the raga. Would love to email you more thoughts.
Warm wishes
Anand
LikeLike
Dear Anand,
Thank you for writing to me. Look forward to hearing your views.
LikeLike
Dear Chitrasri
Would you mind emailing at anand @ navayana.org? I don’t have yours!
Anand
LikeLike