Umayalpuram K Sivaraman

Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman, born on December 17, 1935, is a Carnatic musician. In 2001, he received the “Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi.” His father, Sri P. Kasiviswanatha Iyer, was a medical doctor, and his mother was a homemaker. He had two sons, S. Swaminathan and S. Sivakumar, with Abhrami Sivaraman, his wife. He also had two grandsons, Aditya Swaminathan and Vignesh Swaminathan, and a granddaughter, Aparna Sivakumar. Sri Kumbakonam Rangu Iyengar, Sri Arupathi Natesa Iyer, and Sri Kumbakonam Rajappa Iyer were his teachers in the art of Carnatic mridangam. He had also taught the art of mridangam to many students and continues to do so.

A lawyer by profession, Sivaraman had an amazing command of the English language. He received legal advice from professional lawyers, including late Raghunatha Iyer of the Hindu and late. C. K. Venkatanarasimhan predicted that Sivraman would reach new heights in the music industry. For over fifteen years, he pursued his art through the "gurukula" system, but this did not deter him from earning B. A. and B.L. degrees from the “University of Madras.” He has performed concerts with several top-tier Carnatic and Hindustani musicians, including "Sri Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, Sri Mysore Chowdiah, Sri Papa Venkataramiah, Sri Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, and many others." He had several "jugalbandhi" concerts under his belt with renowned artists such as Shri Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pt. Ram Narain, Mr. Zakhir Hussain, and Allah Rakha.

His former students include Arjun Kumar, Akshay Ram, Nirmal Narayan, Vishvak Kumaran, NC Bhardwaj, and Erode Nagraj. Besides performing traditional South Indian Carnatic music in concerts and Jugalbandhi's (duets) with North Indian counterparts, Sivaraman had performed with non-Indian musicians worldwide, composing music and providing them training. He was a member of the well-known jazz band "Moon” from Brussels. He had also worked with famous American artists, including Steve Coleman, Kenwood Dennard, and Dennis Chambers. Sivaraman received several awards for his unmatched presence in the musical world of South India. The Government of India honored him with the "Padma Shri" award in 1988 for his unrivaled contribution to the music industry.

In 1992, he received the "Sangeet Natak Academy" award for “mrudangam.” “Padma Vibhushan,” India's second-highest civilian honor, was awarded him on the occasion of the “61st Republic Day” on 26th January 2010. From 1981 to 1987, he operated as the "State Artiste” of Tamil Nadu's government. In 2003, the “Government of India” honored him with "Padma Bhushan." He had a brilliant stage presence, and his superb music could elevate even the dullest concert. Sivaraman, a living legend, is a gift to the industry with his unrivaled talent and musical sense.