Mrs R.Banumathy hails from a family of rich
musical tradition of India.Her father & Guru, Sangita Kalanidhi Dr. S.Ramanathan
was one of the greatest musicians of our times. Mrs Banumathy is one of the 6th
generation representatives of the musical heritage of the Trinity of Carnatic music
[ (1.a) St.Thyagaraja - Mananbuchavadi Venkatasubbaier - Maha Vaidyanatha Iyer - Sabesa
Iyer - Dr S.Ramanathan - R.Banumathy (1.b) St.Thyagaraja - Veenai Kuppaier -
Thiruvotriyur Thyagayyer - Thanjavur Ponniah Pillai - Dr S.Ramanathan - R.Banumathy
(2) Muthuswami Dikshitar - Ponniah Pillai/Sivanandam - Kannusamy Nattuvanar - Thanjavur
Ponniah Pillai - Dr S.Ramanathan - R.Banumathy (3) Syama Sastri - Subbaraya Sastri -
Thachchur Singarachariar - Tiger Varadachariar/Thanjavur Ponniah Pillai - Dr S.Ramanathan
- R.Banumathy ].
Mrs Banumathy has always been a topper in the University music courses. She held the first
rank in Music (Veena) diploma course from Madras University. She stood first in her
M.A.(Music) degree in Delhi University and was awarded Gold Medal by the President of
India Shri Shankar Dayal Sharma. She has undergone 2 years' training under Prof
T.N.Krishnan. She has also bagged the topper award from the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya of
Delhi in the Post Graduate Music course.
Mrs R.Banumathy has a teaching experience of
over 25 years in Veena and Vocal music. She is a senior teacher at alapana arts, besides
being its founder Director. She also teaches Veena & Vocal music at the National
University of Singapore, Centre for the Arts.
Her patience in teaching, dedication,
recognised style of Veena playing and an authentic ‘Paataanthram’ have earned
her a respectable place in the field of Carnatic music. Her book entitled 'Sruti Manjari'
has the blessings & foreword by Sri Semmangudi R.Srinivasa Iyer. It has been
published in 2 parts, both in English & Tamil. The composite book was formally released
by Vidwan Sri Madurai T.N.Seshagopalan on 2nd July,2005 in Singapore. The second edition
of the book carries a special greetings message by the Senior Minister of State for
Education and Information, Communication and the Arts, RADM (NS) Lui Tuck Yew.
She continues to be a Graded Artiste of All
India Radio. Her Veena playing is characterised by its pristine purity sans gimmicks.