JungPapst1287 at 15:13, 24 March 2026

2026-03-24T15:13:33Z

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{{short description|Indian Carnatic classical vocalist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = H. K. Venkatram
| image = Hkvenkat.jpeg
| alt = H.K. Venkatram at a concert
| caption = H.K. Venkatram at a concert
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1965}}
| birth_place = [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]], India
| citizenship =
| education =
| alma_mater = [[Bangalore University]] ([[Bachelor of Engineering]] in [[Electronics and Communication]])
| children = 2
| parents = {{unbulleted list|Prof. H. V. Krishnamurthy|Sarala Krishnamurthy}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Triveni Saralaya|1993}}
| honours = {{plainlist|
*[[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] (2023)
}}
| module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| background = person
| genre = {{flat list|
* [[Carnatic music|Carnatic]]
* [[Indian classical music|Indian classical]]
* [[Jugalbandi]]
}}
| instrument = [[Violin]]
| website = {{URL|www.hkvenkatram.com}}
}}
}}

'''H. K. Venkatram''' is an [[Indian classical music]] violinist and [[Philanthropist]]. Venkatram has been an active violinist for over 30 years in India and abroad. He is known for his classical style of play and maturity on the violin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.inktalks.com/people/hkvenkatram|title=Stories, Ideas and Perspectives | 300+ Inspirational talks by remarkable people from INK events -}}</ref>

==Career==
H.K. Venkatram started learning violin from his father, Prof H.V. Krishnamurthy at the age of 7. He gave his first concert at the age of 11 with his brother. Venkatram is one of the most sought after violinists and is frequently seen in classical concerts in India and abroad. He is known for understanding the nuances of Carnatic Music and stressing on strictly following the classical approach to playing the violin.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/nov072004/ac3.asp|title=An artist who creates new idioms of music|work=Deccan Herald|accessdate=9 November 2014|archive-date=9 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109114602/http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/nov072004/ac3.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> He has performed alongside renowned artistes like [[Balamurali Krishna]], [[U. Srinivas|Mandolin U. Srinivas]], [[Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman|Umayalpuram Sivaraman]], [[T.M. Krishna]], [[Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer]], [[R K Srikanthan|RK Srikanthan]], [[K. V. Narayanaswamy|KV Narayanaswamy]], [[D. K. Pattammal|DK Pattammal]], [[M. L. Vasanthakumari|Dr M L Vasanthakumari]], [[Kadri Gopalnath]], [[N. Ramani|Dr N Ramani]], [[TN Seshagopalan]], [[T. V. Sankaranarayanan|TV Sankaranarayanan]], [[Trichur V. Ramachandran]], [[Chitravina N. Ravikiran]] among many others.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hkvenkatram.com/profile.html |title=H K Venkatram – Profile |access-date=1 December 2014 |archive-date=7 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107014803/http://hkvenkatram.com/profile.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1999, Venkatram released a CD on Tyagaraja’s "Ghana Raga Pancharatnam" during the [[Thyagaraja Aradhana|Tyagaraja Festival]] held in Cleveland, USA. Venkatram has also published a book called "Tyagaraja Vachanamrita" which is based on the compositions of [[Thyagaraja]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/nov072004/ac3.asp|title=An artist who creates new idioms of music|work=Deccan Herald|accessdate=9 November 2014|archive-date=9 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109114602/http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/nov072004/ac3.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> Venkatram is also part of a famous [[Veena (instrument)|Veena]] [[Flute|Venu]] [[Violin]] trio which consists of Ashwin Anand (Veena) and G. Ravikiran (Flute). The trio have performed in many concerts and their music is very well received.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/passion-and-precision/article4197694.ece|title=Passion and precision|work=The Hindu|accessdate=9 November 2014}}</ref>

==Shabda==
Venkatram along with [[T.M. Krishna]] and [[R. K. Shriramkumar]] is the co-founder of a project called "Shabda" which is aimed at creating an online archive of the various aspects pertaining to the Indian Performing Arts. It was founded in 2010. The initiative recognizes that a lot of valuable knowledge content on Indian performing arts is either unavailable or not in the proper form of documentation, and aims to make it otherwise. Each speaker will beading with a specific aspect of their art in an analytical and comprehensive manner. The lectures are for a duration of 20 minutes to ensure that it is focused.

The scope of Shabda in the present performing arts scene includes videography of lectures by eminent artists, scholars and researchers, widening the scope of content availability through internet and using technology to provide high quality content and preservation to avoid inaccuracy in documentation and retrieval. This helps to provide a useful wealth of knowledge for artists, performers, students, and connoisseurs alike. Shabda has conducted 12 lectures across 2 day-long events held at Kalakshetra, Chennai and Bangalore Gayana Samaja in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

==Prathyarpana Foundation==
Prathyarpana Foundation was founded as a charitable initiative by Vijaya College of Music, a music college run by Venkatram and his wife, Triveni Venkatram. The institution is based in Bangalore and was inaugurated on 5 July 2015. The foundation aims to use the [[Performing Arts]] for social causes. The foundation also aims to nurture and showcase new talent in the field of music and channel it towards social causes. The collections from every event will be donated to [[Non-profit organisations]] that work towards women and child welfare.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/giving-back-to-society/article7378865.ece|title=Giving back to society|work = The Hindu|accessdate = 6 July 2015}}</ref>

==Awards==
H. K. Venkatram was the recipient of the prestigious [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] for the year 2023 for his contribution to carnatic violin. He received the award from [[President of India|President]] [[Droupadi Murmu]] at an investiture ceremony in [[Vigyan Bhawan]] on 6 March 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/sangeetnatakakademi/p/C4IKR_0BzKG/|title=Sangeet Natak Akademi (Official Instagram)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2011701|title=PIB Press Release, March 05, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/ashok-saraf-rajeev-verma-bombay-jayashri-to-receive-sangeet-natak-akademi-award-2914742|title=Deccan Herald, February 28, 2024}}</ref>

Venkatram has been awarded the "Best Violinist" award in the Annual Conference of the prestigious [[Madras Music Academy]], "Parur Sundaram Iyer Award for Senior Violinist" in 2002 and "Ganakala Shree" by the [[Karnataka Ganakala Parishat]] for his achievements in the field of Carnatic Music in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nadabrahmasabha.com/Events.aspx|title=Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Venkatram retired as senior director at [[Intel Corporation]] year 2024.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://mobiletoi.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=2&sectid=edid=&edlabel=TOIBG&mydateHid=29-04-2014&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Bangalore&edname=&articleid=Ar00212&publabel=TOI|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109132704/http://mobiletoi.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=2&sectid=edid=&edlabel=TOIBG&mydateHid=29-04-2014&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Bangalore&edname=&articleid=Ar00212&publabel=TOI|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 November 2014|title=Techies make music for Bangalore|work=The Times of India|accessdate=9 November 2014}}</ref> He lives in [[Bangalore]] and is married to Triveni of Saralaya Sisters fame.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/sister-act/article1046474.ece|title=Sister act|work=The Hindu|accessdate = 9 November 2014}}</ref> Venkatram and his wife manage their own music institute called Vijaya College of Music in Bangalore. The college was set up in 1953 by his father.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/article3218872.ece|title=He gave the violin a voice|work = The Hindu|accessdate = 9 November 2014}}</ref> They have a son and daughter together. His daughter, Bhargavi, is an upcoming vocalist.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/407917/music-dance-reviews.html|title=Music and dance reviews, Budding artistes shine|work = Deccan Herald|accessdate = 9 November 2014}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McQVokEVaLc H.K. Venkatram at INKTalks 2012 held at Pune]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Venkatram, HK}}
[[Category:Carnatic violinists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Bengaluru]]
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Bengaluru]]
[[Category:Indian male musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian violinists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian violinists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male musicians]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]

H. K. Venkatram - Revision history

JungPapst1287 at 15:13, 24 March 2026