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Kiranavali, the granddaughter of the late legendary Gotuvadyam Narayana Iyengar, was born on 2nd Jan. 1973. Her father, N Narasimhan, is a musician of great merit, and has nurtured the musical talents of Kiranavali and her illustrious brothers, Chitravina N Ravikiran and K N Shashikiran. When hardly three years old, Kiranavali was able to identify more than 200 Ràgas and the 175 Tàlas, besides answering numerous technical questions pertaining to Carnatic music. If Indian Express called her "astounding in her precocity" (14 June 1975), the music critic of The Hindu wrote, "More fantastic is the manner in which Kiranavali, the three-year old sister of Ravikiran and Shashikiran is able to tell the Ràga even at the commencement of its outline."
Kiranavali's performing career began at the age of eleven. Both her solo recitals and the duets with her brother, Shashikiran, won the hearts of the knowledgeable and laymen alike. In her quest for excellence, Kiranavali pursued advanced vocal music training under the late Sangita Kalanidhi T Brinda, the highest authority on the works of many a great composer. Under her guidance, Kiranavali has matured into a sensitive musician with a deep commitment to highly refined musical values. At the young age of twenty-eight, she brings a degree of maturity and involvement to Carnatic music that is commensurate with her professional experience of over two decades.
Kiranavali also plays the Chitravina, true to her family tradition. She has performed solo, and has also accompanied Ravikiran. Her concerts have been featured by many leading organisations like the Madras Music Academy, Krishna Gana Sabha, Narada Gana Sabha and Shanmukhananda Fine Arts (Mumbai). The first artiste to be graded high for both Vocal and the Chitravina by AIR and Doordarshan, her music is regularly featured in broadcasts.
Kiranavali is the recipient of the "Best Artiste" from the Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai (Dec. 1996) and the "Best Concert" award of the Malleswaram Sangeetha Sabha, Bangalore (Jan. 1998). Kiranavali was the lead female vocalist in Lakshmi Prabhavam, the operatic ballet composed by Chitravina N Ravikiran and choreographed by R Rhadha. This was presented to standing ovations in major cities of the USA and Canada, between March and June 1997. As with her presentations abroad, she won great acclaim for her vocal music at the Indian premiere of Lakshmi Prabhavam, in December 1997.
Kiranavali's artistic talents also extend to painting, in which she has won international prizes. Her academic records are no less impressive. She has won several prizes that include school ranks and ranks at the regional and national levels. She holds the B. Com. and AIII degrees, but Carnatic music remains her passion and her chosen career.
With her deep musical knowledge, and eye for quality and detail, Kiranavali is currently the Editor, Content and Design, of www.carnatica.com, an internet portal on music and dance. In addition, her articles are regularly featured in other web sites and music magazines. She is acknowledged as a music teacher of high calibre and has the distinction of having served as a senior faculty member of the famous Shanmukhananda Sangeeta Vidyalaya, Mumbai (1999-2000).
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