K. Omanakutty Amma
A Carnatic vocalist and teacher of 70 years who founded Kerala University's music department and taught K.S. Chithra, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025.
K. Omanakutty Amma has sung and taught Carnatic music for about seventy years. Among her students is the celebrated singer K.S. Chithra. In 2025 she was named for the Padma Shri in the field of art, from Kerala [1].
Three generations of music
Omanakutty Amma was born on 24 May 1943 into a family of musicians spanning three generations [2]. She learned first from her parents and later from the great Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer and G.N. Balasubramaniam [2].
Teacher and scholar
She taught music at Kerala University and Calicut University for 36 years, and set up the Department of Music at Kerala University [2]. Her students include K.S. Chithra [2]. She earned a PhD in Kathakali music and was the first woman to be graded a top-grade artist by All India Radio [2].
Her concert series Ganakairali presents Malayalam Carnatic songs by composers such as Swathi Thirunal and Irayimman Thampi; its 50th episode was held in January 2025 [2]. She has also used music therapy with children with disabilities and older people [2].
Her honours include the Sangeet Natak Akademi award and fellowship and Kerala’s Swathi Puraskaram [2].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2025: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2025: citation for K. Omanakutty Amma — Padma Awards, Government of India. Accessed 11 October 2026.
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