N. Rajam
The violinist known as the "singing violin" for playing Hindustani music in the vocal style, honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 2026.
N. Rajam made the violin sing like a human voice in Hindustani music, a style that earned her the title of the “singing violin”. In 2026 she was named for the Padma Vibhushan in the field of art, from Uttar Pradesh [1].
Carnatic beginnings
Rajam was born in Ernakulam on 16 March 1939 into a musical family [2]. She began the violin at three under her father, A. Narayana Iyer, a Carnatic musician, and also learned from the vocalist Musiri Subramania Iyer [2].
Gayaki ang
She then studied Hindustani music under Pandit Omkarnath Thakur [2]. At fifteen she began playing Hindustani music on the violin in the gayaki ang, the vocal style of khayal, which won her admirers across the country [2]. Audiences especially loved the duets she played with Ustad Bismillah Khan, as well as those with T. N. Krishnan and N. Ramani [2].
Teacher at BHU
For nearly forty years she taught in the performing arts faculty of Banaras Hindu University, becoming head of department and then dean, and later professor emeritus [2]. Her students include her daughter, the violinist Sangeeta Shankar [2]. She has performed in the US, Canada, Russia, Australia, New Zealand and across Europe [2].
She received the Padma Shri in 1984 and the Padma Bhushan in 2004 [2]. She also holds the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1990) and its Fellowship (2012) [2].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2026: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 11 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2026 investiture ceremony brochure: citation for N. Rajam — Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Accessed 12 October 2026.
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