FAMILY & MUSICAL TRAINING


Sri Amrit is the son of Virtuoso Violinist ’Dhanurveena Kesari’ ‘Karnataka Kalashri’ Vidwan Sri BASAVANAGUDI G. NATARAJ & Smt. N. LAKSHMI.

Sri Amrit started learning Vocal at the age of 3 from his father & sister.

Sri Amrit started learning Mridangam at the age of 5 from ‘Mridanga Vaadana Rathna’ ‘Kanataka Kalashri’ Vidwan Sri M. VASUDEVA RAO. Later on, continued having advanced training in Mridangam from ‘Sangeetha Kalarathna’ ‘Kanataka Kalashri’ Vidwan Sri A. V. ANAND.

Sri Amrit had the great fortune of learning Khanjira from “Khanjira Legend” Mahavidwan Late Sri G. HARISHANKAR {Chennai}. Sri Amrit is the worthy successor to the throne of his Guru Sri G. Harishankar upholding the tradition of Khanjira playing & taking forward his Guru’s Legacy to greater heights.

Sri Amrit also has learnt Violin from his father Late Vidwan Sri BASAVANAGUDI G.NATARAJ & elder sister Smt. Sunitha Ramabhadran. He has performed Violin in many concerts too.

Vidwan Basavanagudi G. Nataraj


Born on August 25, 1943, into a prestigious lineage of scholars and artists, Sri Basavanagudi G. Nataraj was a distinguished violin virtuoso whose career beautifully merged spiritual depth with musical excellence. After rigorous training under masters like Vidwan Sri H.V. Krishnamurthy and a formative nine-year tenure as a Brahmachari at the Ramakrishna Mutt, he emerged as a sought-after soloist known for a unique style that blended Carnatic, Hindustani, Western, and folk influences with impeccable "Shruthi Shuddham." His versatile artistry saw him collaborate with legendary figures across theatre, dance, and light music, while his dedication to pedagogy through the Sri Ramakrishna Sangeetha Vidyalaya produced world-class disciples. In recognition of his profound contributions to the arts, he was honored with numerous prestigious titles, most notably Karnataka Kalashri, Violin Vadana Chatura (conferred by the Siddaganga Mutt), and Dhanurveena Kesari, cementing his legacy as a disciplinary force and a "hard taskmaster" who lived by the motto of punctuality, regularity, and sincerity. View more

Smt. N. Lakshmi


Born 1951 to Sri Mantravadi Kameshwara Rao & Smt. Mantravadi Suramma in Rajamahendravaram (Rajamundry, East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh) She completed her B.Sc (PCM) from Andhra University, one of the First women to Graduate from her town. She joined the Syndicate Bank as a clerk at Rajamundry in 1972. She married Vidwan Sri Basvanagudi G. Nataraj in 1973 & shifted to Bangalore in 1974 after getting a transfer. She was the pillar of strength to Vidwan Sri G. Nataraj & his musical journey. She had a huge role in the upbringing of her two children Smt. Sunitha & Sri Amrit. She was very encouraging & supportive to Sri Amrit to take up music as a full time profession right from a very young age. She was a very pious lady with a deep spiritual inclination. She was a follower of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa & the Ramakrishna Mission. She was also initiated by Swami Veereshwaraananda of the Ramakrishna Mutt. She passed away of 2016 due to a cardiac arrest.

Vidushi Smt. Sunitha Ramabhadran (Vocal & Violin)


Born to Vidwan Sri G. Nataraj & Smt N. Lakshmi in 1974. Started learning Vocal at the age of 5 from father Vid. Basavanagudi Sri G. Nataraj and Vid. Sri Sripada Sharma. Continued Vocal training under Ganakalabhushana Vid. Sri R K Padmanabha from 1984 for about 15 years. Started learning Violin at the age of 7 from father Vid. Basavanagudi Sri G. Nataraj. Underwent advanced Violin training under Vid. Kalaimamani Smt. A Kanyakumari.

Participated and won many prizes in various competitions held by multiple prestigious organizations across Karnataka. Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy scholarship winner for both Vocal and Violin. Successfully completed Vidwat exam (conducted by Karnataka school examination and assessment board) in both Vocal and Violin with flying colors in 1994. Bagged All India level 2nd prize in Violin from All India Radio competition in 1998

Have performed many Vocal concerts for more than 25 years. Have been performing Violin concerts since about 40 years. Performed Violin duet concerts with father Vid. Basavanagudi Sri G. Nataraj for more than 20 years. Performed Violin duet concerts with brother Vid. Amrit as well as multi-Violin concerts with Vid. Amrit and other disciples of father Vid. Basavanagudi Sri G. Nataraj.Performed Violin Solo concerts and Violin accompaniment to many Carnatic Vidwans and Vidushis at various Sabhas for more than 20 years.

Has been teaching Carnatic Vocal and Violin since 30 years. Started assisting Vid. Basavanagudi Sri G. Nataraj in teaching students from a very young age. Imparted advanced training to Vid. Amrit in Violin. Currently teaching Carnatic Vocal and Violin to students.

After completing B.E. (with 2nd Rank) in Information Science and Technology at BMS College of Engineering, Sunitha holds a corporate career spanning 30 years with Siemens Communication Systems, Nokia Siemens Networks and Nokia Networks (currently serving as a Quality Operations Lead in Mobile Infrastructure division of Nokia Networks).

Smt. Sandhya (Wife of Sri Amrit N.)


Born to Late. Sri S. A. Prakash & Smt. H. Shantha, Smt. Sandhya comes from a musical family. She is a qualified Carnatic Vocalist. She had her training from her aunt Vidushi H. Geetha, who is a disciple of ‘Ganakalabhushana’ Vidwan Sri Anoor S. Ramakrishna of the Ayyanar College of Music. She has passed Senior Grade Examinations in Carnatic Vocal Music conducted by the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board. She has over 25 years of teaching & performing experience. She has performed many vocal concerts & won many prizes in her younger days. She has a vast experience of teaching young kids.

She completed her B.Com. from the Bangalore University & M. Com. from the Mysore University. She has also completed many certification courses such as ‘Career Edge’ Course from NIIT, Tally in SSI, Multimedia course in Arena multimedia & Pre-Primary Teacher’s Training Course (NTT).

She worked in various capacities (as a part time) in some reputed organizations such as a clerk in the National Co-operative Bank, Banashankari, as an administrative clerk in Art of Living Centre, Jayanagar, as a Teacher at Child’s Day Montessori, Padmanabhanagar, as a Computer Teacher in National High School, Basavanagudi, as a Nursery teacher in Bangalore International School, Jayanagar, as a Nursery Nursery Teacher in Mahila Mandali & as a Teacher in Jain Toddlers.

She is very passionate about music. She got married to Sri Amrit N in 2007. She is fully supportive of Vidwan Sri Amrit’s endeavors and also taking care of her family responsibilities.

Kumari Mahalakshmi


Born to Smt. Sandhya & Sri Amrit N. in 2013, Mahalakshmi is a multi-talented young girl. She showed early inclination towards music & fine arts. She started learning Carnatic Music from her mother Smt. Sandhya at the age of 7. Then briefly continued training under her aunt Smt. Sunitha Ramabhadran.

Presently undergoing training under Smt, Bhavana Iyer, a disciple of Late Sri V. Subramaniam (Prime disciple of Mahavidwan ‘Sangita Kalanidhi’ Sri Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Chennai & ‘Sangita Kalanidhi’ Vidwan Sri R. K. Sriram Kumar, Chennai)

She has won many prizes in singing competitions such as Ist prize in Devaranama & Bhavageethe from Mahila Mandali, Ist prize in Devaranama & IIIrd prize in Classical Music in the Rotary Dasara Competition, IIIrd prize in Bhakthigeethe in Pratibha Kaaranji & many more.

She also won the Ist Prize in District Level for Handwriting in the Annual ‘Goloka Shades’ organized by ISKCON Bangalore. She has won the Ist Prize in Handwriting & GK Quiz & IIIrd place in drawing in Mahila Mandali. She has secured the Ist class in the school level ‘Taramandala’ –Science Talent Search Examination 2022. Later went on to win the IIIrd rank in the District Level ‘Taramandala’ –Science Talent Search Examination 2022.

She secured the I prize in Running Race competition in the Annual Sports meet of Sri Saraswathi Vidya Mandira. Added to that, she has a Blue Belt in Taekwondo. She has a lot of interest in drawing & enjoys cooking.


© Amrit Nataraj, 2026