Nidumolu Sumathi

Nidumolu Sumathi (born 16 October 1950), also known as Dandamudi Sumathi, is an Indian percussionist, primarily playing the mridangam. She is married to "Mridangam Maestro" Dandamudi Ramamohan Rao. She is one of the first female mridangam players in India, and the first female Laya Vinyasam artist. Sumathi received India's fourth-highest civilian award, Padma Shri, in 2021.

Early life

Dandamudi Sumathi Ram Mohan Rao was born on 16 October 1950 in Eluru, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. Her parents were Sri Nidumolu Raghavaiah and Smt.Nidumolu Venkataratnamma. At age six Sumathi started learning mridangam from her father who was a mridangam vidwan. He took her to concerts and supported her interest in percussion. Padma Shri in 2021

Honorary titles

Mridanga Siromani Mridanga Maharani Nadha Bhageeratha Mridangalaya Vidyasagara Mridanga Vinyasa Kalabharathi Sunada Sudhanidhi Srimukha Mridanga Vidwanmani Gayathri Sangeetha Vidwanmani Naadhalaya Samraagni