R. K. Srikantan

Rudrapatna Krishnashastri Srikantan (14 January 1920 – 17 February 2014), known as R. K. Srikantan, was a vocalist of the Carnatic musical tradition of South Indian music. He was awarded the Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 1995.

Early life Srikantan was born to a Sankethi Brahmin family in Rudrapatna, Hassan district of Karnataka, on Makara Sankranti day, 14 January 1920. His father R Krishnashastri was an orator, singer of Gamaka (storytelling), playwright, poet, and a harikatha vidwan. His grandfather, Narayanaswamy of Bettadapura, also known as Veena Narayanaswamy, was a Veena instrumentalist and a contemporary of Veene Sheshanna and Veene Subbanna.

Education Srikantan went to Sadvidya Pathashala and Banumaiah High School in Mysore. Later, he obtained his BA degree from the Maharaja College, Mysore.

Training His father, Krishnashastri, was Srikantan's first tutor. He moved to Mysore after his wife's death. Later, Srikantan was mentored by his brother R. K. Venkatarama Shastri, a violin player who often accompanied M S Subbulakshmi. Srikantan also received training from veteran musicians like Veene Subbanna and Chowdiah. State Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by the Government of Karnataka in 1981. Sangeetha Kalanidhi Title from the Madras Music Academy in 1995. Kanaka-Purandara Award by the Government of Karnataka. Padma Bhushan Award by Government of India in 2011. Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Ratna in 2012. Sangeetha Prabhakara Award in 2013 Nada Vidya Bharati Award in 2012 by Visakha Music and Dance Academy. Sathguru Thyagaraja Hamsadhwani Award in 2011 Gana Bhaskara Title by Annavasathi Sangha, Bangalore in 1947.