Ranganayaki Rajagopalan

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Kalaimamani Ranganayaki Rajagopalan (May 3, 1932) is an award-winning veena instrumentalist and winner of Presidential Award for Carnatic Instrumental Music.

Ranganayaki came under the tutelage of Sangeetha Kalanidhi Late Sri Karaikudi Veenai Sambasiva Iyer at the early age of two and started training in the strict Gurukula system, until the death of Sri Sambasiva Iyer in 1958.

Her first performance was in aid of the Congress building at Madras and held in Karaikudi under the President-ship of the veteran Congressman Late Dr. Subramaniam who belonged to Karaikudi.

In 1952, she accompanied her Guru Sri Sadasiva Iyer to the 26th Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Madras Music Academy and was presented with a Silver casket by the Late Shri. Prakasa, the former Governor of Madras.

In 1970, she was selected as the best veena player by the Music Academy and was presented with a Veena by the then Governor of Mysore, Late Sri. Dharma Veera, I.C.S.

In 1979, she was awarded the title of "Kalaimamani" by the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Late Sri. M.G.Ramachandran.

On January 26th 1984, she was conferred the title 'VEENA VISARADHA' in a felicitation ceremony conducted under the auspices of Balasubramania Sabha.