The New Indian Express ·
Kurnool girl makes a mark in Carnatic music
KURNOOL: A girl is making a mark in the world of Carnatic music with her talent in both vocal and veena, proving that age is no barrier to pursuing excellence in the classical arts. Guntur Sri Havani, a Class X student, is steadily emerging as a promising young Carnatic vocalist and veena artiste through disciplined practice, expert guidance and performances on prestigious cultural platforms.
Born on July 15, 2011, in Kurnool, Havani is currently studying at Bhavan’s Sri Ramakrishna Vidyalaya in Hyderabad. Her father, Guntur Padmakar, is a software engineer, while her mother, Lakshmi Sravani, has encouraged her daughter to take up music out of a deep love for Indian culture, heritage, history and, particularly, classical arts.
Despite the demands of academics, Havani has remained deeply committed to her musical journey, undergoing rigorous training in two demanding disciplines — vocal music and veena. Her progress has earned her several awards and recognitions at a young age.
Havani is receiving vocal training from Shyamala Ravi and veena training from Krishna Kumari. She has also learnt laya under Kasturi Bhargav. Her artistic development has further benefited from the mentorship of noted musicians Ramana Balachandran and RK Sriram.
Her achievements include being conferred the prestigious ‘Sangeeta Bala Saraswathi’ title by the National Sanskrit University in Hyderabad in 2024.
She also received recognition in the Kalasagaram Vocal Competition and Navya Nataka Samithi Veena Competitions in 2024, followed by honours at the Sri Ragam Veena Competitions, Sarada Cultural Trust Vocal Competition and Navya Nataka Samithi competitions in 2025.
Beyond competitions, Havani has actively participated in workshops conducted by leading musicians, including Ramana Balachandran, Jayanthi Kumaresh, Sriram and Amrutha Murali. These interactions have provided her with valuable exposure to different musical styles, techniques and approaches to classical performance.
She has performed in the presence of the Sringeri and Kanchi Shankaracharyas. She has also performed at cultural forums and spiritual centres, including Kshipra Ganapathi Temple in Hyderabad, a Tyagaraja Aradhanotsavam organised by Saptaswara and the SP Balasubramanyam Sangeeta Kalasala in Nellore, TGV Kalakshetram in Kurnool and other venues.
Kurnool girl’s, passion, parental support, perseverance and mentorship have shaped her journey in Indian classical music. Her father, despite working in the technology sector, has encouraged her to stay connected with India’s cultural roots.
Havani balances academics with rigorous training in vocal music and veena, treating music as a serious artistic pursuit. Her journey highlights how families can help children embrace cultural traditions alongside modern education. With roots in Kurnool, education in Hyderabad and exposure to leading Carnatic musicians, Havani is steadily developing her own musical identity.
“For me, music is a journey of continuous learning. Every lesson, every performance and every opportunity to learn from a senior artiste helps me improve. I want to preserve the purity of our classical tradition while learning and growing as an artiste. My aim is to keep practising sincerely and make my gurus and family proud,” Havani said.