Sat Jan 25 23:57:55 IST 2025: ## Renowned Carnatic Vocalist K. Omanakutty Awarded Padma Shri

**THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, January 25, 2025** – Veteran Carnatic vocalist K. Omanakutty has been bestowed with the prestigious Padma Shri award, one of India’s highest civilian honours. The announcement was made late on January 25th.

Omanakutty, affectionately known as “Omanakutty teacher” by her numerous students, including prominent singers K.S. Chitra and B. Arundhathi, has made substantial contributions to the field of Carnatic music as a performer, researcher, and educator. Her illustrious career, marked by significant achievements in performance, research, and composition, earned her the Kerala government’s Swathi music award in 2021.

Daughter of renowned musician Malabar Gopalan Nair and sister of noted musicians M.G. Radhakrishnan and M.G. Sreekumar, Dr. Omanakutty began her career as a lecturer at Thiruvananthapuram’s Women’s College. She played a pivotal role in developing a music syllabus for Kerala universities. Even in retirement, she remains dedicated to teaching and practicing music.

Expressing her surprise and gratitude, Dr. Omanakutty stated that she had not expected this honour, despite previous nominations. She intends to continue her passion for music education.

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