M. S. Sheela

M S Sheela is a leading Karnatic classical vocalist who has made her mark in classical, light as well as devotional genres of music. She has the rare distinction of being a top rank artist of AIR and Doordarshan in both classical and light music. She was awarded Sangeeta Nataka Academy award by the president of India in the year 2019.

M. S. Sheela hails from a family of musicians. Sheela got her initial musical guidance from her mother late M. N. Rathna, a popular yesteryear musician. M.S Sheela was a disciple of Sangeetha Kalanidhi R. K. Srikantan whose strict and rigorous musical training is supposed to have added luster to her musical prowess. She has a postgraduate degree in music from Bangalore University, and is a gold medalist.

M S Sheela started giving musical performances from a very young age. She has performed widely across India and abroad. She has been giving regular performances on All India Radio and Doordarshan, and has featured on the Radio Sangeeth Sammelan, Trinity Festival, National Programmes and numerous special features. She has given performance in USA, Canada and Australia. Sheela was sponsored by the State Government of Karnataka for her US concert tour. CMNA, New Jersey, Bhairavi Fine Arts, Cleveland, USA, Nadatarangini Fine Arts, Washington, Carnatic Music Circle of Australia are few among the organizations abroad that have hosted her performances. M S Sheela has also performed in musical concerts in Middle East and London.

M S Sheela has a large number of audio releases like 'Srividyadarshana' (compositions of Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar), 'Ninada' (compositions of Veene Sheshanna) and ′Sadashiva Madhurya′ (compositions of Mysore Sadashiv Rao) series produced by All India Radio, Bangalore to her credit. Her renditions of Lalita Sahasranama, Venkateshwara Suprabhatam, Sharada Suprabhatam,Soundarya Lahari etc. are widely popular and in great demand.

M S Sheela is the first woman artist from Karnataka who has a top rank in Carnatic music. She is also the first top rank artist from the state of Karnataka in Sugama Sangeetha (light music). Sheela is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer and has given dance performances till the early 1990s.

To promote Indian classical music through innovative programs and thematic audio albums Sheela and her husband Prof B K Ramaswamy, have together founded Hamsadhwani Creations. ′Haridasa Namana′, ′Palinchu Kamakshi′, ′Guru Raghavendra′ are some of her audio releases through Hamsadhwani Creations. She roped in all the leading carnatic vocalists of the state for Hamsadhwani's thematic series such as 'Haridasa Namana' and 'Vaggeya Vaibhava'. Sheela and her husband through Hamsadhwani creations organise many music workshops, programmes by youth and seasoned musicians. An annual Hamsadhwani festival is also observed by Hamsadhwani creations. They also felicitate great achievers of the field through ′Hamsadhwani Puraskara′.

Madras Music Academy adjudged Sheela as 'Outstanding Senior Female Vocalist' during its annual music festival in 1997. Karnataka State Government has honored her with ′Rajyotsava Prashasti′. She has received the award for Best Female Playback Singer for the year 1997-98 from Karnataka State Film Chambers. Sheela was adjudged the best musician of the annual music conference of Karnataka Ganakala Parishat for the year 2000, and was awarded 'Ananya Puraskar'. She is also an 'Asthana Vidushi' of Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sarada Peetham, Sringeri. She is the recipient of 'Gaurava Puraskara' of Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy for the year 2007.

Some of the titles bestowed upon her:

• Ganakalashree by Ganakala Parishat
• Gaana Varidhi by M A Narasimhachar Foundation
• Sangeetha Saraswati by BhaktiBharati Pratishtana
• Sangeetha Sahyadri Shikharini by Shimoga Ramanavami Committee
• Bangalore Nagarathnamma Prashasti
• Guru Gauravakarini
• Sumadhura Sangeetha Dhruvatare
• Sangeetha Raga Amrithavarshini
• Sangeetha Gana Kalanidhi
• Sangeetha Vagdevi
• Sangeetya Puraskara by Sangeetya Asthana
• Chowdaiah Award by The Academy of Music