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{{Short description|Indian classical musician and musicologist (born 1954)}}
{{Given name hatnote|Prameela|Gurumuthy|lang=Tamil}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Prameela Gurumurthy
| image =
| image_size =
| birth_name = M. Prameela<ref name ="gazette">{{Cite web |title=TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE |url=http://www.stationeryprinting.tn.gov.in/gazette/2011/14-VI-4.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106222112/http://www.stationeryprinting.tn.gov.in/gazette/2011/14-VI-4.pdf |archive-date=2023-11-06 |access-date=2025-08-21 |website=www.stationeryprinting.tn.gov.in |publisher=[[Government of Tamil Nadu]] |page=777 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1954|10|05}}
| birth_place = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| occupation = Singer, musicologist, Harikatha exponent
| father = S. Cunjithapatham
| mother = Amutham
| spouse = R. Gurumurthy<ref name ="gazette"/>
| children =
| module = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed = yes
| background = solo singer
| genre = [[Indian classical music]]
| instrument = Vocals
| label =
}}
| website =
| years_active =
| awards = [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] (2022)
}}
'''Prameela Gurumurthy''' (also spelled as '''Premeela Gurumurthy''') is an [[Indian classical music|Indian classical vocalist]], [[Harikatha]] exponent and [[musicologist]] from Tamil Nadu. She held several positions including the dean of the music department in [[Vels University]], dean of the [[University of Madras]] and the Vice-Chancellor of the [[Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University]]. She received the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] in 2022.

==Biography==
Prameela Gurumurthy was born on October 5, 1954, to Amutham and S. Cunjithapatham, in a musical family in Tamil Nadu.<ref name="SNA">{{Cite web |title=PRAMEELA GURUMURTHY |url=https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2024/mar/doc202437320201.pdf |publisher=[[Sangeet Natak Akademi]] |page=59}}</ref><ref name="sruti">{{Cite web |date=December 2018 |title=COVER STORY-PROF. PREMEELA GURUMURTHY- In conversation with Anjana Anand |url=https://www.sruti.com/printeditions/sruti-back-issues-individual/aruna-sairam-premeela-gurumurthy-jayanthi-kumaresh |publisher=[[Sruti (magazine)|Sruti magazine]] |access-date=2025-08-21 |archive-date=2025-06-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250619183758/https://www.sruti.com/printeditions/sruti-back-issues-individual/aruna-sairam-premeela-gurumurthy-jayanthi-kumaresh |url-status=live }}</ref> Her parents hails from Kottayam in [[Kerala]] state and Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu respectively.<ref name="chennai">{{Cite web |last= |title=Dr. Premeela Gurumurthy |url=https://www.chennaievent.com/artist-view.php?artist_id=2710 |access-date=2025-08-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250821153233/https://www.chennaievent.com/artist-view.php?artist_id=2710 |archive-date=2025-08-21 |website=chennaievent.com |language=en}}</ref> Started learning Carnatic music at a very early age, she started to perform at concerts from the age of twelve.<ref name="tnjjmfau">{{cite web |title=Dr.Premeela Gurumurthy VICE - CHANCELLOR |url=https://www.tnjjmfau.in/pdf/vc/Vice_chancellor_2.pdf |publisher=[[Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University]]}}</ref> The family later moved to [[Chennai]]. It was musician [[Musiri Subramania Iyer]], who recognized her talent very early, and persuaded the family to move to Chennai.<ref name="Hindu">{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2017-12-04 |title=Musicologist Premeela Gurumurthy honoured |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/musicologist-premeela-gurumurthy-honoured/article21257666.ece |access-date=2025-08-21 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=2020-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109042810/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/musicologist-premeela-gurumurthy-honoured/article21257666.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> She performed at the Thiruvaiyaru Thyagaraja Utsavam in 1969.<ref name="tnjjmfau"/> Her first major concert in Chennai was in 1970.<ref name="sruti"/>

Prameela Gurumurthy received her training in [[Carnatic music]] from prominent musicians including [[Mudicondan Venkatarama Iyer]], [[B. Rajam Iyer]], [[T. M. Thiagarajan|T. M. Thiyagarajan]], [[T. Muktha]] and [[T. K. Govindarao]].<ref name="The New Indian Express">{{Cite web |last=Vishwanath |first=Narayana |date=2014-03-17 |title=Of Rich Values, Legacy and Traditions |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2014/Mar/17/of-rich-values-legacy-and-traditions-587045.html |access-date=2025-08-21 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=2025-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250303163403/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2014/Mar/17/of-rich-values-legacy-and-traditions-587045.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="SNA" /> She also studied [[Hindustani classical music]] under Krishnanand of the [[Kirana gharana]], and done her debut concert in Hindusthani in the year 1984.<ref name="SNA" /><ref name="chennai"/>

Prameela is also an exponent in [[Harikatha]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kolappan |first=B. |date=2018-02-19 |title='Music varsity V-C was selected on merit' |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/music-varsity-v-c-was-selected-on-merit/article22801480.ece |access-date=2025-08-21 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=2022-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209234121/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/music-varsity-v-c-was-selected-on-merit/article22801480.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> She was trained in Harikatha under C. Banni Bai and Embar Vijayaraghavachariariar.<ref name="The New Indian Express" />

Prameela joined [[Queen Mary's College, Chennai]], affiliated to the University of Madras, and graduated in Indian Music from there in November 1974, winning the prize for practical music.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CROSSROADS AND BYROADS: Consonance in Indian Classical Writings and Visual and Performing Arts|url=https://www.ts-adyar.org/sites/default/files/2024-07/Book%20of%20Abstracts%20-%202024%20Final.pdf|publisher=The Adyar Library and Research Centre, [[Theosophical Society]], Adyar, Chennai|page=7|access-date=2025-08-21|archive-date=2024-09-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901220331/https://www.ts-adyar.org/sites/default/files/2024-07/Book%20of%20Abstracts%20-%202024%20Final.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> She later done master's degree in Indian Philosophy from 1974 to 1976, a master's degree in Indian Music (both at the [[University of Madras]]) and also completed a doctorate on 'Kathakalashebham'.<ref name="The New Indian Express" />

==Career==
Prameela Gurumurthy served as the president and chairperson of the School of Fine and Performing Arts at the [[University of Madras]], professor and head of the department of Indian music, University of Madras, dean of the music department in [[Vels University]], dean of the University of Madras and later as the Vice-Chancellor of the [[Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University]].<ref name="Deccan Chronicle">{{Cite web |last=Vijayalakshmi |first=B. |date=2018-02-01 |title=Chennai: Music and fine arts university gets new VC {{!}} Chennai: Music and fine arts university gets new VC |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/010218/chennaimusic-and-fine-arts-university-gets-new-vc.html |access-date=2025-08-21 |website=www.deccanchronicle.com |language=en |archive-date=2018-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203163116/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/010218/chennaimusic-and-fine-arts-university-gets-new-vc.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She is the first musician who is equally proficient in Carnatic and Hindustani music as well as Tamil devotional songs, to become Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University vice-chancellor.<ref name="Deccan Chronicle"/> She played a key role in introducing new courses, including postgraduate degrees in [[Bharatanatyam]], [[Folk music]], Rhythmology, and [[Dramaturgy]], at the Madras university, when she was the dean.<ref name="Hindu" />

==Contributions==
Prameela Gurumurthy has performed in over 400 concerts, taken musical lectures and other lectures at hundreds of venues in India and abroad.<ref name="sruti"/> Prameela is also proficient in devotional songs in Indian languages such as [[Sanskrit]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Kannada]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Hindi]], and [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]].<ref name="tnjjmfau"/> She also has several music releases in her credit, featuring her classical and devotional songs.<ref name="SNA" />

As musicologist Premeela is specialized in ancient Tamil music, music history and composers.<ref name="Deccan Chronicle"/> She has done studies on ancient Tamil musical forms like [[Tevaram]], [[Naalayira Divya Prabandham]], [[Tiruppukal]] and the compositions of [[Gopalakrishna Bharati]], [[Ramalinga Swamigal]], [[Papanasam Sivan]] and [[Periyasaamy Thooran]].<ref name="The New Indian Express" /> Her scholarly works has significantly enriched the understanding of ancient Tamil music, [[Indian classical music]] and [[Tamil literature]].<ref name="SNA" />

Prameela is a person who played a significant role in the revival of the art form 'Kathakalashepa', a traditional musical story telling performance that presents Indian epics such as the [[Ramayana]], [[Mahabharata]], [[Puranas]], and other stories in a unique style.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-11-20 |title=The lost art of musical STORY-TELLING |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/the-lost-art-of-musical-story-telling/articleshow/49853234.cms |access-date=2025-08-21 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref name="Hindu" /> Her doctorate is also on Kathakalashepa. She has also written a book on this art form.<ref name="Hindu" />

Prameela Gurumurthy has authored several publications, including ''Gopalakrishna Bharathiyar'' published by [[Sahitya Akademi]], and ''Musings of Music'' published by the [[University of Madras]].<ref name="SNA" /> She has also translated ''Nurturing Music and Fine Arts - A Historical Perspective'', a book on Tamil Nadu's musical traditions, written in English by Carnatic music historian V. Sriram into Tamil.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-01-24 |title=Palaniswami releases book on TN's musical traditions |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2021/Jan/24/palaniswami-releases-book-on-tns-musical-traditions-2254365.html |access-date=2025-08-21 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=2021-01-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128062656/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2021/jan/24/palaniswami-releases-book-on-tns-musical-traditions-2254365.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
In 2018, Prameela Gurumurthy received the Musicologist Award from [[Madras Music Academy]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Musicologist Award |url=https://www.musicacademymadras.in/awards/musicologist-award/ |access-date=2025-08-21 |website= |publisher=[[Madras Music Academy]] |archive-date=2025-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250716171902/https://www.musicacademymadras.in/awards/musicologist-award/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2022, she received the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] from [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]], Government of India.<ref name="SNA" /> In 2025, she received Karthik Lifetime Achivement Award from Kartik Fine Arts sabha.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-04-13 |title=MYLAPORE TIMES - Kartik Fine Arts sabha golden jubilee event. Special concert of Carnatic-vintage film music. April 14 |url=https://www.mylaporetimes.com/2025/04/kartik-fine-arts-sabha-golden-jubilee-event-special-concert-of-carnatic-vintage-film-music-april-14/ |access-date=2025-08-21 |website=MYLAPORE TIMES |language=en-US}}</ref> She also received several other awards and titles including Isai Kalai Chelvar, Acharya Ratnakara Award, and Acharya Choodamani.<ref name="SNA" />

To mark 50 years of her concert performances, the [[Madras Music Academy]] released a golden jubilee special souvenir in 2017 December.<ref name="Hindu" /> A program titled 'Guru Samarpana' was also organized to commemorate 50 years of her musical journey.<ref>{{cite news |title=MYLAPORE TIMES - Honouring guru Dr. Premeela Gurumurthy |url=https://www.mylaporetimes.com/2017/11/honouring-guru-dr-premeela-gurumurthy/ |work=MYLAPORE TIMES |date=29 November 2017 |archive-date=18 February 2025 |access-date=21 August 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250218234223/https://www.mylaporetimes.com/2017/11/honouring-guru-dr-premeela-gurumurthy/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gurumuthy, Prameela}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Carnatic singers]]
[[Category:Women Carnatic singers]]
[[Category:Singers from Chennai]]
[[Category:Indian women classical singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women singers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women singers]]
[[Category:Women musicians from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian musicologists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian musicologists]]
[[Category:Indian women musicologists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]

Prameela Gurumurthy - Revision history

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