With deep sorrow, we bid farewell to one of our country’s most talented and recognized Cultural Ambassadors, Kalasuri Deshanethru Dr. Arunthathy Sriranganathan. A name synonymous with the timeless beauty of Carnatic music and cultural excellence. She dedicated her life to the enrichment of arts, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy that transcends borders.
Sri Lanka has been blessed with many luminous figures in the realm of arts and culture, but few shine as brightly as Kalasuri Deshanethru Dr. Arunthathy Sriranganathan.
A highly revered Sri Lankan Tamil artist, Dr. Arunthathy Sriranganathan is a master of Carnatic music and has contributed immensely to its propagation and preservation. Her expertise, however, transcends beyond music alone—she is a distinguished Senior Broadcaster, an accomplished musician, an innovative choreographer, a respected media consultant, a celebrated music composer, and an exceptional artistic producer and director. Through her multifaceted contribution to cultural arts and her collaboration with diverse cultures worldwide, she has significantly shaped the landscape of cultural arts in Sri Lanka and beyond.
Dr. Arunthathy held esteemed positions in broadcasting, arts, and culture, dedicating decades of her life to nurturing young talents. Since 1998, she served as the Carnatic music teacher at the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center (SVCC), fostering a new generation of musicians. Through her tireless efforts, she organized the annual Carnatic Music Festival, creating a platform where tradition met innovation. Her artistic brilliance shone through the legendary dance dramas she produced in with the High Commission of India, blending music, movement, and storytelling into breathtaking masterpieces.
Simultaneously, she taught Carnatic music at the University of Visual and Performing Arts to Sinhalese students, which has blossomed as a Department today, where several students have passed out as graduates in South Indian Music. As a mark of honour, the University has named an auditorium in her name as “Dr Arunthathy Sri Ranganathan Hall”.
As a performer, Dr. Arunthathy carried the soul of her homeland to the world. Her melodies resonated in all five continents—she performed in India, Singapore, Malaysia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, Japan, Australia, Norway, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and China. She was privileged to perform at the Gandhi Memorial Hall in Johannesburg, South Africa, and her musical prowess was immortalized in a recording with South African artists at a television station in Durban.
Today, as we mourn her untimely passing, the world feels quieter. The gods listen solemnly, the birds carry her music to the heavens, and the rhythms of her dance remain in eternal motion. A generation of young girls and boys have lost a beloved teacher, yet her spirit continues to guide them. The Queen of Carnatic Music, a daughter of the capital of Tamils, may no longer walk among us, but her legacy echoes through every note and movement she inspired.
Dr. Arunthathy Sriranganathan lives on in her music, in the voices of those she taught, and in the hearts of those she touched. Her name shall forever be etched in the annals of cultural history, a beacon of artistry and devotion, reminding the world that true art is timeless, and the spirit of a legend never fades.
