Urmila Varma
Encyclopedia
Urmila Varma often credited as Urmila, is a Malayali
singer who has made her mark in various musical festivals and competitions, bagging several awards. She has several recorded songs to her credit in Malayalam. In a remarkable career spanning over 15 years, Urmila Varma has proven herself the consummate music artist.
, her family moved to their native town, Thiruvalla. Urmila's musical talent was recognized and nurtured from an early age by her father, Krishna Kumar Varma. He, being a talented singer himself, would sing to her all the time. As a result, Urmila started singing at the age of three.
Urmila lives in Troy, Michigan
, with her family.
State School Youth Festival. The Youth Festival is a state-wide competition to identify and honor talented young artists. During the next six years, she continued her participation in the Festival. While she contested in the classical
/light music category during the first three years, the next three years saw her competing in the classical
and Kathakali Sangeetham category. While doing the sixth grade in school, she bagged a "B Grade" in the classical music
competition. Subsequently, while in the ninth and tenth grades in high school, she won the third and second places, respectively, for Kathakali Sangeetham.
While still in the ninth grade, Urmila was honored as the "Kala Thilakam" (best overall female contestant) at the District Youth Festival.
After school, Urmila joined the College for Women in Thiruvananthapuram
(University of Kerala) to pursue her higher education. She got enrolled in the undergraduate course with major in music, with Veena
as sub. While here, she received extensive training in Carnatic music
from Dr. K. Omanakutty, and participated in the University Youth Festival. During this time, she was a major performer in the "Aalapanam" program series, which was telecast locally through the Malayalam TV channel, by India
's government-run television broadcaster, Doordarshan
.
During 1994, Urmila won the first position in a music competition conducted by the national-government-run All India Radio
(AIR
) in Thiruvananthapuram
, which fetched her a position as a 'B Grade' Artist at AIR
. This feat also qualified her to compete at the national level for even higher rankings. At the national level competition held in 1994 by AIR
in Vijayawada
, Urmila finished at the second position behind Sunitha Upadrashta, who went on to become a popular playback singer in the Telugu Film Industry.
During this time, Urmila won the first place in the first season of Gandharva Sangeetham, a popular Music Talent search show on Kairali TV
.
After successfully completing the undergraduate degree in music, Urmila continued her studies pursuing her Master's Degree in music. In 1998, during the final year of her master's degree course, Urmila won the first position for light music at the Kerala University
Youth Festival which was held in Cherthala
, Kerala
. The same year, having cleared a comprehensive music test, the All India Radio
designated her as an 'A' Grade Artist.
During this time, Urmila was a regular performer on the Lalitha Sangeetha Paatham (light music lessons) program broadcast by the All India Radio
, singing several songs composed by the renowned musician Shri M G Radhakrishnan
.
In 2007, Urmila won the first place in the FOKANA music competition in the female category. During the same year, she recorded songs for the album Vismaya, along with lead singer Sreevalsan J Menon.
And so the legend continues...
This album is an integration of six songs and an instrumental music, each with its own individuality and inimitability. The emotions, feelings, sentiments and passion depicted in these songs are varied and distinct. These characteristics have been amplified by supportive orchestration. Produced and Copyright owned by Sathyam Audios. CDs are available at all leading music stores in Kerala
. Or contact +91 484 2362242.
Malayali
Malayali is the term used to refer to the native speakers of Malayalam, originating from the Indian state of Kerala...
singer who has made her mark in various musical festivals and competitions, bagging several awards. She has several recorded songs to her credit in Malayalam. In a remarkable career spanning over 15 years, Urmila Varma has proven herself the consummate music artist.
Personal life
Urmila was born into a musically gifted family. A few days after her birth in ThrissurThrissur district
Thrissur is a revenue district of Kerala situated in the central part of that state. Spanning an area of about 3,032 km2, Thrissur district is home to over 10% of Kerala’s population. Thrissur district was formed on July 1, 1949, with the headquarters at Thrissur City. Thrissur is known as...
, her family moved to their native town, Thiruvalla. Urmila's musical talent was recognized and nurtured from an early age by her father, Krishna Kumar Varma. He, being a talented singer himself, would sing to her all the time. As a result, Urmila started singing at the age of three.
Urmila lives in Troy, Michigan
Troy, Michigan
Troy is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan, and is a suburb of Detroit. The population was 80,980 at the 2010 census, making it the 11th-largest city in Michigan by population, and the largest city in Oakland County...
, with her family.
Childhood
Urmila spent her entire childhood in Thiruvalla. After her primary school education, Urmila attended the Govt. UPGS School, and later, the M.G.M. High School.Education and Career
When she was in the fifth grade, Urmila participated in the KeralaKerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
State School Youth Festival. The Youth Festival is a state-wide competition to identify and honor talented young artists. During the next six years, she continued her participation in the Festival. While she contested in the classical
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
/light music category during the first three years, the next three years saw her competing in the classical
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
and Kathakali Sangeetham category. While doing the sixth grade in school, she bagged a "B Grade" in the classical music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
competition. Subsequently, while in the ninth and tenth grades in high school, she won the third and second places, respectively, for Kathakali Sangeetham.
While still in the ninth grade, Urmila was honored as the "Kala Thilakam" (best overall female contestant) at the District Youth Festival.
After school, Urmila joined the College for Women in Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
(University of Kerala) to pursue her higher education. She got enrolled in the undergraduate course with major in music, with Veena
Veena
Veena may refer to one of several Indian plucked instruments:With frets*Rudra veena, plucked string instrument used in Hindustani music*Saraswati veena, plucked string instrument used in Carnatic musicFretless...
as sub. While here, she received extensive training in Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
from Dr. K. Omanakutty, and participated in the University Youth Festival. During this time, she was a major performer in the "Aalapanam" program series, which was telecast locally through the Malayalam TV channel, by India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
's government-run television broadcaster, Doordarshan
DoorDarshan
Doordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...
.
During 1994, Urmila won the first position in a music competition conducted by the national-government-run All India Radio
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
(AIR
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
) in Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
, which fetched her a position as a 'B Grade' Artist at AIR
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
. This feat also qualified her to compete at the national level for even higher rankings. At the national level competition held in 1994 by AIR
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
in Vijayawada
Vijayawada
Vijayawada is the third largest city in Andhra Pradesh, India, located on the banks of the Krishna River and bounded by the Indrakiladri Hills on the West and the Budameru River on the North. The city is located in the Krishna District, about from the state capital Hyderabad.Vijayawada literally...
, Urmila finished at the second position behind Sunitha Upadrashta, who went on to become a popular playback singer in the Telugu Film Industry.
During this time, Urmila won the first place in the first season of Gandharva Sangeetham, a popular Music Talent search show on Kairali TV
Kairali TV
Kairali TV is an Indian television channel broadcasting in the Malayalam language catering to the Malayalam speaking population in Kerala as well as abroad . The channel, headquartered in Trivandrum, has studio facilities in Trivandrum as well as Kochi. Malayalam Communications Limited is the...
.
After successfully completing the undergraduate degree in music, Urmila continued her studies pursuing her Master's Degree in music. In 1998, during the final year of her master's degree course, Urmila won the first position for light music at the Kerala University
Kerala University
The University of Kerala, formerly the University of Travancore, is an affiliating university located in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, India. It was established in 1937, long before the birth of the state of Kerala in India...
Youth Festival which was held in Cherthala
Cherthala
Cherthala is a town located in the district of Alappuzha, in the state of Kerala, India. It is located 30 km south of the city of Kochi and 22 km north of Alappuzha town, on the Kochi-Alappuzha streatch of both the National Highway 47 as well as the costal Rail-route.lt is 85 km from the...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. The same year, having cleared a comprehensive music test, the All India Radio
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
designated her as an 'A' Grade Artist.
During this time, Urmila was a regular performer on the Lalitha Sangeetha Paatham (light music lessons) program broadcast by the All India Radio
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
, singing several songs composed by the renowned musician Shri M G Radhakrishnan
M. G. Radhakrishnan
M. G. Radhakrishnan was a senior music director and Carnatic vocalist from Kerala. He is highly regarded as one of the most successful light music and film music composer in Malayalam.- Personal life :M. G...
.
In 2007, Urmila won the first place in the FOKANA music competition in the female category. During the same year, she recorded songs for the album Vismaya, along with lead singer Sreevalsan J Menon.
And so the legend continues...
Discography
2007 - Vismaya - Emotional Expressions: with Sreevalsan J Menon and Bini Panicker.This album is an integration of six songs and an instrumental music, each with its own individuality and inimitability. The emotions, feelings, sentiments and passion depicted in these songs are varied and distinct. These characteristics have been amplified by supportive orchestration. Produced and Copyright owned by Sathyam Audios. CDs are available at all leading music stores in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. Or contact +91 484 2362242.