The Statesman, a well acclaimed daily quotes that Jayanthi is “The best and most versatile Veena artiste we have today.” One of the leading Vainikas of the world, she has established herself as an artiste with rare insight, class and technical sophistication.
Born into a family where music is first nature, Jayanthi is heir to the inundating talent and melody that characterizes the Lalgudi legacy – a mantle that she wears with grace and élan. Recognized as a musician who is mature beyond her years, Jayanthi has been constantly evolving and refining her musical repertoire.
Being the disciple of her maternal aunt Smt. Padmavathi Ananthagopalan, a very senior and distinguished Veena exponent, Jayanthi followed the traditional ‘Gurukula’ system of learning music and flowered into a concert artiste at the age of sixteen. Jayanthi had the rare privilege of being one of the select disciples of the Veena virtuoso, Dr.S. Balachander. Being one of his favourites, she was indeed fortunate to be able to imbibe the revolutionary and innovative techniques of his style. Jayanthi was also guided by her uncle, the legendary Violin maestro, Lalgudi. Sri. Jayaraman.
Jayanthi started playing the Veena from the tender age of four and since then, laurels and accolades have been Jayanthi’s constant companions. She has been the recipient of a host of prestigious awards from reputed organizations. She was recently awarded the title of “Kalaimamani” by the Government of Tamilnadu. Jayanthi has been performing for the last twenty years and has carved a distinctive style of her own that is powerful yet soothing, potent yet mellifluous. Apart from performing solo she has played many concerts in collaboration with musicians from different schools and genres of classical music. She is an integral part of the ‘Shastriya Syndicate’, the first INDIAN CLASSICAL BAND that encompasses the most successful young musicians in India from various musical traditions. She has played for the ‘All India Radio (AIR) Sangeet Sammelan’ and has also recorded for national television. Jayanthi is one of the privileged few to have been awarded AIR’s ‘A-top’ grade very early in her career. She has a number of cassette and CD albums to her credit. She has been featured by many recording companies like Navras Records, Sense World, Music Today, Times Music, HMV, Charsur, Home Records, AVM and the like.
Jayanthi has travelled extensively and her virtuosity has found acclaim worldwide. She has been performing all over the globe since 1990, in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia. She adapts her concert pattern to involve audiences abroad with specially composed pieces like ‘Chakra’ which encapsulates the life cycle of man through the sensitive use of ragas. Her excellent communication skills and ability to endear herself to any audience have taken her close to the hearts of fans abroad.
Jayanthi’s phenomenal creativity finds an outlet in many new and alternative ventures. She has conceptualized and composed the scores for a host of musicals and dance ballets. Her most recent work in this genre is the musical score (part Carnatic and part Hindustani) for “Krishna Bhakti”, a dance ballet by Jayanthi Raman, based in Portland, Oregon. Jayanthi recently completed her Doctorate in Veena and researched on the Subject "Analytical Study of Different Banis and Playing techniques of the Saraswathi Veena" In the University of Mysore.