Aruna Sairam is an Indian classical vocalist and carnatic music singer. She is a recipient of the Padma Shri award from the Government of India and was elected as the Vice Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Academy (India's premier national institution for music and dance) by the Government of India until 2022. In 2011, Aruna was the first Carnatic musician to perform at the BBC proms in London. She is also the first Carnatic musician to perform in Oud Festival of Israel (Jerusalem).

Early life Aruna Sairam was born in Mumbai into a Tamil musical family. She received vocal training from her mother Rajalakshmi Sethuraman, who was a student of the Alathur Brothers and Thanjavoor Sankara Iyer."The Hindu: Entertainment Delhi / Music : Song of the soul". Chennai, India: Hindu.com. 2006-02-17. Retrieved 2010-09-30. Her father Shri Sethuraman was a music connoisseur who hosted musicians and dancers in the family home. At one of these gatherings, Aruna met Sangita Kalanidhi Smt. T. Brinda, who trained her in the style of Veena Dhanammal. Indian-American business executive and former chairman and chief executive officer of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi, is Aruna's niece.

Over the following years, Aruna performed Carnatic music, drawing on the influences of Mumbai and in a pure classical style. She was influenced by film, western and Hindustani (northern Indian) classical music. She ushered in a new approach to concert presentation, extending the boundaries of the Carnatic repertoire while retaining classical grammar and tradition.

Aruna Sairam has two daughters, Gayathri and Maithreyee. Gayathri Sairam's wedding reception in 2011 was grand, and covered by national media. Maitreyee Krishnaswami (1974-2020) succumbed to cancer in Seattle at the age of 45.Maitreyi Krishnaswamy 1974 - 2020 Retrieved 21 November 2022

Training Aruna Sairam was taught by Sangeeta Kalanithi T. Brinda.Padmanabhan, G. (2011). In tune with creativity. The Hindu. [online] Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/in-tune-with-creativity/article2503172.ece [Accessed 27 October 2014].Jagannathan, S. (2012). Aruna Sairam, a listeners' artiste. carnaticdarbar.com. [online] Available at: http://www.carnaticdarbar.com/review/2012/review_125.asp [Accessed 27 October 2014].Balasubramanian, V. (2012). Bhavam ruled. The Hindu. [online] Available at: [Accessed 27 October 2014].Ramani, V. (2014). Sailing from one raga to the next. The Hindu. [online] Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/sailing-from-one-raga-to-the-next/article6485219.ece [Accessed 27 October 2014]

S Ramachandran,The Hindu, (2009). Reinvention of an artist. [online] Available at: http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/article69922.ece [Accessed 27 October 2014]. from the bani (style) of Chittor Subramanya Pillai,itcsra.org, (2014). Artist of the month. [online] Available at: http://www.itcsra.org/aom/artist_ of the_month.asp [Accessed 27 October 2014]. expanded her already wide repertoire and taught her the fine nuances of nereval singing (improvising within poetic texts). A S Mani, a disciple of Tiger Vardacharyar, guided her through the creative process of swara singing (improvising with the sol-fa). Prof T R Subramanyam,Ramnarayan, G. (2010). Soaring songs. The Hindu. [online] Available at: [Accessed 27 October 2014].Ramnarayan, G. (2010). Eclectic range. The Hindu. [online] Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/Eclectic-range/article15679460.ece [Accessed 27 October 2014]. an acclaimed music professor at Delhi University, taught Aruna to sing and spontaneously compose within ragam-tanam-pallavi. K S Narayanaswamy.

Despite her extensive training, Sairam felt the need for guidance in voice training to become capable of fully expressing her creativity and knowledge through her voice. She met German voice maestro Eugene Rabine,The Times of India, (2012). Seeking the right tone. [online] Available at: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Seeking-the-right-tone/articleshow/17749659.cms [Accessed 30 October 2014]. who helped her discover and apply a new sound and emotion to her voice. She later took advice and guidance from Carnatic singer M. Balamuralikrishna. To this day, she remains in touch with the New York-based voice teacher David Jones.Rajan, A. (2014). Quest for the best. The Hindu. [online] Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/quest-for-the-best/article5922104.ece [Accessed 27 October 2014].

Career India

Aruna Sairam has performed at the Indian President's official residence – Rashtrapati Bhavan – and the memorials to Indian prime ministers Indira Gandhi at Shakti Sthal and Rajiv Gandhi at Veer Bhoomi.Swaminathan, C. (2014). A new season of promise. The Hindu. [online] Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/a-new-season-of-promise/article6001381.ece [Accessed 27 October 2014]. She has also performed across the country at venues including The Music Academy in Chennai,The Times of India, (2011). Let The Music Play. [online] Available at: http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQ0gvMjAxMS8xMS8zMCNBcjAyMzAw [Accessed 30 October 2014]. the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai, Siri Fort Auditorium in Delhi, and at seminars and the festival held at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in Delhi, the Music Forum in Mumbai, and the Kolkata's Sangeet Research Academy.narthaki.com, (2010). Performance par excellence. [online] Available at: http://www.narthaki.com/info/rev10/rev857.html [Accessed 27 October 2014]. She has performed in Mysore chamundi hill for TVS Motor company annual music festival in January 2020. In March 2025, she had performed thrillana project for mahindra percussion festival

International

This experience gave her a mission to make South Indian classical music global. She performed at the BBC Proms at London's Royal Albert HallThe Times of India, (2011). Carnatic music to debut in BBC Prom. [online] Available at: http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=pastissues2&BaseHref=TOICH/2011/07/23&PageLabel=10&EntityId=Ar01002&ViewMode=HTML [Accessed 30 October 2014].The Times of India The Crest Edition, (2011). The voice that rocked Albert Hall. [online] Available at: http://www.timescrest.com/culture/the-voice-that-rocked-albert-hall-5968 [Accessed 27 October 2014] as the first South Indian classical vocalist in the Proms' then-116-year history in 2011. Sairam has also performed at New York's Carnegie Hall, Paris's Théâtre de la Villesabhash.com, (2012). Face to Face. [online] Available at: http://www.sabhash.com/music/face-to-face/8/aruna-sairam---by-lakshmi-venkatraman.htm [Accessed 30 October 2014].The Hindu, (2008). Top U.S. honours for Aruna Sairam. [online] Available at: [Accessed 27 October 2014]. and Morocco's Fes Festival of World Sacred Music.Ramnarayan, G. (2010). Soaring songs. The Hindu. [online] Available at: [Accessed 30 October 2014]. She has performed in Darbar music festival for 3 times in London.

Collaborations Aruna Sairam has collaborated with many artists across the globe. Here is a list of some of the artists with whom Sairam has collaborated: India • Shankar Mahadevan • U. Srinivas • Vid. Neela Bhagwat • Jayanti Kumaresh • Coke Studio- Ram Sampath • Sudha Raghunathan • Agam Band • Zakir Hussain • Ronu Majumdar • Haricharan • Thayir Sadam Project • Malavika Sarukkai (Dancer) • Pt. Jayateerth Mevundi • Kaushiki Chakraborty • Padma Subrahmanyam • Gaurav Majumdar • Vivek Sagar • Usha Uthup • Shubha Mudgal

International • Dominique Vellard • Michael Riemann • Christian Bollman • Hari Sivanesan • Nouruddine Tahiri • Jesse Bannister • Vijay Iyer • Rajika Puri (Dancer) • Soumik Datta • Marco Horvat • Rudresh Mahanthappa

Awards and recognitions Sairam has won many national and international awards, including the Padma Shri and the US Congress Proclamation of Excellence. She received Chevalier Award by French Government on 5 November 2022. Kalidas Samman from the Government of Madhya Pradesh, 2020 Rama Gana Kalacharya Award from Sree Ramaseva Mandali, Chamrajpet, Bengaluru Sangeetha Kalanidhi from the Madras Music Academy, 2018 Padma Shri from the Government of India, 2009 Aruna Sairam has been appointed as vice-chairman of the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi, Delhi, 2015 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Government of India, 2014The Hindu, (2014). President presents Sangeet Natak Akademi awards. [online] Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/president-presents-sangeet-natak-akademi-awards/article5903355.ece [Accessed 27 October 2014]. Isai Mani Magudam Award by Rajalakshmi Fine Arts, Chennai, 2015 Arsha Kala Bhushanam Award by Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Coimbatore, 2014 Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar Award by Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar Memorial Trust Chennai, 2013The Times of India, (2013). Cultural and the Carnatic. [online] Available at: [Accessed 27 October 2014]. Shri P. Obul Reddy and Smt. P. Gnanambal Award 2012 Indira Sivasailam Endowment Award, 2012 Sangita Kala Nipuna by Mylapore Fine Arts Club, Chennai, 2012 Sake of Honour Award by Rotary Club of Ambattur 2011 U S Congress Proclamation of Excellence, 2008 Gaana Padmam by Brahma Gana Sabha, 2008 The "Kalaimamani" by the Government of Tamil Nadu, 2006The Hindu, (2006). Kalaimamani awards for 123 artists. [online] Available at: [Accessed 27 October 2014]. The "Isai Selvam" by the Government of Tamil Nadu, 2006 Sangita Choodamani by Sri Krishna Gana Sabha Chennai, 2006The Hindu, (2006). Music festival begins. [online] Available at: [Accessed 27 October 2014]. Aruna Sairam has been appointed the Advisor to the Department of Culture, Tamil Nadu, on Musical Education by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Recordings , Sairam has recorded over 60 records.Arunasairam.org, (2014). Welcome to Aruna Sairam Official Site |Aruna Sairam Albums. [online] Available at: http://arunasairam.org/albums.asp [Accessed 30 October 2014]. Her recordings span classical repertoires, thematic presentations, concert recordings and collaborations with German, French, Moroccan and other international artists. Six of her albums have been produced and distributed in Europe and the US. She has collaborated with artists including French artistry Dominque Vellard and Christian Bollman of Germany, as well as with eminent Hindustani musicians. She has also released "Aruna: Thousand Names of the Divine Mother", an album containing sacred chants from the Lalitha Sahasaranamam.

Teaching Aruna Sairam has undertaken various mentoring programmes, notably the 2011 BBC World Routes Academy Project by BBC Radio 3.The Times of India, (2011). Carnatic Music to Debut in BBC Prom. [online] Available at: http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=pastissues2&BaseHref=TOICH/2011/07/23&PageLabel=10&EntityId=Ar01002&ViewMode=HTML [Accessed 27 October 2014].

She has written a detailed thesis about voice training and she tutors young artists in this subject. In 2014, she was invited as a Faculty to the International Jazz Convention at the Banff Centre, Canada, by its Director Vijay Iyer.

Every year, The Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata invites Aruna as a mentor and member of its expert committee and as the external examiner for the graduating scholars of the academy.

Foundation

She and her husband have set up the Nadayogam Trust, which gives performance opportunities to young musicians. Under the Nadayogam Trust, a scholarship scheme has been instituted, through which violins were given to students of S V College of Music and Dance, Tirupati. The trust also maintains an archive of teaching materials and a collection of recordings.The New Indian Express, (2013). Book on Vainika T Brinda released. [online] Available at: [Accessed 27 October 2014].

Critical reception