Shyamamani Devi (; born 1938) is a Odissi classical music vocalist composer. A disciple of Gurus Singhari Shyamsundar Kar and

Balakrushna Dash Sangeeta Sudhakara Balakrushna Dash () was a veteran Guru of Odissi music. One of the chief disciples of the legend Pt Gokul Chandra Srichandan of Kendrapada, Dash worked variously as a vocalist, composer and music director. He received the Odish ...

, she is known for her popular renditions of classical

Odissi music music () is a genre of classical music in India, originated from the eastern state of Odisha. The traditional ritual music for the service of Lord Jagannatha, Odissi music has a history spanning over two thousand years, authentic ''sangita-shas ...

, such as Odissi, Chhanda, Champu, etc. authored by medieval Odia musician-poets such as

Upendra Bhanja ''Kabi Samrata'' Upendra Bhanja () was a 17th-century Odia poet-composer of classical Odissi music.Mansingha, Mayadhar: ''History of Oriya Literature'': Publisher, Sahitya Akademi, Delhi He is most known for his Odissi songs and kabyas written i ...

, Kabisurjya Baladeba Ratha,

Banamali Dasa Banamali Dasa (; 1720–1793) is an Indian medieval Odia ''bhakta''-poet & composer of Odissi music from the state of Odisha. "''Dinabandhu daitari''", "''Kede chanda jane lo sahi''" and "''Manima he etiki maguni mora''" are some of his ...

, Gopalakrusna and others. She is also known for her renditions of light music such as traditional Odia folk music and adhunika songs. In 2022, she was awarded the

Padma Shri Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, ...

for he contributions to Odissi music. Born to Rajendra Mohan Pattnaik and Nishamani Pattnaik, Shyamamani belonged to a musical lineage. She was the youngest among five siblings. The eminent Odissi musician and dramatist

Kalicharan Pattnaik Kalicharan Pattnaik also known by his sobriquet ''Kabichandra'' was an eminent literary and artistic figure of Odisha. He had contributions in the field of Odissi music, Odissi dance and Odia theatre. He had significant contributions to developme ...

was her uncle. In her childhood, she faced opposition from the society due to her interest in music, but continued her musical education with the support of her father and Kalicharan Pattnaik. At the age of 12 in 1950, she began singing at All India Radio Cuttack. She began her formal training in classical music under ''Adiguru Pt'' Singhari Shyamsundar Kar and ''Sangita Sudhakara Pt''

. Later she undertook a course in voice culture under B. R. Deodhar. She also learned from Kundala Adinarayana Rao for a while. She married Mayadhar Behera, a medicine practitioner. The couple had a son and two daughters. In 2018, filmmaker Santosh Gaur directed a documentary on her life and work titled "Shyamamani Devi - Odissi Classical vocalist".

Awards and honours

* Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1994) * Lifetime achievement award from Chandigarh University (2004) * Honorary doctorate from

Utkal University of Culture Utkal University of Culture is a Public university in Bhubaneswar, Odisha dedicated for research, teaching and education in the field of culture. History Utkal University of Culture established by an ordinance on 9 June 1999, which was later re ...

(2012) * Guru Singhari Samman by Guru Gopal Panda Odissi Academy (2014) * Guru Sahadev Padhi Memorial Samman (2016) * Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award by Srjan (2017) * Deba Prasad Das Samman by Guru Debaprasad Das Foundation (2018) * Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Award (2019) *

(2022)

References

External links

Interview by FLARES
{{Authority control 1938 births Living people Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts Odissi music People from Cuttack district Recipients of the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi award Disciples of Singhari Shyamsundar Kar Disciples of Balakrushna Dash