Earlier this year, two veteran women Carnatic musicians – C. Lalitha and Neela Ramgopal — became one with the Muse.

C. Lalitha, the younger of the renowned Bombay Sisters, passed away on 31 January 2023 in Chennai. Born on 26 August 1938, she passed away at the age of 84. The Bombay Sisters – C. Saroja & C. Lalitha – were the second sisters to be conferred the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi award, which they received in 2010. Decorated with many titles, they were active in the Carnatic music circuit for over 50 years as vocalists, teachers and philanthropists. They have brought out numerous commercial audio recordings of Carnatic concerts and devotional songs which are very popular. For several decades, they performed regularly at the Music Academy during the December season and also presented a few lecdems.

Veteran Carnatic vocalist and well known teacher Neela Ramgopal passed away on 1 March 2023 in Bengaluru at the age of 86. She was the recipient of the Sangita Kala Acharya title from the Music Academy in 2011.
The Music Academy posted obituary tributes on its website, in memory of the two vidushis C. Lalitha and Neela Ramgopal. They will continue to live in the hearts and minds of their rasikas through their music for years to come.

We now bring to you from the Music Academy Listening Archives, a few clippings of their concerts presented at the Music Academy.

Excerpts from Bombay Sisters CON 2448, Music Academy Concert, December 2008

C. Lalitha

C. Saroja & C. Lalitha (vocal), Usha P. Rajagopalan (violin), K.R. Ganesh (mridangam), Trichy K. Murali (ghatam)

Clippings :

Orajoopuju in Kannadagaula (Tyagaraja)

Saarasamukhi in Gaudamalhar (Muthiah Bhagavatar)

Uzhilandru paraman naadidum – Kavadi chindu

As per the programmes printed in the Academy Souvenir , Neela Ramgopal had presented a special concert comprising “Compositions of Dasakoota Composers” on the morning of 26 December 1996, the recording of which, however, is not available. We, therefore, bring to you a few excerpts from her concert rendered in 2007 at the Music Academy. The accompanying artists are R. Hemalatha (violin) and C. Cheluvaraju (mridangam).

Excerpts from Neela Ramgopal CON 2335, Music Academy Concert in 2007

Neela Ramgopal

Clippings :

Mahaganapatim bhajeham in Amrithavahini (composer Jayachamaraja Wodeyar)

Viruttam — Madhivadanam aada in Ragamalika

You can listen to the concerts in full at the TAG Digital Listening & Viewing Archives at the Music Academy.