Soorya Gayithri

Sooryagayathri (born 26 January 2006), is an Indian Classical Vocalist who has gained worldwide recognition at an early age. Known for singing devotional songs - Bhajan and Kirtan, this child prodigy has become a national sensation in a short span of time. 
Born in a family of talents, Sooryagayathri says they have been her greatest support and inspiration. Soorya’s parental grandfather, Balachandran was a renowned dance teacher, and her grandmother, Thankamani is a trained singer. Her father Sri. PV Anilkumar has been an AIR mridangam artist in Kozhikode for several years. Her mother Smt. PK Divya, a BA graduate and loves writing poems. And her little brother, Sivasoorya has picked up singing at a very young age just like his sister.
Sooryagayathri hails from a small village Kozhikode district of Kerala called Purameri. 
== Music Journey ==
Sooryagayathri was not even three when her mother Divya noticed her daughter humming songs with perfect pitch and talam. Even though the little girl would mispronounce many words, her tune was spot-on. That's when her parents introduced her to disciplined music lessons. Her father, Anilkumar became her first Guru. And that is the day when Sooyragayathri’s musical journey began.
Today Sooryagayathri practices for at least three hours a day. If there’s a performance coming up, the practice could go even longer. Currently, she formally trains in Carnatic music under two profound teachers - Nishant Nadapuram, who has been teaching her from the age of five, and S. Anandi, who is with Soorya for the past three years.
Sooryagayathri was only nine when she was spotted by Kuldeep Pai, a Carnatic singer and an independent music composer, based in Chennai. He was composing Hanuman Chalisa as a caller tune for a renowned mobile company and was looking for someone new. When he heard Soorya for the first time, he got what he was looking for. And he immediately decided to get her on board.
Sooryagayathri practiced the chant for 107 days and on the 108th day it is recorded. After recording, Kuldeep thought the beautiful performance should not be restricted to some small advertisements. So, on his YouTube channel, he uploaded the Hanuman Chalisa along with a simple video with still photos of Sooryagayathri recording in his studio and a few Lord Hanuman images. Some Soorya recorded more songs - Ganesha Pancharatnam, Vishnu Sahasranama, Annamacharya Keerthans, and Vaishnava Jana To — all performances made famous earlier by MS Subbulakshmi. Soon, Sooryagayathri became a singing sensation on Youtube and a household name for all the Hindu devotees. Since then Kuldeep M Pai has been Soorya’s mentor both musically and spiritually.
Apart from successfully running her own music channel “Sooryagayathri” under SG Productions, she now sings for famous music labels including Strumm Spiritual, Believes Music (Ishtar Devotional) & Strings Entertainment. Sooryagayathri’s other Youtube recording includes shlokas like Aeigiri Nandini, Kalabhairavashtakam, Nirvanashtakam, Vishnu Sahasranama, Harivarasanam, Carnatic compositions like Rangapura Vihara, Muthai Tharu, Vatapi Ganpathim, Sriman Narayan & bhajans like Shri Ramachandra Kripalu, Bhagyada Lakshami Baramma, Swagatam Krishna, Gopigopalam amongst many other compositions. 
Apart from her classical vocal training, Sooryagayathri is also learning Veena from Ramana Balachandran after learning basics from Krishnendu G. She also keeps practicing mridangam with her father at her home.
== Notable Performances ==
Apart from Youtube videos and online presence, Sooryagayathri has given many national and international live performances, as listed below.
=== International ===
•	Performed at Khoo Auditorium at Singapore - 2016
•	Performed for Bhakthi Sangeeth Utsav at Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple in Singapore – 2017
•	Performed for Sivananda World Peace Foundation in Durban, South Africa – 2017
•	Performed at Indian Consulate Auditorium – Dubai – 2017
•	Performed for Isha Foundation in Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies - 2018
•	Performed for DYC Australia at Kel Watson Theatre in Melbourne, Australia – 2019
•	Performed for Keraleeyam in Doha, Qatar – 2019
•	Performed at Ayyappa Samajam for Makaravilakku Festival in Bahrain – 2020
•	Performed for Hindu Yuva Organisation, USA – 2021
•	Performed for Each One Educate One Program, USA - 2021
=== National ===
•	Payyannur Pothamkandam Anandashram, Payyanur – 2015
•	Sri Shanmukhananda Sabha, Mumbai - 2016
•	SPIC MACAY International Convention at IIT Guwahati – 2016
•	SPIC MACAY Winter Convention at DPS North Bangalore – 2017
•	Hariharaputra Bhajan Samaj at Mumbai – 2017
•	Ramakrishna Ashram Bengaluru - 2017
•	Brahmotsavam Festival in Tirumala Thirupathi Devasthanam – 2018
•	Sanskrit Academy, Government of Delhi, New Delhi – 2018
•	Kailasa Music Festival, Chikmagalur - 2018
•	Sankaracharya Vyakhyanmala Series by Madhya Pradesh Government – 2018, 2019
•	Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Honourable Vice President of India – 2019
•	Basantotsav, Rishikesh - 2019
•	Ayyappa Temple at Aerocity New Delhi by GMR Group – 2019
•	Sanskar Mahotsav, Allen Group at Kota & Ahmedabad – 2019
•	Thyagaraja Festival Hyderabad – 2019
•	Bharat Kalachar Marghazi Mahotsav, Chennai - 2019
•	Abbas Cultural Organization, Chennai – 2019, 2020, 2022
•	Sri Krishna Ashramam Malaikovil Devasthanam, Ooty – 2019, 2020, 2022
•	Krishna Janmashtami, ISKCON Bengaluru - 2020
•	Ashtavadhana Seva ISKCON Temple, Bengaluru - 2021
•	Mahila Dhyana Maha Chakram at Maheswara Maha Pyramid, Telangana – 2021
== Awards & Recognition ==
For her immense talent and grace at such a young age, Sooryagayathri has been honoured with the following awards and recognitions. 
•	M.S. Subbulakshmi Fellowship in Music by Shanmukhananda Sabha Mumbai
•	Kalanidhi Sangeeth Rathna Award
•	Samaj Sakthi Award
•	Bala Gnana Kala Bharathi Award by Bharat Kalachar
•	JKYog Academy Award for Excellence in Music
•	Global Child Prodigy Award
Category:2006 births
Category:Indian classical singers
Category:People from Kozhikode district