Venkata Meher Kalyani C.

I am a Carnatic mridangam artist in the Pudukottai tradition, recognised as one among the three foremost women mridangists in Andhra Pradesh. I began learning at the age of three under my father, Sri M. K. R. Prasad, and received the child prodigy award from All India Radio, Visakhapatnam, by the age of six. My advanced training was under the legendary Padma Shri Dr. Yella Venkateswara Rao.

I have accompanied eminent artists in more than 3000 concerts across India, including temple festivals and prestigious series such as Nada Neerajanam (SVBC, TTD). I hold an MA in Mridangam from Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, along with an MCA and an M.Tech in Computer Science.

Through Sunadavinodini, our sabha founded in 1987, I teach students of every level: mridangam fundamentals, solkattu, korvais and the tala system, and the artistry of accompaniment and stage performance. Classes are held in person at Nalanda Nagar, Hyderabad, and online across India. I also offer a distinctive course for children on musical recitation of the Bhagavad Gita.