Priya Sisters

Shanmukha Priya and Hari Priya, the renowned musical duo, popularly known as the 'Priya Sisters' have created impressive waves in the sphere of carnatic music in recent years. They are much sought after artists in the contemporary concert scenario. Born to Smt.V.Lalitha and Sri.V.V.Subba Ram, Priya Sisters started learning Carnatic Vocal Music since the age of five under the tutelage of their father Sri. V.V.Subba Ram who is a post-graduate in music and himself a disciple of Sri. Harikesanallur Vaidyalinga Bhagavatar (Son of Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar). Later they had their advanced training under the world-renowned duo Kalaimamanis Radha & Jayalakshmi. Presently they are under the scholarly guidance of Prof.T.R.Subramaniam. Priya sisters gave their first performance in 1990 in the 'Spirit of Freedom Concerts' at New Delhi.

Busy artists in the national and international circuits, Priya Sisters have traveled widely for concerts in India and abroad, touring countries like U.S.A., Canada, U.K., Mauritius etc. They have performed in a number of prestigious festivals such as the spirit of unity concerts, Duo festival, Festival of Hyderabad, World Tamil conference etc. They were one of the chosen few to have been invited to perform in the 69th and 70th Birthday celebrations of Bhagawan Sri Satya Sai Baba at Puttaparti. They also had the privilege of performing at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi in the presence of the Former President of India, Sri.R.Venkataraman.

Priya sisters have twice been the recipients of the 'Best Female Vocalists' awards of Sri Krishna Gana Sabha and the Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai. They have also received the M.L.V. memorial award. They have been conferred the titles 'Sangeeta Sarada' and 'Gayani Sironmani'. Shanmukha Priya and Hari Priya have received the prestigious 'Ugadi Purashkar 2000' from the Madras Telugu Academy for their meteoric rise in the Carnatic Music World. Many well known recording companies have released a number of audio cassettes and compact discs of Priya Sisters. Their albums like 'In Harmony', Bhadrachala Ramdas Kritis, Gaanam, Serene Moments, Annamayya Lahari, Giridhara Gopala, Devi Kritis to name a few are in great demand among the listeners. They have also recorded a CD at Portland U.S.A.

Their art form is characteristic of the G.N.B. style, with their sruti aligned, attractive, briga-oriented voices lending them ready support to leave an enduring impression on the listener.