VIDWAN
DR.S.GOPAKUMAR

Vidwan Dr. S. Gopakumar (Kalaimamani Dr. S. Gopakumar) is a Mridangam artist from a family of traditional Musicians. His great grandfather, late Manikutti Bhagavathar and his grandfather late Shri Pichandi Bhagavathar, a descendant of Mullamoodu Bhagavathars, was a Mridangam Vidwan attached to the Royal Court of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal of Travancore, a king among composers. His mother was a music teacher. He was born to late Shri.K.S.Subramania Iyer and Smt S.Rajam, in the year 1965 at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala State. He had the initial training in Mridangam under Shri Venkattaraman, Shri Rajappa.

He has the privilege of learning Mridangam under the tutelage of eminent personalities like Kadanad Shri V.K. Gopi, Palghat C.S. Krishnamooorthy and Parasala Shri Ravi at Sri Swathi Thirunal Music College, Thiruvananthapuram in obtaining four years Diploma in Music—Ganabhooshanam in Mridangam, three years post Diploma in Music—Gana Praveena in Mridangam. He also had the privilege of undergoing the traditional music Gurukulavasam under the Mridangam Maestro, Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr. T.K. Murthy for two years , with Government of India Senior Scholarship. He has completed his M.A. Performing Arts in Mridangam at Tilak Maharasha University, Gultekdi, Pune.

Since 1988 he is working at Bharathiar Palkalaikoodam at Pondicherry. At present, he is the Asst. Professor in Mridangam at Bharathiar Palkalai Koodam, Pondicherry affiliated to the Pondicherry Central University, Pondicherry. In the media, he is recognized as A Grade artist in All India Radio and Doordarshan and also with all the private (both Indian and Foreign) Radio and TV Stations.