Dr Chithra Ramakrishnan MBE did not simply bring South Indian classical music to Birmingham—she made it resound. She carved space for centuries-old rhythms and sacred movement to breathe in a modern city, and in doing so, built a bridge between continents, cultures, and generations.
Founder of ShruthiUK and the visionary force behind the Birmingham Thyagaraja Festival, Dr Chithra Ramakrishnan MBE has dedicated her life to more than performance. Her work is preservation and progression—keeping a rich heritage alive not by holding it still, but by letting it move, evolve, and inspire.
In a city built by many hands, Dr Chithra Ramakrishnan MBE ensured that the Carnatic voice—precise, devotional, ancient—would not be lost in the noise. Through her efforts, that voice now echoes in concert halls, schools, community centres, and global forums. With elegance and discipline, she has brought classical Indian arts into the mainstream without ever diluting their depth.
But her work is not only about celebration—it is about access. Through ShruthiUK, she has opened the arts to children and adults with disabilities, supported wellbeing through music and movement, and used the stage not as a pedestal, but as a platform for belonging. Her teaching and mentoring have sparked journeys that now extend far beyond the UK—young people discovering in themselves the language of legacy.
Her founding of the Young Indian Cultural Ambassadors (YICA) Awards gave rising stars a reason to believe in their own voices. Her formation of the British Carnatic Choir pushed boundaries, blending tradition with innovation, offering something new without losing what came before. Under her direction, the Birmingham Thyagaraja Festival has grown into a globally recognised celebration of South Indian music, with the patronage of UNESCO and admiration from across the diaspora.
Recognition followed—an MBE, national honours, and a place among Britain’s leading cultural figures. But Dr Chithra Ramakrishnan MBE’s power has never come from accolades. It comes from intention. From the belief that art is not a luxury. It is a language. A medicine. A home.
From Chennai to Birmingham, temple to theatre, classroom to international stage—Dr Chithra Ramakrishnan MBE continues to compose a legacy as expansive as the music she honours. One of beauty. Of rigour. Of cultural memory made future-facing.
Because the most powerful traditions do not fade. They adapt—and continue to sing.
