The walls of Shanmukhananda reverberate with melody, rhythm and talent! At its heart is the Sangeetha Vidyalaya and Natya Vidyalaya, striving to keep our classical traditions alive, the city’s only professional institution that trains students for a Diploma in Carnatic Music, recognised by the University of Mumbai.

The Vidyalaya is headed by Smt. Shyamala Sajnani, the Principal of the School and it functions under the advice of a Sub-Committee answerable to the Management Committee of the Sabha. The Vidyalaya has over 525 students learning various Indian classical performing art forms on its premises. Further, with several recent initiatives, classes are also conducted in schools which associate with the Vidyalaya. In the carnatic style, vocal, veena, violin, carnatic keyboard and mrudangam are taught. In the Hindustani tradition, vocal, Sitar, tabla and harmonium are taught. As part of the Natya Vidyalaya, Bharatanatyam and Kathak are taught. More disciplines such as Odissi, Kuchipudi and Flute are being added progressively. In the Hindustani tradition, vocal, sitar, tabla and harmonium are taught. As part of the Natya Vidyalaya, Bharatanatyam is taught, and Kathak classes are scheduled to commence this Vijayadashami 2023.More disciplines are being added progressively.

The School Library has over 2500 books on Carnatic and Hindustani Music, including journals and reprints.

Faculty & Staff  ^
The Sangeetha Vidyalaya has 18 faculty members imparting training in various streams such as Vocal, Veena, Violin, Mrudangam, (in Carnatic Music) and Vocal, Sitar, Tabla and Harmonium in Hindustani Music, apart from Bharatanatyam and Kathak. These include the Principal, teachers, as well as the Teachers assigned to coach Diploma in Music (KVC- Carnatic Vocal Classical) course and others.

Principal
Smt. Shyamala Sajnani

Carnatic Music
Vocal
• Smt. Rohini Venkatachalam
• Smt. Bhanumati Sharma
• Smt. Lakshmi Rajashekhar
Veena
• Smt. Anuradha Srivatsan
• Dr. N. Sekar
Violin
• Smt. Lalitha Ramachandran
Mrudangam
• Shri. Mumbai Shankaranarayanan

Bharatanatyam
• Smt. Jayalakshmi Anand
• Shri. Bharat Devanapalli

Kathak
• Smt. Ananya Govitrikar

Odissi
• Smt. Rupali Kadam

Kuchipudi
• Shri. Murthy

Hindustani Music
Vocal
• Smt. Swastishree Joshi
• Smt. Bhakti Jadhav
Sitar
• Smt. Roopa Padmanabhan
Tabla
• Shri. Milind Joshi
• Shri. Rajan Singh Thakur
Harmonium
• Shri. Vinay V. Dalvi
• Smt. Reshma Mehta
Keyboard
• Shri. Pranav Ganapathy

Courses offered    ^
The Music School trains students in the following fields:
• Carnatic Vocal
• Veena
• Violin
• Mrudangam
• Hindustani Vocal
• Sitar
• Tabla
• Harmonium
• Keyboard
• Bharatanatyam
• Kathak

Each of these courses is of 7 years duration. Students who successfully complete the 7-year course in each of the faculties (obtaining at least 50% of the total aggregate marks in the 7th year) will become eligible for consideration for the Proficiency Certificate - SHANMUKHA SANGEETHA / NATYA MANI  by the Sabha. For this purpose the students will be subjected to a separate special practical and written test assessment.

In addition, the school also coaches students for a 2-year Diploma course in Carnatic Vocal Classical (KVC), which is recognized by the University of Mumbai. The course is based on a syllabus approved by the University of Mumbai and is held every year from June to April.

For further details regarding courses and admissions, please contact:

The Vidyalaya’s Office 022-24078888 Ext. 202 (4 to 8 pm Monday to Saturday)

Email: bhamusicprincipal@shanmukhananda.com

Academic Year ^
The academic year for the Music School’s 7-year courses is from October to September of the following year. The first term is from October to March and the second, from April to September. The Vidyalaya closes for vacation from 1st May to 14th June and reopens on 15th June. The academic year for the Diploma in Music KVC (Carnatic Vocal Classical) affiliated to the University of Mumbai is from June to April of the following year.

Admissions ^
Admissions for 7-year courses are on Vijaya Dashami Day and continue during the year. The minimum age for admission is 6 years. Admissions for 2-year Diploma course in Music KVC (Carnatic Vocal Classical) commences in June / July. Students are admitted on the basis of their performance in the audition test. The minimum educational qualification is SSC or its recognised equivalent. To know more about the Vidyalaya, refer to the brochures of the Vidyalaya Click here

Duration of Classes  ^
All classes (vocal, instrumental and Natyam) are held twice a week, in one-hour capsules, between 4 & 8 pm.

Examinations  ^
Two examinations are held every year for the 7-year course in different disciplines. The half-yearly examination is held in March and the Annual Examination is held in September / October. External examiners, who are experts in the field, are invited to conduct the examinations for fair appraisal. The University Examinations for the Diploma in Music KVC are held in March / April of every year.

Competitions   ^
The Music Competition is an important annual promotional activity of the Vidyalaya. It is generally held on the first Saturday and Sunday of February every year and the last date for receipt of January 15 of the New Year. Students from all over the country participate in the competitions which are judged by external judges, who are eminent musicians of Mumbai. Prizes from Endowments are distributed by reputed performing artistes. Dance competition was introduced for the first time in 2008 and is now a regular annual feature. The application forms for the competitions can be downloaded from the website

Scholarship Awards  ^
Scholarship Awards are given every year to meritorious students who consistently perform well and score high marks in the examinations conducted by the Vidyalaya. There are many Endowments for different disciplines.

Vaggeyakara Day Celebrations  ^
The Sangeetha Vidyalaya conducts Vaggeyakara Days of eminent composers of Carnatic and Hindustani music every month where local musicians with concert exposure are invited to perform compositions of the designated composers. The idea is to familiarize the students, teachers and other rasikas with the rare and lesser heard compositions of those composers.

Shri Seshadri Memorial Talent Exposure Concerts   ^
The promising students with potential in different disciplines of the Sangeetha Vidyalaya including Bharatanatyam are specially trained for performing mini concerts of 40 minutes duration to showcase their talent before an audience, to help them overcome stage fear. Two mini concerts are held once in a quarter. The accompanists are also invariably selected from among our students. The best students are duly awarded with prizes from Scholarship Endowments.

Vidyalaya Events    ^
Pratibha Pradarshan was presented as a grand annual day of the Vidyalaya over two days on 15th and 16th of June 2024. Natya Vidyalaya presented an enthralling show by the Bharatanatyam students followed by the Kathak students and a special piece by the Kathak faculty was Ms. Ananya Govitrikar. A grand musical presentation by various faculties of the Sangeetha Vidyalaya was done on 16th June 2024. Some of the highlights included abhangs, tala vadya face off between the mridangam and tabla students, harmonium and veena performances by senior students, and vocal students from both the streams.
Guru Purnima was observed on 20th July 2024. The various performances by the students were held across two venues at Padma Ranga and Ashok Mehta Auditorium.
The much awaited Prize Distribution for the 2024 competition winners was held on 23rd August 2024 with the Thrissur brothers Shri Sri Krishna Mohan and Shri. Ramkumar Mohan giving away the prizes. 112 prizes were awarded at the Prize Distribution function.
Saraswati Puja and Vijayadasami were observed on 11th and 12th October 2024 respectively with usual tradition and fervour by all the students and faculty alike.
Natya Vidyalaya saw an expansion in the art forms with Kuchipudi and Odissi being added to the streams in the handbook, with courses designed by faculty member Shri. Murthy for Kuchipudi and Smt. Rupali Kadam, senior disciple of Smt. Jhelum Paranjape for Odissi.
Thyagaraja Aradhana was observed on the 18th January 2025, Shukla Bahula Panchami. There were over 70 artists who participated in the rendition of the Pancharatna Kritis.
The Annual Competitions were held on 15th and 16th February 2025. The response was overwhelming with 381 entries as compared to the 221 entries of last year.. Students came from other cities and countries as well.
Noteworthy Achievements of our Students
• It is a matter of pride for the Vidyalaya that Master Bhavya Maru, a Tabla student and Master Savio Unvahne, a harmonium student are blossoming as professional artistes.
• Ashaad Ekadashi was celebrated on 17th July 2024 by the students of Hindustani Vocal at Tirupathi Thirumala Devasthanam Centre in Sion. ‘Abhang Sandhya’ was presented at the Natya Vidyalaya in the evening. Shri. Bharat Devanpalli danced for an Abhang.
• 24th August 2025 was marked by ‘Shyam Rang’, a Janmashtami celebration by Hindustani students, singing bhajans and bandishes on Lord Krishna, accompanied on the harmonium and Tabla by the students of the Vidyalaya.
• Internal events which began as ‘Practice performances’ or ‘Internal performance experience work shops’ evolved as small performances by our students to an audience of students and parents, giving them confidence and experience, as they slowly evolve into better artistes. Senior Natya Vidyalaya students performed at the Kamakshi Temple in Nerul on 8th September 2024.
• Carnatic and Hindustani vocal students performed at several venues during Ganeshotsav on 9th September 2024 at GSB Ganeshotsav, King’s Circle, on 12th September 2024 at the 1st and oldest Ganesh Pandal in Mumbai, Girgaon, Chowpatty, and then on 14th September 2024 at GSB Seva Mandal, Wadala.
• Navaratri saw a similar slew of performances by our music and dance students at various venues.
• In a first by the Vidyalaya, the Principal accompanied the students on a performance trip to Nashik from 4th to 6th October 2024. Our Hindustani Vocal, Veena, Bharatanatyam and Carnatic Vocal students presented their art on 5th October 2024 at the Balaji Temple in Nashik.
• Bharatanatyam students danced in Ahobila Mattam on 8th October 2024 and an evening of Garba in SIES Nerul Temple, in which the Sangeetha and Natya Vidyalaya students joined in. Senior students of Hindustani Vocal performed in Dahisar GSB Seva mandal on 9th October 2024. On 10th October 2024, senior students of Hindustani Vocal performed in the Sabha in the morning session, while sitar students played at Nerul Kamakshi Temple in the evening.
• There were three arangetrams by the Bharatanatyam students, under the guidance of Shri. Anand Satchidanandan and Smt. Jayalakshmi Anand – Tejasvi Soundararajan on 17th August 2024, Suravi Handel on 20th October 2024 and Varshalakshmi Pratap on 17th November 2024. KVC Diploma students sang for the Margazhi Utsavam in South Indian Bhajan Samaj, Matunga on 20th December 2024. While the students of the Natayalaya performed in the same festival in South Indian Bhajan Samaj on 21st December 2024. Students of Bharatanatyam danced in the Kala Ghoda Art Festival on 1st February 2025.

Saraswati Puja & Vijaya Dashami    ^
Saraswati Puja is conducted at the Sangeetha Vidyalaya as per tradition, followed by a group rendering of Devi kritis. Initial lessons are rendered by all the faculty members and the students of all the performing art disciplines on Vijaya Dashami day and initiation classes are held for new students and old students in the respective classes.

Thyagaraja Aradhana    ^
Thyagaraja Aradhana is conducted at the Sangeetha Vidyalaya on Pushya Bahula Panchami Day (January / February) every year. Unchavritti is performed in the traditional style, followed by group rendering of Thyagaraja’s Pancharatna Kritis by the students and faculty members of the Vidyalaya. 

The Natya Vidyalaya    ^
In 2003, the Natya Vidyalaya at Shanmukhananda began with a few students. Since then, the strength of the school has increased steadily, with over 140 students learning Bharatanatyam today.

The Vidyalaya provides an excellent centre for the students to have a good foundation, while having the advantage of a great platform to give opportunities for the students to showcase their talent on the big stage. Students feature regularly in the Talent Exposure programmes and participate in the Vaggeyakara Day Celebrations of the Vidyalaya.

In Dusshera 2023, Kathak stream was added to the list of performing art disciplines at the Vidyalaya. The vision of the Sabha is to expand its Vidyalaya, both the Sangeetha Vidyalaya as well as the Natya Vidyalaya, adding more streams, students and faculty, making it a holistic learning environment where classical art forms and learning flourishes. The Vidyalaya has produced several famous musicians who have become world renowned and continues to impart the Indian classical art forms to the younger generation.

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