Bharati Murali

Her musical journey began at a young age in India under the guidance of her mother, Mrs. Saroja Sampath, a disciple of the renowned Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr. S. Ramanathan. Simultaneously, she received intensive training in Carnatic violin from Lalgudi Smt. S. Alamelu.

During her formative years, Bharati distinguished herself in numerous prestigious music competitions, including securing First Prize in the Tamil Nadu State-Level Competition conducted by the Government of India's Nehru Yuva Kendra and winning a Gold Medal in the Kanchi Kamakoti Jan Kalyan Competition.

To deepen her understanding of rhythm and laya, she also underwent four years of training in Mridangam under Madurai Sri S. Ananthakrishnan.

After relocating to Singapore in 1997, Bharati continued her advanced musical training under several eminent gurus at the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFAS). Her musical excellence was recognized nationally when she was awarded First Prize in the Open Violin Category at the National Level Indian Music Competition organized by the National Arts Council, Singapore, in 2000. Her mentors included Sri A.K. Karunakaran, Sri N.R. Prashanth, Sri K. Sivaraman, Dr. Seshulatha, and Ms. M.S. Vidya. She further honed her violin artistry under Shertalai Sri Shivakumar, specializing in advanced techniques that emulate the nuances of vocal music on the violin. She also trained in Ghazal singing under Guru Debasish Adhikary and continues to pursue musical excellence under the guidance of Sri Veena R. Parthasarathi for Carnatic vocal music and Mr. Radha Vijayan for Western Keyboard.

Over the years, Bharati has established herself as a highly respected performer, presenting full-length Carnatic concerts, Ragam-Tanam-Pallavi concerts, chamber recitals, and temple performances. She has performed at prestigious venues, including Singapore's Esplanade, and has been a regular participant in numerous SIFAS festivals.

As a former violinist with the SIFAS Hindustani Orchestra, she developed remarkable versatility across different classical traditions and received widespread appreciation for her Carnatic-Hindustani Jugalbandi violin performances.

A passionate composer, Bharati has created original pallavis, kritis, and thillanas, and has also composed melodies for selected Thirukkural verses. Several of these compositions have been performed by her students, earning recognition and awards in various competitions.

For the 40th anniversary mega-event of SIOC (Singapore Indian Orchestra and Choir), Nada Yatra (2025), she conceptualized and composed a unique Ragam-Tanam-Pallavi in Lalitha Raga and Lalitha Tala, featuring Ragamalika Tanams in four ragas — two from the Carnatic tradition and two from the Hindustani tradition — all having the name "Lalitha" in common, which she also trained the entire SIOC team of 50 to present.

Bharati is the Founder of Dhwani Music Academy, teaching Carnatic vocal and violin to students in Singapore and across the globe. Her students have won top honors in competitions, performed at prestigious venues, and appeared on television reality shows.

An ardent advocate of music education, Bharati also runs her YouTube channel, Kitchen Kutcheri, where she combines her love for cooking with engaging discussions on Carnatic ragas, their Hindustani counterparts, raga identification techniques, and the influence of classical ragas in film music.

Her vision is both simple and profound: to preserve and pass on the rich heritage of Indian classical music, inspire a deep appreciation for the art form, and empower students to become confident musicians and lifelong ambassadors of our musical tradition.