Pantula Rama is an Indian singer, instrumentalist, and author who performs Carnatic music. She has been performing since the age of 8.[2][3][4] Known as Andhra's Nightingale and Golden Voice,[5] Pantula Rama lives in Vishakhapatnam and is married to violinist MSN Murthy.[6]
Pantula Rama was born to parents who are musicians. Her father is a violinist, and her mother is a Veena player. Her father was her first music teacher. After finishing school, Rama obtained a seat in MBBS. Eventually, she earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in music from Andhra University. Her Ph.D. thesis at the same university was titled "A study of the shaping of an ideal musician through saadhana", and was published by Gyan Publishers.[4]
Rama has performed at various concerts and festivals.
In 2017, Rama started an initiative called PaRa to raise awareness of Carnatic music. PaRa means the supreme consciousness. Through this initiative, she collaborated with other artists to organize events.[10]
Aruna Chandaraju wrote: "The appeal of Dr Pantula Rama’s kutcheries is that the music is of a very high order. Her performances and work are known for chaste classicism, serenity, sobriety and technical perfection. Widely recognised as an outstanding vocalist of Carnatic music. Rama’s very melodious voice, effortless elucidation of ragas, her bhava-soaked rendition, technical skills, and immensely creative manodharma, taken along with a wide repertoire, endear her to rasikas."[4]
G Swaminathan reported: "Pantula Rama’s concerts always carry a gentle tone of authority coupled with melody."[3]
Venkatesan Srikanth wrote: "Rama strikes a perfect balance in her knowledge of theory and aesthetic in practice of music."[11]