She is a gift from Tamil Nadu to Bangalore.” So say her students in Bangalore, as do numerous admirers of her music. For Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu born vocalist Neela Ramgopal, 75, this is the most fulfilling praise she has received.

The teacher is seated on a generous sofa. Students of various ages squat on the floor, singing in hush hush tones.  Everyone’s talam is soft.  No one dares to sing loudly, yet the slightest lapse is noted by the teacher, ......

The name Mysore is said to be a corruption of Mahishoor, the town of Mahisha, where the goddess vanquished the demon, thereby becoming Mahishasuramardhini. The erstwhile capital of the eponymous princely state is dominated by the Chamundi Hill,

GNB invariably did niraval on a whole line of verse, unlike some other musicians who would take up only a part of a line for treatment. He did not shorten even long lines..