Sukkanya Ramgopal is not only the popular lady ghatam artiste but also one of the senior most artistes of the country.
Born in Mayiladuthurai, a small town in Tamil Nadu in an orthodox Brahmin family Sukkanya Ramgopal today is one of the leading and the first 'lady Ghatam artiste' from India. She has mastered playing this instrument over past 30 years. Sukkanya exhibited an inclination towards percussion instruments right from her childhood. She used to buy the toy 'Damaur' (a small percussion toy instrument) sold in streets during Pongal festival (harvest festival celebrated inTamil Nadu during mid January every year) and play them enthusiastically. The Great Maestro of Ghatam Padmasri Sh. Vikku Vinayakaram was in the neighbourhood of her Triplicane Residence in Chennai which Provided the golden oppurtunity to come under his tutelage.
Sukkanya has been trained in playing 'Mridangam' and 'Ghatam' from the tender age of 12. Vinayakaram’s father Sh. Harihara Sharma has been the encouraging force behind Sukkanya’s venture in to learning this tough masculine instrument and it is Sh. Vinayakaram who dedicatedly mended her in to playing this instrument with mastery. Shri K.M.Vaidyanathan , Cousin of Sh.Vinayakaram. also played major rule in her
Ghatam Career.The Konnakol Wizard Shri T.H Subash Chandran,Brother of Sh.Vinayakaram has been her Manasiga Guru (soul mentor) for Konnakol.
Before stepping in to the classes of percussion she learnt violin from Sh. T.H. Gurumurthy, brother of Sh. Vinayakaram.She Learnt Vocal Music also With Shri Iyya Swamy Iyer in her childhood. These Multi Diciplinary Musical background enabled her to compose innovative Composition suitable for the New concept of Ghata Thrang. Ganam Krishnaier, a musician of previous century is in the family tree of Sukkanya.
Sukkanya’s great grandfather Mahamahopadyaya Dr. U.V.Swaminatha Iyer is a well-known scholar who dedicated his life for Tamil literature.
Sukkanya despite facing odds from music field being a lady percussionist has now reached the level of most sought after ghatam artist, which is mainly due to her mastery over the techniques of playing ghatam and the God given gift of producing good Naadam (tonal sound quality) from this earthen pot.
Sukkanya due to her shear determination and hard work has not only mastered the art of playing ghatam but also created a revolution by bringing this instrument to the main platform which so far enjoyed the status of second line percussion support to the carnatic music concerts. The Ghata Tharang being played by her with 6 ghatams of different shruthis is a maiden attempt and so far nobody has attempted to stage this concept. This concept is a revolution in carnatic music field. While it is difficult to handle and play even one ghatam, Sukkanya’s determination to fight against odds and a commitment to do something different has been the driving force for her to handle and play 6 ghatams simultaneously.
We have come across the common saying that “There is a woman behind all successful men”. In case of Sukkanya there has been a man behind her success and that is her husband Mr. V.Ramgopal. An engineer by profession, Mr. Ramgopal served one of the leading giant public sector company Bharath Heavy Electricals (BHEL) for about 29 years and availed retirement as a senior executive. Sukkanya’s son, daughter and son in law are all engineers and are employed with leading IT firms in Bangalore. Sukkanya’s mother in law, an ardent lover of carnatic music, has been of great support to the family whenever Sukkanya goes on concert tours. Sukkanya’s family has played a major role in her achievements by adjusting well with her busy concert schedules and family responsibilities. This well knit family takes pride in the achievements of Sukkanya and all set to help her in all possible ways to scale great heights.