Introduction to Venupuri Srinivas
M.R. Venupuri Srinivas started as a child prodigy, playing Kanjira at the tender age of one year and eight months in Tirupathi. He gave his first concert on All India Radio when he was just three years old. Srinivas learned Mridangam under legends Ramanathapuram C.S. Murugaboopathi and Trivandrum Mahadeva Iyer. He studied in Madras Music College under Thanjavur Srinivasan obtaining his master's degree with distinction and a gold medal. He is an “A” grade artist from the Indian National Radio (All India Radio). He was honored with the respectable Asthana Vidwan of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.

Venupuri Srinivas has accompanied all senior artists like M.S. Subbulakshmi, M.L. Vasanthakumari, Madurai Somasundaram, Dr. Balamuralikrishna, Veenai Balachander, T.K. Govinda Rao, Maharajapuram Santhanam, T.N. Seshagopalan, Ravi Kiran, U. Srinivas, Neyveli Santhanagopalan, Hydrabad Brothers, T.N. Krishnan, N. Ramani, and many more legends. Srinivas is in a fusion group with Louis Banks, Shankar Mahadevan, and Shiva Mani.

He has worked with Maestro Illayaraja. He has traveled all over the world performing concerts. Srinivas plays other percussion instruments like Kanjira, Ghatam, Thavil, tabla, dholak, and western instruments. He also recites konnakol.

Srinivas lives in Tampa, Florida, and runs an institution called Navarasa Academy of Performing Arts.

Srinivas has supported Soorya Performing Arts with his impeccable mrudangam Naadam for more than 2 decades now.

We humbly salute his spirit of rhythm by honoring him with the "Life Time Achievement Award".  This award carries a cash reward, a plaque, and a shawl.