Acharya Nagarjuna University (ANU) music faculty member Pasumarthi Pavani has been selected for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2025 instituted by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the country’s apex body for the performing arts, in the Nrutya Sangeetam category.

Born into a family with a rich legacy in music and dance, Ms. Pavani, along with her sister Pavithra, began learning Carnatic music at the age of five under her grandfather, renowned musician and Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Pasumarthi Venugopala Krishna Sarma, while also training in Kuchipudi dance under her father Pasumarthi Srinivasulu, a Yakshagana exponent.

Ms. Pavani traces her entry into Kuchipudi dance and music to a defining childhood moment “I was just 10 years old when my father was rendering Kuchipudi jatis during a programme at Kuchipudi village. I stood nearby singing along with him. Noticing this, he asked me to join him,” she recalled, adding with a smile that the performance was appreciated by the audience. That memorable moment marked the beginning of her association with singing for Kuchipudi dance ballets, she said.

Over the years, Ms. Pavani has established herself as a versatile Carnatic vocalist, a dance music composer and a teacher. A postgraduate in music from Andhra University and currently pursuing doctoral research, Ms. Pavani is a graded artiste of All India Radio in Carnatic, devotional and light music categories.

She has presented concerts across India and abroad, including in the U.S.A. and Canada, besides providing vocal support and music compositions for numerous Kuchipudi dance ballets and Yakshagana productions.

She dedicates the award to her parents and gurus and also credits it to her husband Mutnuri Siva Kumar, whose constant encouragement and support have been instrumental in her journey. “Balancing artistic pursuits, teaching and family responsibilities would not have been possible without his unwavering support,” she told The Hindu.

She has trained many students over the past two decades, while currently she serves as a faculty member in the Department of Music at ANU. “My artistic journey has been enriched through associations with eminent musicians, dancers and institutions, including the Kuchipudi Art Academy and Shankar Mahadevan Academy,” she said.

“This award inspires me to pursue greater excellence in my field and contribute towards preserving and promoting cultural traditions,” she added.