Sikkil Sisters - Kunjumani & Neela

Sikkil Kunjumani, the elder of the sisters, was born on June 15, 1930 and Sikkil Neela, the younger was born on September 6, 1940. Together they are more famously known as the Sikkil Sisters

Their father Azhiyur Natesa Iyer,was a mridangist himself and Kunjumani started learning music from her father initially and then learnt flute from her maternal uncle Azhiyur Narayanaswami Iyer. Neela learnt flute from her sister Kunjamani.

Kunjamani, began giving concerts from the age of nine and Neela from the age of seven. Sikkil Sisters have been giving concerts together since 1962.

Top artistes of the AIR, they have been giving hundreds of performances at all the sabhas, television and elsewhere both within India and abroad too.

The sisters blend the tone and play on their flutes and the merger is toal and the effect remarkable. They are known for the chaste, orthodox style in rendering raga, kriti and swara.

Honours and Awards

* Padmashree - 2003

* Kalaimamani by the Tamil Nadu Sangeetha Nataka Sangam - 1973

* Sangeet Natak Academy Award - 1989.

External links

* [http://www.coimbatorebest.com/discovercoimbatore/artandculture/musicanddance/sikkilsisters.asp Interview with The Sikkil Sisters – Neela And Kunjumani]
* [http://www.kutcheribuzz.com/features/interviews/sikkilsisters.asp Kutcheribuzz interview with the sisters]

See also

*Carnatic Music
*Sikkil Mala Chandrasekar