Musician.... Singer.... Composer.....Lyricist.... Dramatist....

Gopal Venkataraman is a renowned devotional music composer and singer, and has been performing and composing for the Vidyanjali Orchestra (www.hindutemplerhythms.com) since 1992.  He hails from a family which boasts one of India’s foremost Bharata Natyam Abhinaya exponents, Padmabhushan Smt. Kalanidhi Narayanan, and in fact got his musical training from a young age from his aunt, the late Smt. Vijayalakshmi Sitharaman in Madras. Since then, he has grown to author many devotional songs, including numerous Thillanas in multiple ragams and thalams.  He has scored the lyrics and music in multiple lauguages for dance events and dramas, such as the Hindu Temple Rhythms presentation of “Daksha Yagnam,” “Sita Swayamvara” and “Origins.”

In addition to his vast talent and vision as a Classical artist, he enjoys performing as a singer and musician in numerous creative and film music efforts. Gopal spent the past 10 years as lead singer for the North American Hindi Film Band, Ishara, which has brought Bollywood and related film songs to life on stage across the US for more than 13 years. Gopal recently led a new generation of the Ishara team, with his keyboard artistry and vocal leadership as fresh budding performers Krithika and Raksha teamed up with veteran performers Vidya and Anjali to present a musical fiesta in multiple languages for over 8,000 visitors to Michigan's grand India Fest 2004, sponsored by www.miindia.com.

In addition, his devotion to the musical genius of Ilayaraja breathed energy as he teamed up with Drummer and Visionary Producer, Murali Iyer and Wizard Keyboardist and Musical Futurist, Sridhar Vaidyanathan to pull together their group, Ganavil and present a tribute to the Maestro, with the touring event, Ilayaraagangal in tamil.