Aswathi Thirunal Rama Varma Biography

Aswathi Thirunal Rama Varma (born 13 August 1968 in Thiruvananthapuram) is a celebrated Carnatic vocalist, Saraswati veena virtuoso, musicologist, writer, and orator. A direct descendant of the Travancore royal family and Maharaja Swathi Thirunal, he began his formal vocal training in 1982 under Prof. Vechoor Harihara Subramania Iyer and later under Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna. He made his public debut in 1990 at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall and has since performed globally, including venues like the Madras Music Academy and Rashtrapati Bhavan, garnering over 20 million views on his concert videos.

Varma is also known for founding and organizing the annual Swathi Sangeethotsavam in Thiruvananthapuram, held each January to honor the legacy of Swathi Thirunal. His workshops and music classes are in high demand, both in India and abroad, and he teaches occasionally at the Rotterdam Conservatory of Music.

In 2025, Varma expanded his creative repertoire by making his acting debut in the Kannada musical entertainer Meghalu Cheppina Prema Katha, starring opposite Naresh Agastya. This marked a new chapter in his multifaceted artistic journey, bridging classical music with cinematic storytelling.