Jayanthi Kumaresh

Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh (born 1969, Bengaluru) is an internationally acclaimed Carnatic veena virtuoso and the 2026 Sangita Kalanidhi laureate — the most prestigious award in Carnatic music — bestowed by the Music Academy, Chennai. Born into a sixth-generation family of musicians, she began training at three under her mother Vidushi Lalgudi R. Rajalakshmi and spent twenty-two years in the gurukul of Vidushi Padmavathy Ananthagopalan, later refining her artistry under the legendary veena virtuoso Dr. S. Balachander. She holds a doctorate from the University of Mysore on styles and techniques of the Saraswati veena, founded the Indian National Orchestra, and created the acclaimed web series Cup O' Carnatic. She is married to violinist Kumaresh Rajagopalan of the Ganesh-Kumaresh duo.