OVK Research Center

OVK Research Center (a unit of Ravikiran Foundation of India) is an exclusive research wing created to conduct, support and promote research of the compositions of the divinely inspired genius Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi and share them through concerts, lectures, presentations, productions and courses.

 

To further this goal, a dedicated website, Youtube channel, and mobile app has been created by Vidushi Bhargavi Balasubramanian.

Over the past 2 decades , the OVK Research Center has organised several exclusive thematic festivals around the globe, special online concerts featuring Venkata Kavi's compositions, online solo or ensemble productions, facilitated publications consisting of OVK’s compositions and supported many OVK Aradhanas in USA & India. 

Many artists, passionate scholars, teachers, volunteers & students have contributed towards furthering the endeavours and activities of Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi Research Center. They include:

 

1. Shri Chitravina N Ravikiran (Founder) - a champion of OVK’s compositions who has popularised hundreds of his compositions in his concerts, master classes, workshops & festivals in various parts of the globe. He also authored the critically acclaimed book, OVK - Life & Contributions in 2007 and OVK Saptaratnas and Navavaranams in 2009. 

2. Vidushi Bhargavi Balasubramanian (Co-founder) - Disciple of Shri Ravikiran and the architect of this acclaimed website & first-of-its-kind exclusive mobile app for Venkata Kavi’s compositions who has undertaken many multi-dimensional efforts to popularize, preserve and present the compositions of OVK.

3. Shri Srimushnam Raja Rao (the celebrated percussionist) - Being an ardent rasika of OVK's compositions, Shri Raja Rao has helped collect his compositions from various sources through audio tapes & notations

4. Shri Papanasam Kunjumani Bhagavatar - A senior artist and direct disciple of Shri Needamangalam Krishnamurthy Bhagavatar,  Shri Kunjumani Bhagavatar graciously and passionately shared several rare OVK compositions that have been archived through professional recordings.

5. Shri P K Sundar - A passionate scholar who generously volunteered to share brief meanings for many of the Tamil compositions of OVK that have been published in the site

6. Smt Divya Ramesh (Trustee) - Her behind-the-scenes work and contribution for the OVK site can never be understated. She is the main force behind the systematic cataloging & inputtng of all the OVK compositions available in the website

7. Smt Lalitha -  A resident of Texas, USA and a direct disciple of Needamangalam Krishnamurthy Bhagavatar who benevolently shared the lyrics of several rare OVK compositions that have not been available in mainstream publications

8. Vasundhara Kikkeri & Seetha Chandrasekhar (Dallas, USA) - Diciples of Shri Ravikiran who spent many weeks recording Smt Lalitha’s renditions of rare OVK compositions and making copies of her handwritten lyrics & notations of OVK compositions
9. Vanitha Suresh (Madison, USA) - DIsciple of Shri Ravikiran who has organised multiple festivals across many cities in USA and collaborated with several organisations to conduct aradhanas for OVK
10. Anahita & Apoorva (popular vocalists) - Being disciples of Shri Ravikiran, they have been equally passionate to propogate his compositions through many concerts and productions.  

11. Sathish Kumar (App & web developer) - He is the main resource behind the successful execution and interface of the OVK website & app.