Meet Nivedita Padmanabhan: The First Student of Artium Academy

Quick Summary

Who Is Nivedita Padmanabhan?

Nivedita Padmanabhan is a young Indian singer whose musical journey began in childhood. She is recognised for singing devotional pieces, Hindustani-based compositions, film songs and contemporary covers.

Her musical identity has grown through a combination of formal training, regular music riyaz and exposure to different styles. This has helped her move comfortably between traditional repertoire and modern music.

Nivedita is also associated with Artium Academy as our first student. Her journey reflects how early guidance, consistent practice and encouragement from family and teachers can help a young learner develop confidence and musical expression.

Nivedita Padmanabhan is recognised for her songs “Hanuman Ansh” and “Raam Bhajan Ki Or”. She began learning Hindustani classical music at the age of three, with her parents supporting and managing her musical journey.

The First Student of Artium Academy

Being the first student of Artium Academy is an important part of Nivedita’s story. It places her journey close to the early vision of the platform: making structured music education more accessible through technology and personalised teaching.

Nivedita’s growth as a singer has been shaped by her understanding of pitch, rhythm, breath control and regular practice. Performing from a young age and learning from feedback have also helped her build confidence. Personalised guidance has supported her development by allowing lessons and exercises to match her age, level and musical goals.

The larger lesson from Nivedita’s journey is that a learner’s musical path can begin simply with interest, family support and regular practice and develop gradually over time.

Her Teacher’s View: Pranamita Roy on Nivedita’s Journey

“Nivedita joined Artium in April/May 2021 with me for the Hindustani Classical Basic course. She stays in Mumbai and belongs to a musical family. Her father and Mother both are musicians. Her mother Ananya was a PFM teacher with Artium too and a regular performer too. Her father is the director of Spotify as well as an excellent guitarist who plays in some musical bands too. Both the parents were very sincere about her musical journey and her mom helped her a lot for Artium Superstar season 1 preparation. She qualified through all preliminary rounds and got 2nd prize in the Grand Finale in HC category. They also published a mother-daughter duo in Artium originals. Both of them are learning with Kaushiki Chakraborty ji and regularly connect with me. Nivedita recently sang in a Bollywood movie too. She was a very talented and dedicated girl with hard work in practice and presentation.”

Her Journey to Learn Hindustani Music

Nivedita began learning Hindustani classical music at the age of three. Starting young can help a learner become comfortable with daily listening, vocal exercises and the discipline of repeating musical phrases.

Nivedita’s own repertoire shows how classical learning can support several types of singing. Her training is visible in devotional songs, classical-inspired pieces and film music, while her wider interests include contemporary and international music.

Riyaz, Devotion and Finding Her Voice

In her News18 interview, Nivedita Padmanabhan speaks openly about her training, musical influences and the success of her first solo song. She began learning Hindustani classical music at the age of three and now trains with Kaushiki Chakraborty and Sarti Desikan.

Nivedita Padmanabhan’s story shows the importance of regular riyaz in developing a singer’s unique voice. For Nivedita, riyaz is non-negotiable. Her gurus give her challenging exercises, and she knows she cannot avoid practice if she wants to perform well in class. Although she admits that she does not always enjoy riyaz, she understands that it is necessary for improving her singing.

Nivedita also explains that devotional music is closely connected to her family values. She grew up singing devotional songs, while her parents and grandparents taught her that God lives within us. They also encouraged her to be honest in her work and kind to others. For her, devotional music is therefore more than a genre, it reflects faith, sincerity and compassion.

Alongside her classical and devotional foundation, Nivedita listens to K-pop and global pop. She mentions BTS, Blackpink, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter as artists she enjoys. She is open to singing different kinds of age-appropriate music, showing how her Indian musical training blends with modern global influences.

Nivedita’s first solo song, “Raam Bhajan Ki” from the film Hanuman Ansh, became widely popular through reels and playlists. She describes the recording experience as enjoyable and says the song’s success felt overwhelming but rewarding. She thanks Rani ma’am, Rishi sir and Vishal sir for their opportunity and guidance.

Following the success of “Raam Bhajan Ki”, Nivedita’s parents have been exploring exciting opportunities for her future musical projects. Her journey continues to grow as she considers new possibilities in singing and playback music.

In Conversation With Nivedita

From Childhood Performances to Playback Singing

Nivedita’s musical journey began with simple childhood performances and gradually grew into professional singing. From performing with her parents and at school events to recording devotional and film songs, each stage helped her build confidence, experience and a distinct musical identity.

Early Beginnings

Nivedita has been singing from a very young age at family gatherings, school events and religious programmes. Performing in these supportive settings helped her practise comfortably, gain confidence and develop her love for music.

Her childhood repertoire included both Indian and English songs. Videos shared from her younger years include performances of “Gajanana Shri Ganaraya”, “Aa Chal Ke Tujhe”, “Top of the World” and “All My Loving” by The Beatles.

She also performed “Lavender’s Blue” at a playschool annual concert. The performance description notes that her mother helped her prepare the song and that she practised it with both parents before going on stage.

You can watch these early performances on her YouTube channel. They show how her confidence developed gradually from singing at home and school events to performing for wider audiences.

Playback and Film Music

Nivedita has also sung for films and soundtracks, including “Raam Bhajan Ki Or” from Hanuman Ansh and “Palum Pazhavum – Title Track” from Palum Pazhavum. Her popular songs also include “Judgementall Hai Kya” and “O Maaeri”.

Nivedita’s Growing Popularity

Nivedita’s popularity has grown through recorded releases, digital music platforms, videos and social media. Her songs are available through services including JioSaavn, Apple Music and Amazon Music.

The songs most commonly associated with her include:

1. Raam Bhajan Ki Or

2. Aigiri Nandini

3. Vaishnav Jan To

4. Palum Pazhavum – Title Track

5. Judgementall Hai Kya

6. O Maaeri

O Maaeri” celebrates the deep bond between a mother and her child. What’s special about this song is that Nivedita performed this song along with her mother, Ananya, making it even more personal. Ananya is not only Nivedita’s mother but also her teacher at Artium Academy, making the performance even more meaningful. As the saying goes, “Not only is a child born through the mother, but the mother is also born through the child.”

What Makes Her Voice Stand Out

Nivedita’s voice stands out because she sings across different styles, including devotional, classical-inspired, film and contemporary music. Her clear pronunciation, strong sense of melody and expressive singing add to her versatility. She also explores K-pop and artists such as Ariana Grande.

A Voice Still Finding Its Full Range

Nivedita’s journey is still developing. As a young singer, her voice will naturally change with age, training and experience. This is why vocal growth should be treated as a gradual process rather than a race. Young learners should avoid comparing their voices with adult singers or trying to imitate every sound they hear. A teacher can help them choose suitable keys, songs and exercises.

A supportive learning environment allows students to ask questions and learn from their mistakes. With certified teachers, structured lessons and regular 1:1 feedback, students can develop good practice habits. Artium Academy offers live online music classes with a structured curriculum and guidance from experienced musicians.

What Beginners Can Learn From Her Journey

Nivedita’s story shows that learning music from home becomes easier with regular practice and the right guidance.

• Choose a teacher who understands your age and goals.
• Practise regularly, even for 15 minutes.
• Start with suitable songs and basic exercises.
• Record yourself to track improvement.
• Listen to different versions of a song.
• Perform gradually to build confidence.
• Balance traditional training with your personal music interests.

Parents can help by creating a relaxed practice routine and encouraging effort. Most importantly, learning music should remain enjoyable.

Begin Your Singing Journey With Artium Academy

Like Nivedita, you can begin your musical journey with us. Explore our interactive 1:1 online music classes for kids and learners of all ages, with guidance from certified teachers.

You can also use our music tools and music games to make learning more engaging. Explore our music theory pages to strengthen your basics and understand music more clearly.

Ready to begin? Book your free 1:1 trial class with us and take your first step towards learning music from home.