Urmila Varma Biography 
Urmila Varma is a popular vocalist and singer from Kerala. In the career spanning to about 15 years, she has already done many concerts and recorded a few songs. She has also won numerous competitions in singing. In 2007, the album Vismaya - Emotional Expressions was released where she associated with Sreevalsan J Menon and Bini Panicker. She has also received first place in the FOKANA music competition in the female category, held in the same year. She is an 'A' Grade Artist at All India Radio.
Urmila was born in a musical family in Thrissur. A few days later her birth, the family moved to Thiruvalla. Her father, Krishna Kumar Varma is also a singer and he noticed the singing talent of Urmila at a younger age. He used to sing songs for her and encouraged her talent. Thus Urmila started singing at the age of 3. Urmila spent her entire childhood in Thiruvalla. Her schooling was completed from Govt. UPGS School, and later, the M.G.M. High School. Urmila participated in the Kerala State School Youth Festival when she was 10 years old. She participated in youth festivals since she passed her school studies. She contested in classical music, light music and Kathakali music at the youth festivals winning many prizes. When she was 14, Urmila was honored as the "Kala Thilakam" (best overall female contestant) at the District Youth Festival.
After school, she joined College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram. She took music as main subject. During this time, she learnt Carnatic music from Dr. K. Omanakutty. During this time too, she participated in youth festivals. She has been a vocalist at Malayalam Doordarshan, where she sang for the program series, "Aalapanam". In 1994, she stood first at a music competition conducted by All India Radio at Thiruvananthapuram which fetched her 'B Grade' Artist at AIR. In 1994 at Vijayawada, Urmila finished at the second position behind Sunitha Upadrashta at AIR competition.
Published: N/A
Updated: February 19, 2014
