Bengaluru: Renowned Karnatak vocalist Vidushi Neela Ramgopal passed away in Bengaluru yesterday morning following age-related ailments. She was 86.

Hailing from Kumbhakonam in Tamil Nadu, Neela Ramgopal had shifted to Bengaluru after her marriage over six decades ago. She learnt music from N.M. Narayanan and T.K. Rangachary in Tamil Nadu. After shifting to Bengaluru, she learnt Kannada and made it a point to sing and teach Kannada kritis to all her students. She widely sang Daasara Padas and had released several albums, including Rama Upasana, Narayana Enniro and Tamizh Inbam. She was fondly called as ‘Neela Maami’ by her students.

She was the recipient of Sangeetha Kalacharya award given by Madras Music Academy, Sangeetha Kalashree award from Karnataka Sangeetha Nritya Academy and Sangeetha Chudamani award from Ramaseva Mandali among many other awards.