E. Gayathri a few. She was also one of the many well-known artistes of India to have been featured in composer A.R. Rahman's "Jana Gana Mana" anthem track. E. Gayathri Echampati Gayathri (née Gayathri Vasantha Shoba), popularly known as "Veena Gayathri"(born 9 November 1959) is a veena exponent of the traditional Carnatic music. She was appointed by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J.Jayalalithaa, as the first Vice Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University in November, 2013. E.Gayathri received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2002, the "Kalaimamani" award from Dr. M. G. R. on behalf of the Government
Jana Gana Mana enthralled the college students while Margaret Cousins, then vice-principal of the college (also an expert in European music and wife of Irish poet James Cousins), both requested Tagore to create an English translation of the song and set down the musical notation to the national anthem, which is followed only when the song is sung in the original slow rendition style. Tagore translated the work into English while at the college on 28 February 1919, titled . The college adopted Tagore's translation of the song as their prayer song which is sung till today. Before it was the national anthem