Prof. Ramarathnam has received deep appreciation and recognition from the legends of his time for his scholarship in all aspects of music. He alo received a number of titles. He was conferred the title of

• Sangeetha Kala Rathna when he presided over the 14th Musician Conference under the auspices of the Bangalore Gayana Samaja in 1983.
• Karnataka Kalathilaka from Karnataka State Sangeetha Nritya Academy  in 1986,
• Sangeetha Rathna Mysore T. Chowdiah Centenary Memorial Award for his long lasting contribution to music, in 1994-95 from Vice President of India K.R. Narayanan,
•  Swaramuthy V.N. Rao Memorial Award from Governer of Karnataka in 2004
• Sangeetha Kala Sagaram from Bhairavi Fine Arts, Cleveland OH in 2005

 as well as recognition from many leading sabhas.