Music Academy Announced Sangita Kalanidhi And Many Other Awards

Various Artists Winners Awarded For The Years 2020, 2021 And 2022

The Music Academy announced Sangita Kalanidhi award and other awards to various artists winners for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022. The physical festival could not be conducted in the last two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Academy also announced that it plans to hold physical events during the Annual Music Festival this year – they were held in virtual mode in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Winners of The Sangita Kalanidhi Award

The Sangita Kalanidhi will be given to renowned vocalist Neyveli R Santanagopalan (2020), eminent mridangam artiste Tiruvarur Bhakthavathsalam (2021) and violin duo Lalgudi GJR Krishnan and Vijayalakshmi (2022). For the Sangita Kala Acharya awards, the Academy has chosen nagaswaram exponent Kivalur N G Ganesan (2020), vocalist, musicologist, and guru Dr Ritha Rajan (2021), and vainika and musicologist Dr R S Jayalakshmi (2022). Noted vocalist and guru Thamarakkad Govindan Namboodri, versatile percussionist Nemani Somayajulu, and noted Kanjra artiste A V Anand will receive the T T K Award for 2020, 2021, and 2022 respectively. The Musicologist award for 2020 will be presented to Dr V Premalatha for the year 2020. Nritya Kalanidhi will be presented to Bharatanatyam exponents Rama Vaidyanathan (2020) and Narthaki Nataraj (2021). Bragha Bessell, widely respected Abhinaya expert and guru, will be awarded the prize for 2022. The academy also announced other awards including Nritya Kalanidhi, for three recipients, in the dance segment. 

What Is Sangita Kalanidhi?

Sangita Kalanidhi is considered the highest accolade in the field of Carnatic music; it came into existence in 1942. Prior to that, a senior musician/expert was invited to preside over the Music Academy’s annual conference. In 1942, it was decided that the musician so invited would be conferred the title of Sangita Kalanidhi, the award comprising a gold medal and a birudu patra (citation). Since 2005, the Sangita Kalanidhi has also received the MS Subbulakshmi Award instituted by The Hindu. This cash award has seen its value enhanced by generous contributions by P Vijaykumar Reddy, son of past Vice-President P Obul Reddy. 

                             From 1929 to 1941, the award did not exist. The idea of the award was conceived in 1942 by the then Academy President KV Krishnaswami Iyer; and on 1 January 1943, all musicians who had presided over the annual conferences between 1929 and 1942 were awarded the title. This included 3 past presidents - Palamarneri Swaminatha Iyer (1931), Umayalpuram Swaminatha Iyer (1936) and Mangudi Chidambara Bhagavatar (1937) - who were no more, but no posthumous award has been presented since then. 

What Is The Madras Music Academy?

The Madras Music Academy is considered the highest award in the field of Carnatic music. The award comprises a gold medal and a birudu Patra (citation). A Music Conference held along with the All India Congress Session in Madras (1927) laid the idea of a Madras Music Academy. Thus it is an offshoot of INC madras session, 1927. It plays an important role in promoting Carnatic Music. 

What Is Carnatic Music?

Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with southern India including the states Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, but also practised in Sri Lanka. It is one of two main genres of Indian classical music that evolved from ancient Hindu traditions, the other genre being Hindustani music, which emerged as a distinct form because of Persian and Islamic influences in northern India.

                                  Chief Minister M K Stalin will present the awards while inaugurating the 96th Annual Conference and Concerts on December 15, 2022, N Murali, President, Music Academy, said in a press release. He also added that the annual Music Festival will be held from December 15, 2022, to January 1, 2023, and the Dance Festival from January 3 to January 9, 2023.