The ‘Naatya Padhmam' title was conferred on Vyjayanthimala Bali, noted dancer, at the inauguration of Brahma Gana Sabha's dance festival 2011 here on Saturday. The award carried a citation, a medal with a cash purse of Rs.50,000.
Inaugurating the programme M. Narendra, Chairman and Managing Director, Indian Overseas Bank, said the Bank was celebrating its 75{+t}{+h} anniversary, for which several cultural programmes would be held.
Nalli Kuppusami Chetty, industrialist, said the Brahma Gana Sabha and Parthasarathy Swamy Sabha had been providing opportunities to Bharathanatyam dancers.
S. Kabilan, Chairman, Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC), wanted organisers of music festivals to provide more chances to musicians of north Indian classical streams too.
A. Natarajan, former Director, Doordarshan Kendra, Chennai, said 75 performances would be held during the dance festival in which more than 300 artists were expected to perform.
In her speech, Ms. Bali said Bharathanatyam was a spiritual form. One had to strive hard to achieve perfection.