The diamond jubilee year arts festival of The Mylapore Fine Arts Club began here on Sunday with the club conferring the title of ‘Sangeetha Kala Nipuna' on Carnatic vocalist Aruna Sairam and 'Nrithya Kala Nipuna' on Bharatanatyam teacher Adyar K. Lakshman.
A souvenir to mark the 60 years of the Club was released and prizes were distributed to winners of music competitions at the function.
G. Srinivasan, chairman and managing director, United India Insurance Co. Ltd., who conferred the titles, said that Mylapore and Carnatic music were inseparable. Mylapore was also known for patronising fine arts. Sri Kapali temple's annual festivals offered plenty of opportunities for artistes to perform.
He said that the Club had played a pivotal role in promoting traditional art and culture for 60 years. Stating that many young and upcoming artists were not getting enough opportunities, he called upon the sabhas to encourage them. The recipients of the titles received a birudhu pathra , gold medal, shawl and cash prize each.
Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, president of the Club, said that Ms. Sairam was known for her clear diction, mastery over tala, resonating voice and wide repertoire. “She has become the benchmark for Carnatic music,” he said.
Mr. Lakshman, he said, was a student of Kalakshetra and apart from being a Bharatanatyam guru, was a vocalist, and had mastery over the mridangam and the art of nattuvangam.
Akhila Srinivasan, Managing Director, Shriram Life Insurance and Vidwan Seetharama Sharma offered felicitations. Past and present office bearers of the Club, P.S. Padmanabhan, R. Swaminathan and D.N. Varadharajan spoke.
