The State government’s Swathi music award for 2015 has gone to Carnatic musician Mangad K. Natesan.
The award carries a purse of Rs.1 lakh, sculpture, and citation. Mr. Natesan is a disciple of Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer and C.S. Krishna Iyer. He retired as top-grade artiste from All India Radio in 1991. He received the Sangeeth Natak Akademi award in 1989 and the Madhura Sadguru Sangeetha Sabha’s Sangeethakala Praveena award in 1995. Playback singer G. Venugopal, Gayathri, Lathika, and Jyotsna are his disciples. The Swathi award, instituted by the government in memory of Swathi Thirunal, is presented to accomplished Indian musicians.
