Renowned Carnatic vocalist R.K. Srikantan was honoured with the prestigious ‘Nada Vidya Bharati’ award by the Visakha Music and Dance Academy at the inaugural session of its seven-day annual festival of music and dance here on Saturday evening.
Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development D. Purandeswari conferred the award and felicitated the nonagenarian musician.
The award carried Rs. 1 lakh in cash and a ‘swarna kamalam’, besides a memento and citation.
The ‘swarna kamalam’ was presented by CMD of Vaibhav Group Grandhi Mallika Manoj.
Addressing the gathering, Ms. Purandeswari said the flair for musical expression had to be inherited, for any art comes from within rather than from instruction. She lauded the contribution of Mr. Srikantan that enriched the realm of Carnatic classical music over decades.
Former Chairman Bar Council of India D.V. Subba Rao spoke.
Chairman of Vijay Nirman Private Ltd and philanthropist S. Vijaya Kumar felicitated Mr. Srikantan on behalf of a string of cultural associations in the city.
Responding to the felicitations, Mr. Srikantan profusely thanked the organisers and complimented their efforts in promotion of art and culture in the city.
Founder-president of the academy C.S.N. Raju, who presided, underscored the role and activities of the academy and Kalabharati on the cultural front of the city.
