Five eminent artistes were given the Vani Kala Sudhakara awards at a function organised by Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha on Saturday.
The sabha’s 38th Isai, Iyal, Nataka Vizha and 29th Bharatham festival were inaugurated by Kanchi Acharya Jayendra Saraswati and Vijayendra Saraswati at Vani Mahal. The renovated P. Obul Reddy hall was also inaugurated on the occasion.
The awards were given to O.S. Thyagarajan (vocal); S. Varadarajan (violin); Vaidhyanathan (mridangam); C.V. Chandrasekar (Bharatanatyam) and V. Sreevathson (theatre).
Cash component
The award has a cash component of ₹1 lakh.
Vaidehi Thyagarajan, wife of O.S. Thyagarajan, received the award on his behalf. Lauding the recipients, V. Shankar, president of Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and Sangeetha Sabha, Mumbai, said fine arts were initially patronised by the royalty and, later, sabhas grew in strength to provide platforms for musicians.
While C.B.L. Narasimha Rao, general manager, Syndicate Bank, requested the audience to use the opportunity to enjoy the nuances of art forms, S.K. Mohapatra, general manager, Union Bank of India, felicitated the organisation. Prizes were given to winners of various music competitions organised by the Sabha.
