Sangeet Natak Academy awards 2009

Pictures from the Sangeet Natak Academy awards 2009 presented by President Pratibha Patil at a function in New Delhi recently. Photos: Shanker Chakravarty, PTI.

Carnatic Violinist Lalgudi G. Jayaraman receives the Akademi Fellowship from President Pratibha Patil. Currently the Akademi has only 32 Fellows. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

President Pratibha Patil presents the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2009 to Bharatanatyam exponent Yamini Krishnamurti who has been granted the Akademi Fellowship. The Fellowship of the Akademi is the most prestigious and rare honour, which is restricted to a very limited number at a given time. Photo: PTI

The President bestows the honour of 'Akademi Ratna' on veteran theatre actor Dr. Shreeram Lagoo. Akademi President Leela Samson is also seen in the picture. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Hindustani Vocalist Kishori Amonkar is granted the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship by President Pratibha Patil. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Minister of State Shri Prithviraj Chavan, representing the Prime Minister, looks on as the President confers the Akademi Ratna on Scholar of Sanskrit Theatre, Kamalesh Datta Tripathi. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Dancer Kala Krishnas is all smiles as the Presidents awards him the Akademi Puraskar for his contribution to Andhranatyam. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

President Pratibha Patil presents Akademi Puraskar to Leela Venkataraman (second from right) for overall contribution to performing arts. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

For his contribution to Folk Theatre Vithal Gangaram Umap is conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2009. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

President Pratibha Patil awards Kuchipudi dancer Vyjayanthi Kashi with the ‘Akademi Puraskar’. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Mandolin exponent U. Shrinivas is bestowed the Sangeet Natak Akademi award by the President. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

President Pratibha Patil grants the Akademi award to Mridangam maestro Dandamudi Sumathi Rama Mohan Rao. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

For his contribution to Theyyam U.K. Kunjirama Panicker is granted the Akademi Puraskar. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Odissi dancer Geeta Mahalik receives the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award from the President of India. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

President Pratibha Patil presents the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2009 for Nata Sankirtana to L Ibohalmacha Singh. Photo: PTI

Carnatic vocalist Parassala B. Ponnammal is bestowed the Akademi Award by the President. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

President Pratibha Patil confers the Akademi puraskar on Mime artiste Moinul Haque. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Ananda Shankar Jayant is granted the Akademi Puraskar for her contribution to Bharatanatyam. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Kathakali exponent Kalamandalam Rajan is conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2009 by the President. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Actor Neeta Mohindra is presented the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

For his contribution to Folk Music and Dance Musafir Ram Bhardwaj receives the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2009 from the President. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

President Pratibha Patil confers the Akademi Puraskar on Folk singer Shanti Jain. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

President Pratibha Patil presents the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award to Shehnai maestro Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan. Photo: PTI

President Pratibha Patil bestows the Akademi Puraskar to actor Sudha Shivpuri. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

President Pratibha Patil presents the Akademi award to Hindustani vocalist Abdul Rashid Khan. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty