Top artistes N. Vijay Siva (vocal), A. Kanyakumari (violin) from Chennai, dancer Padmashri Ananda Shankar Jayant, Mandolin U. Srinivas, Pantula Rama and D. Srinivas (veena) will perform during the 41 st annual festival of music and dance of Visakha Music Academy (VMA) at Kalabharati auditorium in the city from November 26 to December 1.
Prestigious award
Announcing this at a media conference on Sunday, VMA chief patron S. Vijaya Kumar said that for the first time the Sangeeta Kalanidhi Nedunuri Krishna Murthy Puraskar was introduced by the VMA and it would be given away to Mr. Vijay Siva, a disciple of D.K. Jayaraman and D.K. Pattammal at the inaugural function. This year, the title ‘Sangeeta Kalasagara' would be conferred on Ms. Kanyakumari and ‘Natya Kalasagara' on Dr. Ananda Shankar Jayant during the festival, which would be inaugurated by Satguru K. Sivananda Murthy, he said.
VMA vice-president S.V. Rangarajan said that the prestigious Bharata Ratna M.S. Subbulakshmi Puraskar would be presented to Dr. Pantula Rama (vocal) from the city while Dr. Dwaram Venkata Swamy Naidu Puraskar would be given away to veteran Neti Sree Rama Sarma.
VMA secretary M.S. Srinivas said that talent and youth festival awards would be given away during the festival, which would be conducted on a grand scale with a budget of Rs.3.5 lakhs.
The programmes have sponsors like Tata, Essar Steel, SBI MVP Branch and Bothra Shipping Services, besides some individuals.
This year, the ‘Artiste of distinction' award would be presented to B.V. Durga Bhavani, prime disciple of Annavarapu Ramaswamy, he said.
Also, a lecture demonstration on ‘Trimurthy Vaibhavam' would be presented by Dr. Radha Bhaskar from Chennai at Visakha Public Library in Dwarakanagar on November 28 at 9.30 a.m.
Mr. Srinivas said that all the programmes at Kalabharati begin at 6 p.m. sharp. Treasurer N. Ramachandran, A.R. Rao, Kondala Rao and others were present.
