Press Release - 24 July 2011 - Sangeet Natak Akademi

SANGEET NATAK AKADEMINational Academy of Music Dance and Drama( Autonomous body of Ministry of Culture, Government of India)RabindraBhavan, Ferozeshah RoadNew DelhiPress Release(Dated: 24.07.2011)New DelhiThe second Day: SNA’s Festival of Performing Arts - 4 AkademiAwardees showcase their ArtNew Delhi, July 24: The second day of the Festival of Performing Arts, featuring recipients ofthe Sangeet NatakAcademi Awards 2010, being held between 23-31 July in the premises ofSangeet Natak Academi(SNA) here, witnessed six captivating performances by eight notedartistes – Harbhajan Singh Namdhari (Gurbani music), MV Simachala Shastry (Harikathaperformer), Suguna Purushottam (Karnatic music), Nagai R Muralidharan (Karnatic violin) withSrimushnam Rajarao (Mridangam), Mysore Nagmani Srinath (Karnatic vocal), and Ratna Kumarwith S. Rajeshwari (Vocal).Profile of some of these artistes are detailed below:HARBHAJAN SINGH NAMDHARIBorn in 1945 in Kujjar village in Sheikhupura district of western Punjab, which now lies inPakistan, Shri Harbhajan Singh Namdhari received his initial training in Gurbani music from ShriTara Singh who also taught him to play the Dilruba. His talent for singing was nurtured byseveral noted teachers including Shri Hazur Singh Chandrahans, Mahadev Prasad Kathak, andMaharaj Bir Singh. Later, he received guidance in Hindustani instrumental music from UstadAmjad Ali Khan. Among the foremost singers of Gurbani Kirtan, Shri Harbhajan Singh haschannelled his knowledge of classical music form. His repertoire of compositions of thisdevotional music of the Sikhs consists of rare Kirtans and a variety of Dhrupad and Dhamarcompositions. Together with practical music, Shri Namdhari has pursued a career in teachingmusic, and has trained a number of students. He has presented his art in many partsof India, and has also performed in Thailand, Kenya, Canada, the United States, and the UnitedKingdom. Shri Harbhajan Singh Namdhari has received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awar for2010 for his contribution to the Gurbani music of Punjab.M.V. SIMHACHALA SASTRYBorn in 1968 in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, Shri M.V. Simhachala Sastry trained in the traditionalnarrative art of Harikatha under Shri Karur Krishna Dasa, Y. Subramanya Sastri, BurraSivaramakrishna Sarma, and Shrimati G.L.V. Subbamamba. Renowned today as a Harikathaperformer, Shri Simhachala Sastry has contributed significantly to the sustenance anddevelopment of his art. His performance is distinguished by imaginative treatment of thecontent, whether in prose, poetry, or lyrical form. A topranking artist of All India Radio, he hasparticipated in many prestigious music festivals in India. For his service to the art of Harikatha,

Shri M.V. Simhachala Sastry has been conferred the Ugadi Visista Puraskaram by theGovernment of Andhra Pradesh. He has received the title of Harikatha Chudamani from the AdiBhatta Narayana Dasa Aradhana Sangham (2006), and has been declared AsthanaVidwan by the Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham (2008). Shri M.V. Simhachala Sastry has receivedthe Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2010 for his contribution to the art of Harikatha.SUGUNA PURUSHOTHAMANBorn in 1941 in Chennai, Shrimati Suguna Purushothaman received her training in Carnaticmusic from towering musicians in the field, including Shri Musiri Subramanya Iyer, SemmangudiSrinivasa Iyer, Thinniam Venkatarama Iyer, and P. Sambamoorti. She also acquired proficiencyin playing the Veena, which she learnt under Shrimati Lalithabai Shamanna. Over the years,Shrimati Purushothaman has won recognition as a leading Carnatic vocalist. A distinctivefeature of her music is the dwitalaavadhana — the art of keeping two different talas, producingintricate rhythm. She is a top-ranking artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan, and hasproduced many recordings of her own compositions — Padavarnams, Kritis, thematicRagamalikas, Javalis and Thillanas. She has authored a book of her compositions titledKadambam. She has performed widely in India and abroad. For her achievement as a singerand composer, Shrimati Suguna Purushothaman has been honoured by various institutions.These distinctions include the title of Sangeetha Choodamani conferred by the Sri Krishna GanaSabha (2004), the Vaggeyakara award of The Music Academy, Chennai (2006), and theKalaimamani title bestowed by the Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Manram (2006). ShrimatiSuguna Purushothaman has received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2010 for hercontribution to Carnatic vocal music.NAGAI R MURALIDHARANBorn in 1958 in Chennai, ShriNagai R. Muralidharan received his initial training in music fromhis mother Shrimati R. Komalavalli. He was further groomed in his art by Shri R.S.Gopalakrishnan. Over the years Shri Muralidharan has won recognition as a distinguishedviolinist, and has been commended for the clarity of his notes and their rich tonal quality. Hischaste, traditionalstyle has won him a following among discerning listeners. A regular performeron All India Radio and Doordarshan, he is proficient both as a solo performer and accompanist.He has performed widely, and has accompanied many eminent vocalists in the field of Carnaticmusic. Shri Muralidharan has been honoured for his work with several titles and awardsconferred by the state and by sabhas. These honours include the Raja Annamalai ChettiarMemorial Award given by the Music Academy, Chennai (1993), the Kalaimamani title bestowedby the Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Manram (2003), the Maharajapuram Santhanam MemorialAward (2009), and the Vani Kala Sudhakara title conferred by the Sri Thyaga Brahma GanaSabha, Chennai (2010). Shri Nagai R. Muralidharan has received the Sangeet Natak AkademiAward for 2010 for his contribution to Carnatic instrumental music. Maharani’s Arts College inMysore and Bangalore for a period of thirty years. She has created over two hundredcompositions in various ragas in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Sanskrit. A top-ranking artist of AllIndia Radio and Doordarshan, she has produced a number of theme-based musical features forthe media. She has several publications to her credit. Shrimati Srinath has been honoured forher varied work in music by the state and autonomous organizations. Among these honours arethe title of Gana Saraswati presented by the Vice-President of India, the Rajyotsava Prashasthiaward conferred by the Government of Karnataka, the Chowdiah National Award given by theAcademy of Music, Bangalore, and the Sambhrama Puraskar bestowed by the Government ofKarnataka. Shrimati Mysore Nagamani Srinath has received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardfor 2010 for her contribution to Carnatic vocal music.

MYSORE NAGAMANI SRINATHBorn in 1950 in Jodi Gubbi, Karnataka, Shrimati Mysore Nagamani Srinath received her trainingin Carnatic vocal music from a number of teachers including Gowri Kuppuswamy, V.Ramaratnam, R. Vishweshwaran, K.V. Narayanaswamy, D.K. Jayaraman, T. Brinda, M.L.Vasantha Kumari, and Ramnad Krishnan. Gifted with a mellifluous voice, Shrimati NagamaniSrinath has carved out a niche for herself in the field of Carnatic music. She has performedwidely, and has served as Head of the Department of Music at the Maharani’s Arts College inMysore and Bangalore for a period of thirty years. She has created over two hundredcompositions in various ragas in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Sanskrit. A top-ranking artist of AllIndia Radio and Doordarshan, she has produced a number of theme-based musical features forthe media. She has several publications to her credit. Shrimati Srinath has been honoured forher varied work in music by the state and autonomous organizations. Among these honours arethe title of Gana Saraswati presented by the Vice-President of India, the Rajyotsava Prashasthiaward conferred by the Government of Karnataka, the Chowdiah National Award given by theAcademy of Music, Bangalore, and the Sambhrama Puraskar bestowed by the Government ofKarnataka. Shrimati Mysore Nagamani Srinath has received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardfor 2010 for her contribution to Carnatic vocal music.RATHNA KUMARBorn in 1946 in Chennai, Shrimati Rathna Kumar trained initially in Bharatanatyamunder Shrimati K.J. Sarasa, and in Kuchipudi dance under gurus Vedantam JagannathaSharma and Vempati Peda Satyam. Later, at the Kuchipudi Art Academy of Chennai, she wasgroomed as a dancer by Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam. She obtained her Master’s degree inEnglish literature from Stella Maris College, Chennai. She has also learnt German, French andHindi. Shrimati Rathna Kumar emerged as a front-ranking Kuchipudi dancer in the 1970s. Shesubsequently moved to theUnited States, where she established well-known dance institutionsincluding the Anjali Centre for Performing Arts (1975) and the Sanskriti Society for IndianPerforming Arts (1994) at Houston. She has served as Dance Instructor at Rice University,USA, since 2002. As a performer-teacher and as a member of several organizations andcommittees, she has contributed significantly to the practice and promotion of India’s dance artin the USA. Shrimati Rathna Kumar has published two books on the basic techniques ofBharatanatyam and Kuchipudi titled Adavu and Kuchipudi Adavu Sammu. She has beenfeatured in an award-winning documentary film produced by Helenvision of Paris under thedirection of Claude Lamorisse. She has participated in international conferences on artsincluding the First World Conference on Art Education organized by Unesco in Lisbon, and laterin Hong Kong where she was the key speaker. Shrimati Rathna Kumar has received a numberof awards forher work from institutions in India and the United States. These include an awardfor her Contribution to Arts in Education from the Texas Institute for Arts in Education and anhonorary doctorate in performing arts from the Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad.Shrimati Rathna Kumar has received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2010 for hercontribution to Kuchipudi dance.Looking relieved and happy, Mr. Jayant Kastuar, Secretary, SNA, said, “A major source ofIndia’s music tradition is Bhakti. Devotional music has played an important role in developmentof our evolved sense of music together with Sahitya. The Gurbani Keertan by Shri Namdhariand Harikatha by Shri Sastry were two outstanding representations of our heritage of music.Carnatic music is one of the major classic traditions of the world and the masters whoperformed today gave a virtual treat to the students and followers of the tradition. ShrimatiRatna Kumar who has rendered a commendable service to the promotion and propagation of

India’s dance tradition in the USA for about 30 years, excelled in her Abhinay of the Kuchipudirecital.”Starting from yesterday, the festival in total showcases 26 performances by exceptional artiststill 31 st July. All the artists are recipients of Sangeet Nakak Academi Fellowships and awards forthis year. The fellowships and awards were conferred on 22 nd July 2011 by the Vice-Presidentof India.The Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna Sadasyata) and Akademi Award (Akademi Puraskar)are the most coveted national honours conferred on performing artists, gurus and scholars ofthe performing arts. These honours are decided by the Akademi’s General Council, the apexbody consisting of eminent artists, scholars and nominees of the Government of India and ofdifferent States and Union Territories of the country.Sangeet Natak Akademi, established by the Government of India on 31 May 1952, is theNational Academy of Music, Dance and Drama. It was created as the apex body in the countryfor the task of preservation and promotion of the performing art traditions of India. One of theimportant activities of the Akademi has been to give recognition and honours to artists in orderto set standards in the performing arts, and to restore art and the artists to their rightful place inindependent India.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Media Coordinator: 08447839797