In March 2025, eminent Carnatic violinist R K Shriramkumar has been conferred with the Sangita Kalanidhi award for 2025 by Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN) based The Music Academy, Madras to recognizes his exceptional contributions to Carnatic music.
- His selection aligns with the 250th birth anniversary of Muthuswami Dikshitar in 2025.
- In addition to the Sangita Kalanidhi award, The Music Academy has announced other honors for 2025. The awards will be presented at The Music Academy’s events, including the 99th Annual Conference and Concerts, and the 19th Annual Dance Festival scheduled from December 15, 2025, to January 1, 2026.
About Sangeetha Kalanidhi Award:
The Music Academy has been presenting the Sangeetha Kalanidhi Award in collaboration with Chennai based Indian English-language daily newspaper The Hindu since 2005.
- The Sangita Kalanidhi award includes a cash prize of Rs.1 lakh, in addition to a gold medal and a birudu patra (citation).
About R K Shriramkumar:
i.R K Shriramkumar belongs to the renowned Rudrapatnam lineage and received training under his grandfather R K Venkatarama Sastry and Sangita Kalanidhi D K Jayaraman.
ii.He has accompanied stalwarts such as Semmangudi R Srinivasa Iyer, T Brinda, M S Subbulakshmi, and D K Pattammal.
iii.He is well-known for his scholarship on the Sangita Sampradaya Pradarsini authored by Subbarama Dikshitar, which documents compositions of Muthuswami Dikshitar.
Other Awards:
Sangita Kala Acharya Awards 2025:
i.The Sangita Kala Acharya award was presented to a distinguished Carnatic singer and former A-Top graded artist at All India Radio (AIR) Shyamala Venkateswaran for her contributions as a teacher and performer.
ii.A leading Tavil artist R Govindarajan, Thanjavur was also honoured with the Sangita Kala Acharya award. He has been active in the field for over 60 years, known for his performances in Nadaswaram-Tavil ensembles.
TTK Award:
The TTK Award((in memory of TT Krishnamachari), which honours contributions to music and research, was awarded to:
i.Madambi Subramania Namboothiri, a Kathakali music expert and former faculty at Kerala Kalamandalam, Kerala.
ii.JT Jeyaraaj Krishnan and Jaysri Jeyaraaj Krishnan, noted Veena artists, for their efforts in preserving and promoting traditional Carnatic veena music.
Musicologist Awards & Nritya Kalanidhi Award:
i.The Musicologist Award was given to Professor C.A. Sridhara, University College of Fine Arts for Women, for his scholarly work on Carnatic music.
ii.The Nritya Kalanidhi Award was conferred to Urmila Satyanarayana, recognizing her significant contribution to the field of dance.
The Music Academy (Madras) Awards 2025:
| Award Category | Name of the awardee |
|---|---|
| Sangita Kalanidhi award | R K Shriramkumar |
| Sangita Kala Acharya award | Shyamala Venkateswaran |
| TTK Award | Madambi Subramania Namboothiri JT Jeyaraaj Krishnan and Jaysri Jeyaraaj Krishnan |
| The Musicologist Award | Professor C.A. Sridhara |
| Nritya Kalanidhi Award | Urmila Satyanarayana |
About The Music Academy:
The Music Academy is one of India’s most respected institutions for Carnatic music and classical dance.
President – N. Murali
Headquarters – Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN)
Established – 1928
