Krishna Gana Sabha presents its 68th Margazhi mela with awards to singers and dancers

“Sangeetha Choodamani” was awarded to Carnatic singers Ranjani and her sister Gayatri and “Nithya Choodamani” was awarded to Geeta Chandran (extreme left) at a function organized by Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in Chennai on Friday. Above (from left) Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice-Chairman, Apollo Hospitals, Nalli Kuppusamy Chetty, President, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha and Y. Prabhu, General Secretary, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha. | Photo Credit: SR RAGHUNATHAN

Carnatic singers Ranjani and Gayatri and Bharatnatyam star Geeta Chandran were given the Sangeetha Choodamani and Nrithya Choodamani awards out of 68 awards.^th Margazhi mela of Krishna Gana Sabha here on Friday.

Nalli Kuppusami Chetti, president of the sabha said that this award is a milestone in the professional life of musicians. They could sing songs in three languages ​​Gujarati, Marathi and Sanskrit. He said the music season was very exciting because of the corporate sponsors, among whom the Vice Chairman of Apollo Hospitals, Preetha Reddy, stood out.

Ms. Reddy, who presented the artists with awards, praised Mr. Chetty for always supporting arts and culture. Art, be it Bharatnatyam or carnatic music had to keep up with the times, change and change, it can be passed on to younger generations. He said the sponsors are in a fortunate place to be able to contribute to culture. We have put ourselves on the world map as a place of art and culture, he said. Alepey Venkatesan recalls his long association with Ranjani-Gayatri since they were schoolgirls learning the violin.

Geeta Chandra’s cheer dancer, ‘colleague and friend’ Anita Ratnam has spoken about her relationship with Geeta Chandran, comparing her to a Russian Babushka doll. He had a complete knowledge of his art and his art, text and subtitles and text, he said.

Vocalist Gayatri, in her acceptance speech, said that she and her sister were honored to receive the award and recalled that they used to play the violin when they were young. He respected his teachers and parents. Ms. Gayatri said that it was the rasikas who encouraged and motivated them to bring out the best in them.

Ms. Chandran said that Krishna Gana Sabha is the only dance venue in the city and that is why the award is so important. He recalled his relationship with teachers and thanked his parents for their support.

Sabhas should be more involved now that dance organizations have outgrown many workers. There must be many voices that can be seen and heard, he said. Dance pedagogy must be comprehensive as Rukmani Devi Arundale is trying to do. Dance pedagogy should be from the creative lens of multidisciplinary artists. Unless we invest in teaching the arts in school, we will not have an audience that is aware, so that they can be wonderful rasikas who value diversity.