Date:10/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/10/stories/2008111058630200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer Memorial Award presented

Staff Reporter

— Photo: M.Vedhan

Tribute: N.V.Subramanyam, additional General Manager, Southern Railway presents the award to veena vidhushi Kalpagam Swaminathan at a function in Chennai on Saturday. (From left) Maharajapuram Srinivasan, Trustee of Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer Trust and Va.Ve.Su., Tamil scholar are in the picture.

CHENNAI: The Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer Trust on Saturday presented the Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer Memorial Award to veena vidhushi Kalpagam Swaminathan at the inauguration of the Trust’s 23rd anniversary celebrations.

The award, presented by N.V.Subramanyam, Additional General Manager, Southern Railway, comprises a cash award of Rs.10,000, a gold medal, a shawl and a memento.

The citation said that the honour was being conferred in recognition of Kalpagam Swaminathan’s immense contribution to music.

The 86-year-old veena player had her training in music from various stalwarts, including Musiri Subramaniya Iyer, T.L.Venkatrama Iyer and Budalur Krishnamurthy Shastri.

She achieved great distinction in playing the veena in the Thanjavur style.

The Senior Musician award was presented to Chathalapathi Soundararaja Bagavathar, Rukmani Ramani and Thanjavur Ramamurthy.

The Youth Excellence award was presented to vocalist S.Mahathi, mridangist Arunprakash and violinist Sethalai Sivakumar. The Senior Musician awards and the Youth Excellence awards carry cash prizes of Rs.2,000 and a memento each.

Va.Ve.Su. Tamil scholar and Y.Prabhu, honorary general secretary, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha felicitated the musicians.

Maharajapuram Srinivasan, trustee, who complimented the award winners, said that the Trust, which was started in 1985, had been giving awards to musicians since its inception.