"Sangeetha Kalanidhi" - the highest award in Carnatic Music
The Music Academy, which is one of the most prestigious institutions in the field of Carnatic Music, is located in Chennai, India.
Since Aug.18, 1928, the academy has endeavoured to provide various avenues to further the advancement of the science and art of Indian music.Annual music conferences are held every December to collect all information regarding music, maintain the library and publish a journal. The conferences at the academy draw many well known musicians, composers and musicologists from all over India and abroad. Thus the east and the west are able to appreciate and understand each other's music.
During the Annual conference, the academy awards a highly accomplished musician/musicologist, with the title "Sangeetha Kalanidhi", which is considered the "Nobel Prize" of Carnatic music.
Here is a glimpse of those great "jewels" who adorn the "crown" of Carnatic music.
List of Sangeetha Kalanidhis
YEAR Sangeetha Kalanidhi
1929 - T. V. Subba Rao, T. S. Sabesha Iyer and M. S. Ramaswamy Iyer
1930 - Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar
1931 - Pazhamaneri Swaminatha Iyer
1932 - Tiger Varadachariar
1933 - K. Ponnayya Pillai
1934 - T. S. Sabesha Iyer
1935 - Mysore K. Vasudevacharya
1936 - Umayalapuram Swaminatha Iyer
1937 - Chidambara Bhagavatar
1938 - Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar
1939 - Musiri Subramania Iyer
1940 - Kallidaikurichi Vedanta Bhagavatar
1941 - Professor Venkataswami Naidu
1942 - Mazhavarayanendal Subbarama Bhagavatar
1943 - Palladam Sanjiva Rao
1944 - T. L. Venkatarama Iyer
1945 - Maharajapuram Vishwanatha Iyer
1946
1947 - Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer
1948 - Kumbakonam Rajamanickam Pillai
1949 - Mudicondan Venkatrama Iyer
1950 - Karur Chinnaswamy Iyer
1951 - Chembai Vaidhyanatha Bhagavatar
1952 - Karaikudi Sambasiva Iyer
1953 - Tirupampuram N. Swaminatha Pillai
1954 - Chittur Subramanya Pillai
1955 - Marungapuri Gopalakrishna Iyer
1956 - Tiruvizhimizhalai Subramanya Pillai
1957 - Mysore T. Chowdiah
1958 - G. N. Balasubramaniam
1959 - Madurai Mani Iyer
1960 - T. K. Jayarama Iyer
1961 - Tiruvidamarudur Veerusami Pillai
1962 - K. Papa Venkataramiah
1963 - Budulur Krishnamurthi Sastrigal
1964 - Alathur Sivasubramanya Iyer
1965 - Alathur srinivasa Iyer
1966 - T. S. Mani Iyer
1967
1968 - M. S. Subbulakshmi
1969 - Madurai Srirangam Iyer
1970 - D. K. Pattammal
1971 - Papanasam Sivan
1972 - Professor P. Sambamoorthy
1973 - T. Balasaraswati
1974 - R. Anantakrishna Sarma
1975
1976 - T. Brinda
1977 - M. L. Vasanthakumari
1978 - M. Balamurali Krishna
1979 - K. S. Narayanaswamy
1980 - T. N. Krishnan
1981 - T. M. Thiyagarajan
1982 - Embar S. Vijayaraghavachariar
1983 - Dr. S. Pinakapani
1984 - Mysore V. Doreswamy Iyengar
1985 - Dr. S. Ramanathan
1986 - Palghat K. V. Narayanaswamy
1987 - B. Rajam Iyer
1988 - Prof.T.Viswanathan
1989 - Maharajapuram V. Santhanam
1990 - D. K. Jayaraman
1991 - Nedunuri Krishnamurthy
1992 - Thanjai K. P. Sivanandam
1993 - Mani Krishnaswami
1994 - T. K. Murthy
1995 - R. K. Srikantan
1996 - Dr. N. Ramani
1997 - M. S. Gopalakrishnan
1998 - Sheik Chinna Moulana
1999 - T.K.Govinda Rao
2000 - R.Vedavalli
2001 - Umayalapuram K.Sivaraman
2002 - Sikkil Sisters (Neela and Kunjumani)*
2003 - T.V.Sankaranarayan
*For the first time in the history of the Music Academy, 2 artistes have
been awarded the title in the same year.
Musicians, not indicated in "red", are no longer with us.
