Bangalore: Eighteen eminent artistes like dancer Choodamani Nandagopal and Sugama (light music) singer Sohan Kumari who assisted Pandeshwar Kalinga Rao in his AIR days, are made fellows of Karnataka Sangeetha Natya Academy in state. The award of honour carries Rs.10,000 with citation.
R.K Padmanabha (Carnatic singer), Nirupama Rajendra (dancer) and M.S.Kamath and 13 other are given annual awards with Rs.5,000 as honourarium, certificate of Title “Karnataka Kalashree” and citation.
The award presentations are billed to take place in Ravindra Kala Kshetra in Bangalore on April next.
Annu Devadiga of Dharmasthala comes in for temple music (Nadaswara), as one of the Southern Music artistes in the list of awardees.
M.S.Kamath of Mangalore has been picked up for light music. Outside Karnataka, Kalmadi Sadashiva Acharya from Kasaragod is named for Carnatic music services.