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December 2007

Bharatanatyam gurus Shanta and Dhananjayan were honored with the KALA VIPANCHEE title by Dr. Balamuralikrishna for the Vipanchee Trust founded by Saraswathi Sundaresan at a function on December 31, 2007 at R K Swamy Hall, Chennai. Young musicians and Bharatanatyam artistes were also honored.
Aishwariya Jagdeesh, disciple of Anuradha Venkatakrishna, Nrithyalaya, Neyveli has been awarded 2nd prize at the VDS Arts Academy recently in a function organised by the Academy in December 2007 in the presence of well known dignitaries at Chennai. Cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth gave away the prize.
In commemoration of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Indian Fine Arts Society and in recognition of its service for promoting Carnatic music and promoting skill and talent of young artists not only in Tamil Nadu but also from other corners of the country, a special postal cover was released in Chennai on December 25, 2007 by K Ramachandirann, Postmaster-General, Chennai City Region.
From different parts of the country, 33 eminent people were selected on December 18, 2007 for the Sangeet Natak Akademi awards 2007 for their contribution in their respective fields. The eight artistes in the field of dance are Sucheta Bhide Chapekar for Bharatanatyam, Geetanjali Lal for Kathak, Sadanam Krishnan Kutty for Kathakali, Yeleswarapu Nageswara Sarma for Kuchipudi, Ranjana Gauhar for Odissi, Ganakanta Dutta Barbayan for Sattriya, Deepti Omchery Bhalla for Mohiniattam and K Sivan Namboodri for other major traditions of dance/dance theatre (Koodiyattam). The award carries a cash of Rs. 50,000 and a citation. Sharafat Abdul Majid, sitar maker of Maharashtra receives the Award for Making of Musical Instruments. Mukund Lath gets the Akademi Award 2007 for his contribution to scholarship in Performing Arts.

Sadhana Paranji was awarded the title of NATYA KALA VIPANCHEE by Vipanchee Fine Arts on December 16, 2007 at R K Swamy Hall in Chennai by Dr. Balamurali Krishna.
Bharatantayam / Kuchipudi exponent Sailaja was honored with VANI KALA SUDHAKARA by Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha at its 28th Iasi Iyal and Nataka Vizha (Dec 9 – 31) at Chennai.
The Bharat Kalachar awards were conferred on December 14, 2007, on the inaugural day of its 21st Marghazi Mahotsav. VISWA KALA BHARATHI - Chitra Visweswaran; ACHARYA KALA BHARATHI – Adyar K Lakshman and Ranganayaki Jayaraman; KALA SEVA BHARATHI – Narthaki Nataraj and Anandavalli Satchidanandan (Australia); YUVA KALA BHARATHI – Karthik Ramanathan (mridangam for natyam), Shijith Nambiar (Bharatanatyam, nattuvangam and choreography), Arthi Mohan, Mythili Prakash and Anita Sivaraman (Bharatanatyam).
Mudhra honored dancer, researcher, choreographer, writer and teacher Padma Subrahmanyam with an AWARD OF EXCELLENCE, on Dec 8, 2007 at its 13th Fine Arts Festival, at Infosys Hall, Chennai.
Shridhar, the well known dancer of the illustrious dance couple Anuradha & Shridhar of Khechara Academy of Bharatanatyam (Bangalore), has been conferred with the KARNATAKA KALASRI AWARD by the Karnataka Sangita Nritya Academy for the year 2007-08. This award is in recognition of his meritorious service in the field of Bharatanatyam. Other awardees include Bharatanatyam dancers Tulsi Ramachandra (Mysore), Nirmala Manjunath (Bangalore), KG Kulkarni (Haveri), Kumudhini Rao (Dharwad) and Narayana Dhage (Raichur). The award includes cash prize of Rs.5000, a shawl and citation. The function took place at Mysore in the first week of December 2007.
On December 6, 2007, the Nungambakkam Cultural Academy Trust celebrated its 38th anniversary at Rama Rao Kala Mantap. NRITHYA KALA SIROMANI went to Bharatanatyam dancer Divya Kasturi. The award carries a gold medallion, a purse of Rs.10,000 and a citation.

Odissi exponent Madhumita Raut was honoured with the prestigious KALA GAURAV SAMMAN 2007 for her contribution to the world of Odissi, on December 5, 2007 in New Delhi. The award was given by Bhishma Narayan Singh, the former Governor and Union Minister, in a function organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Swatantra Lekhak Manch.
Bharatanatyam dancer Shobana received the NRITYA CHOODAMANI and guru Rhadha received ACHARYA CHOODAMANI from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha during the Art and Dance festival on December 5, 2007.

Delhi based guru Syed Sallauddin Pasha received the NATIONAL AWARD from President of India on December 3, 2007 at Vigyan Bhavan, Delhi, for outstanding contribution to the field of Disability through Dance and Theatre.
Brahma Gana Sabha conferred GAANA PADHMAM on Sudha Raghunathan and NATYA PADHMAM on Bharatanatyam guru Kamala at the inauguration of their festival on December 3, 2007, at Sivagami Pethachi Auditorium, Chennai.
Dance and yoga exponent D Keshava from Switzerland received the GLOBAL MAN AWARD 2007 on Dec 1, 2007 at Kuwait American School Auditorium. The World Kannada Cultural Convention 2007 on Nov 30 and Dec 1, 2007 was organized by Kannada Koota in Kuwait and Hrudayavahini newspaper from Mangalore.

This convention exhibits art, culture and heritage of Karnataka, and honor luminaries for their lifetime achievement and contribution to society. D Keshava, Director of Kalasri, the Dance and Yoga School in Switzerland has been propagating Indian art and culture in Europe for the past three decades.
Kartik Fine Arts conferred NADANAMAMANI on Bharatantayam dancer Lavanya Ananth and NATYA CHUDAR on Bharatanatyam dancer Aishwarya Narayanaswamy. R Krishnaswami, Secretary Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai, received the KARTIK RAJAGOPAL GOLDEN JUBILEE AWARD on Dec 1, 2007.
November 2007
For the first time, a male dancer, Bharatanatyam guru CV Chandrasekhar was conferred the NARTAKA CASH AWARD instituted in memory of the late Jayalakshmi Sadagopan, founder of Natyanjali Trust, on November 25, 2007 at the Nartaka Festival in Chennai.
Center for Music & Dance (CMD - Estd 1984), Thiruvanathapuram, conferred the 2007 KALANIDHI AWARD on Bharatanaatyam gurus The Dhananjayans (Dhananjayan & Shanta) on November 25, 2007. It was presented by Maharaja Marthanda Varma Thamburan.

This is the fifth year since CMD started honoring artistes above 60 years and His Highness Marthanda Varma being the Chairperson honors the awardees every year with the title, insignia and purse.
During Natyanjali Festival 2007 organised by Lalit Kala Academy, at Kala Mandir, Mysore, Odissi dancer Ileana Citaristi received LALITHAKALA RATNA award on November 25, 2007.
Dancer / choreographer Ananda Shankar Jayant received the prestigious award and title of NRITYA KALASAGARA from Kalasagaram, Secunderabad, on 23rd November 2007, during Kalasagaram's 40th Annual Cultural Festival of Music, Dance and Drama.

Musicians Kadiri Gopalnath and A Kanyakumari were conferred with the title of SANGEETHA KALASAGARA on the same day.
KERALA KALAMANDALAM AWARDS for 2006, fellowship and endowments were presented at the Vallathol day celebrations held at Kalamandalam on November 9, 2007.
Panchavadyam artist Cherpulassery Sivan has been selected for the KALAMANDALAM FELLOWSHIP for 2006.
Kathakali melam artist Kalamandalam Kesavan - KALARATNAM AWARD for art, L S Rajagopal - Kalaratnam award for research. The fellowship and Kalaratnam awards consist of a purse of Rs.10,000, citation and a silk shawl.
The endowments: A S N Nambeeshan (Mukundaraja Smruthi), Mani Damodhara Chakyar (V S Sharma endowment) and Kalamandalam Harinarayanan (Bhagavathar Kunjukutty Thamburan endowment).
Other awards: Sadanam Balakrishnan (Kathakali vesham), Kalanilayam Unnikrishnan (Kathakali music), Painkulam Rama Chakyar Jr. (Koodiyattom), Kalamandalam Leelamma (Dance), Kalamandalam Devaki (Thullal), Mankombu Sivasankara Pillai and C K Sivarama Pillai (Book) and K Ramachandran (Documentary). The award carries Rs. 5000 each.
Sruti Foundation honored three eminent artists on November 4, 2007 at Dakshinamurthy Auditorium, Chennai. Mrinalini Sarabhai, dancer and founder-director, Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, received the E. KRISHNA IYER MEDAL, Carnatic musician Bombay S Ramachandran, the VELLORE GOPALACHARIAR AWARD, and R Rajagopal, Secretary, Kartik Fine Arts, the M VENKATAKRISHNAN MEMORIAL AWARD.

On November 3, 2007 at the 20th anniversary celebrations of Abhai (Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India) at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai, the NATYA KALANIDHI AWARD was conferred on dance guru Mrinalini Sarabhai. The new Abhai directory was released.
October 2007

Cincinnati based dancer and choreographer Padma Chebrolu, Artistic Director of Cultural Centre of India, received the prestigious DADA RAFIKI 2007 award on October 26, 2007 at the Frederick Douglass School in Cincinnati, for her contributions to dance education and her outreach to the youth in the community.

The Art & Cultural Trust of India honored guru Mayadhar Raut and Pandit Tejpal Singh with the BHARAT SANGEET RATNA AWARD on October 23, 2007 at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Mayadhar Raut, the doyen of Odissi dance, is one of the main persons responsible for granting Odissi the status of classical dance in 1950s. He has popularized Odissi all over the world. Pt Tejpal Singh of the famous duo "Singh Bandhu" has done great service to the world of music. His contribution to Indian classical music is commendable.

The 2ND DEVDASI NATIONAL AWARD was conferred on Kuchipudi dancer Yamini Reddy, daughter and disciple of dancer couple Raja and Radha Reddy on the concluding evening of the Devdasi Festival at Bhubaneswar on October 17, 2007.

On October 5, 2007, Sohini Ray received the ELAINE WEISSMAN LOS ANGELES TREASURES AWARD from the California Traditional Music Society and the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles, for her contribution in preserving and presenting the traditional dance forms of Manipur. Sohini's institution Manipuri Dance Visions is based in Los Angeles.
Anbu Paalam, a Tamil magazine edited and published by the great Gandhian and philanthropist P Kalyanasundaram, celebrated the magazine's 55th anniversary and 60th Indian independence day on October 2, 2007 (Gandhi Jayanthi day) at Kalaivanar Arangam, Chennai. Recognizing the 40 years of service to art and culture, Bharatakalanjali as an institution was awarded the Plaque of honor and gold medal on this special occasion. This is an award and honor bestowed on the Dhananjayans 'for their service to the art world through the institution they founded in 1968'.
Contact: Kalyanasundaram (044) -24402524 / anbupaalam@gmail.com
September 2007
Arts Orange County fosters the growth and development of the arts and arts education throughout the Orange County and State of California. The best of the county's creative community were celebrated at the annual banquet on September 26, 2007 at the Balboa Bay Club, Newport Beach, CA. Lifetime achievement awards were presented to artistic and community visionaries who have made a key difference in the growth and development of the arts in the county.
This year, Ramya Harishankar, artistic director and choreographer for the Irvine based Arpana Dance Company (ADC) received the HELENE MODJESKA CULTURAL LEGACY ARTIST AWARD which "recognizes an individual artist who, through the practice of his or her discipline, has brought attention to Orange County through the regional, national or international recognition of his/her work; has trained or inspired others in the art form; or through a lifetime of involvement in his/her discipline, has enhanced the quality of life in Orange County."
The book SANKARA MENON: PURUSHOTHAMAN, edited by G Sundari and published by his grand niece Indu Jayanthi Varma for The People for Children Foundation, was released on September 22, 2007 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai, to commemorate K Sankara Menon's birth centenary. The book was released by Justice S Mohan and the first copy received by Dr. Meena Muthiah.

The book contains scholarly articles by Sankara Menon and tributes paid to him by his past students at the Besant Theosophical High School, Kalakshetra and friends.

Sankara Menon (1907 – 1995) was Joint Director of Kalakshetra and after Rukmini Devi passed away in 1986, he became the Director.
The GURU KELUCHARAN MOHAPATRA AWARD for 2007 went to Guru Harekrishna Behera (dance), Brundaban Patra (theatre), Dr. Nilamadhaba Panigrahi (music) and Dr. Sarat Chandra Pujari (cinema) on September 16, 2007 at Bhubaneshwar. The award was instituted in 1995 by Ratikant Mohapatra, Director of Srjan, to confer recognition on an individual involved in the process of contribution towards the vast areas of performing arts.
Metro DC Dance Awards presented DC-based dance organization, Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company (Dakshina), a prestigious FOUNDER'S AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN DANCE. The award was presented by Cheles Rhynes, the Founding Director of Metro DC Dance Awards at the Kennedy Center on September 10, 2007. This award recognizes an individual or organization for breaking new ground, exploring new processes or approaches, or using existing knowledge in a new way during the Awards year.

The award recognizes Dakshina's path breaking work in creating a vision of dance that is multi-cultural, collaborative, and socially relevant. Dakshina, an emerging dance company that performs and presents Indian dance forms, such as Bharatanatyam, and Modern dance, mirroring the multiple identities of second generation South Asians, is the first South Asian led Dance Company in the area to win an award by Metro DC Dance Awards and also has the honor of selecting the recipient for 2008.

Bharatanatyam dancer Narthaki Nataraj, a direct disciple of guru Kittappa Pillai, and Bharatanatyam guru Padma Sampath Kumar received the KALAIMAMANI award from the Govt of Tamilnadu for their service to the field of Bharatanatyam on Sept 1, 2007.

Sinduri received Tamil Nadu State Govt's prestigious award KALAIMAMANI from the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M Karunanidhi and the Governor of Tamil Nadu, Barnala on Sept 1, 2007 in Chennai.
August 2007

Sigamani Narthaki Nataraj Mythili Prakash
On Aug 7, 2007, the inaugural day of Narada Gana Sabha's Natyarangam dance festival titled Kshetra Bharatham, Bharatanatyam dance guru Indira Rajan was honored. This year's PROF. SUDHARANI RAGHUPATHY AWARD went to violinist N Sigamani, the OBUL REDDY AWARD to Narthaki Nataraj and the VASANTHALAKSHMI NARASIMHACHARI AWARD to Mythili Prakash.

Photo: Jean-Pierre Maurin
The HELPMANN AWARDS ceremony for 2007 was held at The Capitol Theatre in Sydney on August 6, 2007. Akram Khan and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui won Best Choreography in a Ballet or Dance Work for 'zero degrees,' and Akram Khan won Best Male Dancer in a Ballet or Dance Work in 'zero degrees.'
June 2007
The Embassy of India in Japan nominated Gyanendra Bajpai for the prestigious GINO-SHO, an award given for the best dancing techniques and skills for the year 2007, based on his performance in the World Dance Festival on March 3, 2007 at Akasaka Kumin Centre, Tokyo. The awards were declared on the Internet. Bajpai received the award at City Club, Tokyo on June 25, 2007.
Gunagrahi presents title GUNA NIDHI to Vasundhara Doraswamy (Bharatanatyam and Yoga exponent), Shubha Dhananjay (Bharatanatyam), Nandini Mehtha and Murali Mohan (Kathak duo), Chethana Radhakrishna, Mandya (dancer-choreographer), Prof. K Ramamurthy Rao (art critic, dancer and organiser) at the Dashamaanotsava on June 14, 2007 at Ravindra Kalakshetra, Bangalore.
May 2007
On May 22, 2007 dancer/choreographer Ananya Chatterjea received 21 LEADERS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY AWARD at a Gala Benefit Dinner Honoring 21 Leaders for 21st Century 2007 by Women's e-news at NYC.
G Venu, director of Natanakairali, Research and Performance Centre and eminent exponent of Kutiyattam, won the prestigious NIKKEI ASIA PRIZE for 2007, instituted by Japan's leading publishing house Nikkei Inc. on May 22, 2007. Venu was chosen for the honour in view of his contribution for preservation and revitalization of Kutiyattam, which has a 2000-year history and recognized by UNESCO as a "oral and intangible human heritage" a few years back. The award carries three million Japanese yen (about Rs.10.30 lakh) and a citation.
April 2007
The ANGARAG LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2007 was conferred by Angarag, Guru Deba Prasad Dance Institute, on Odissi pioneer Minati Mishra, art commentator Shanta Serbjeet Singh and dance scholar Sunil Kothari on April 23, 2007 at Triveni Theatre, New Delhi.
Amrita Das won the GURU KELUCHARAN MOHAPATRA YUVA PRATIBHA SAMMAN on April 18, 2007 during the Deesha dance festival in Kolkata mounted as a tribute to Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra.
Bala Devi Chandrashekar, Artistic Director and Professor of Practice, SPNAPA Performing Arts, Princeton, NJ, was presented the NRITHYA SEVA MANI AWARD at the Cleveland Aradhana 2007 for this year on April 7, 2007. The title is bestowed upon an individual who has made a lasting contribution to classical dance through propagation and demonstration in the United States and Canada. Honorees are cultural festival organizers, tour sponsors and patrons who have actively supported the performance and learning of Classical dance in their communities.

Saint Morari Bapu is a great saint and philosopher. At his ashram in Mahua, Gujarat, he invites reputed artists to share their art with the thousands who gather at the time of Hanuman Jayanti (celebrating the manifestation of divine power of Hanuman).

The newly constituted honour titled HANUMANT SAMMAN was conferred on Odissi dancer Sonal Mansingh at the celebrations held on April 2, 2007 at Mahua.
March 2007

At the India International Center, on March 29, 2007, Bharatanatyam dancer Mythili Prakash received SANSKRITI NITHYA PURASKAR award in recognition for "her outstanding contribution at a young age to the Indian Classical Dance" from Sanatan Sangeet Sanskriti, New Delhi.
Toronto-based international dance artist Hari Krishnan is the 2007 Arts recipient of Canada's prestigious NEW PIONEERS AWARD. He was feted at the 15th Annual NPA gala ceremony on 22 March at the Metro Convention Centre in Toronto, Canada.
Instituted by Skills for Change and sponsored by a host of corporates and public bodies, the NPAs honour outstanding contributions made to Canada in the fields of arts, community service, youth, entrepreneurship, and science and technology, by persons born outside of the country. Hari Krishnan has been recognized by the NPA for his "pivotal role in the development of South Asian dance in Canada".

Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival, a multicultural festival of women solo artists honored Malathi Iyengar, artistic director of Rangoli Foundation, with a RAINBOW AWARD for outstanding contribution in arts programming and performance to traditional and non traditional audiences, on March 19, 2007 at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, Hollywood. Iyengar's choreographic works, productions, and viewership have often included members from multicultural and mainstream communities.
On the occasion of International Women's Day (8 March), the Institute for Gender Justice in collaboration with the National Legal Services Authority, Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, conferred the SOCIAL JUSTICE MEDAL on dancer Geeta Chandran for her emphasis on gender issues and human rights through classical dance. At a special ceremony organized by the National Legal Services Authority at Ashok Theatre, Chanakyapuri, Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan Chief Justice of India, presented the award to the dancer.
In celebration of International Women's Day, the Probus Club of Chennai and the Russian Centre of Science and Cultured honored Bharatanatyam dancer Roja Kannan with excellence award for her contribution to Bharatanatyam on March 7, 2007.
February 2007

Ananda Shankar Jayant receives the Padma Shri Award from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the President of India.
Pt Birju Maharaj was honored with the SIDDHENDRA YOGI PURASKAR award for his lifetime contribution in the promotion of performing arts (Kathak), by Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam and Guru Vedantam Satyanarayana Sharma on February 26, 2007 at the week long Siddhendra Yogi Mahotsav 2007 held at Kuchipudi village.
The following is the list of the recipients of SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS announced on Feb 2, 2007.
Akademi Ratna (Fellows): Gursharan Singh; Kishan Maharaj; Rohini Bhate; T N Krishnan
Akademi Awards for 2006 for dance: S Narmada (Bharatanatyam), Munna Lal Shukla (Kathak), Kottakkal Chandrasekharan (Kathakali), Surendranath Jena (Odissi), Pasumarty Rattiah (Kuchipudi), Kalamandalam Vimala Menon (Mohiniattam), Garima Hazarika (Creative & experimental dance), Kalamandalam Gangadharan (Music for Kathakali)
Theatre: Gautam Bhattacharya - Allied Theatre Arts (Lighting).
Overall contributions to performing Arts: Rekha Jain.

At a function in the capital in Feb 2007, Mrs. Gursharan Kaur, wife of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, felicitated Bharatanatyam dancer Geeta Chandran on being awarded the Padma Shri this year. Photo: Sarabjit Dhillon.
To identify and encourage outstanding young talents in diverse fields of performing arts, Sangeet Natak Akademi, has introduced awards for young artistes across the country from the year 2006 onwards in the name of shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan, who passed away last year. The list of awardees for the USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN YUVA PURASKAR for 2006 was finalized on Feb 15, 2007. The list includes 33 artistes below the age of 35 in the field of music, dance, theatre and puppetry. The award carries a purse money of Rs.25, 000.
Dance
Sheejith Krishna, Chennai – Bharatanatyam, Prashant Shah, Ahmedabad – Kathak, Kalamandalam Pradeep, Kerala – Kathakali, Sijagurumayum Nimita Devi, Imphal - Manipuri dance, Bijayini Satpathi, Bangalore – Odissi, Leena Mohanty, Bhubaneshwar – Odissi, Vedantam Venkata Nagachalapathri Rao, Andhra Pradesh – Kuchipudi, Kalamandalam Vinod, Thiruvananthapuram - Music for Kathakali
Contribution/scholarship in performing arts
Sangeeta Iswaran, Chennai.
Traditional/folk/tribal music/dance/theatre and puppetry
Kapila Venu, Kerala – Koodiyattam, Brundaban Jena, Orissa - Prahlad Natak, Thokchom Imomacha Singh, Imphal - Thang-ta, Liopkmar Tzudir, Nagaland - Choral music, Rampada Jamatia, Tripura - tribal dance and music, Arusam Madhusudan, Hyderabad – Mime, Anurupa Roy, Delhi – Puppetry
Music
Sandipan Samajpati, Kolkata - Hindustani vocal, Manjiri Asnare Kelkar, Nasik - Hindustani vocal, Niladri Kumar, Mumbai - Hindustani instrumental (sitar), Abhay Rustum Sopori, Delhi - Hindustani instrumental (santoor), T M Krishna, Chennai - Carnatic vocal, Sreerama Prasad Malladi and Ravi Kumar Malladi - Carnatic vocal,
N Manoj siva, Chennai - Carnatic instrumental (mridangam), S Karthick, Chennai - Carnatic instrumental (ghatam)
Theatre
Rajinder Rozy, Mohali – Acting, Ramanjit Kaur, Chandigarh – Acting, Amir Aslam Bhat, Kashmir – Direction, Rabijita Gogoi, Guwahati – Direction, Manaswini Lata Ravindra, Mumbai – Playwriting, Asif Ali Haider Khan, Mumbai – Playwriting, Zuleikha Chaudhuri, New Delhi - Allied theatre arts (lighting), Malatesha Badigera, Bangalore - Allied theatre arts (stage craft).

January 2007
The list of Padma awardees for 2007 were announced on January 26, 2007.
The PADMA BHUSHAN awardees include Kerala playwright Kavalam Narayan Panikkar, vocalists Rajan and Sajan Misra, Kathakali maestro Raman Kutty Nair.

Contemporary dancer/choreographer Astad Deboo, Bharatanatyam guru PR Thilagam from Tamilnadu, Bharatanatyam dancer Geeta Chandran, Bharatanatyam/Kuchipudi dancer Ananda Shankar Jayant are among those named for the PADMA SHRI awards.
The first ever PODHIGAI AWARDS instituted by Doordarshan Kendra, Chennai, were given away on January 19, 2007 to 12 achievers in various fields including DK Pattammal (Carnatic music), Purisai Thambiran family (promotion of folk arts), Na Muthuswamy of Koothu-P-Pattarai (theater) and KJ Sarasa (Bharatanatyam).
Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha conferred the title of NATYA KALASARATHY on Bharatanatyam guru Udipi Lakshminarayanan on January 16, 2007 at Chennai.
Instituted by the Sidhardha Kala Peetham of Vijayawada, the annual SIDHARDHA AWARDS for eminent personalities in the field of Arts were presented to Kuchipudi exponent Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma and veteran story writer Kalipatnam Ramarao.
At the 2007 January dance festival organized by Kartik Fine Arts at Chennai, Bharatanatyam dancer Ashwini Viswanathan was conferred the NATYA CHUDAR ORIENTAL SOLUTION AWARD on January 5, 2007. The award carries a citation, a medallion and cash prize of Rs.5000.
The Indian Fine Arts Society conferred NATYA KALASIKHAMANI on Bharatanatyam dancer Revathi Ramachandran on January 4, 2007 at Chennai.
Lions club of South Madras and Rasa (A charitable organization) jointly honoured gurus V P Dhananjayan and Shanta Dhananjayan with ARTISTES OF THE YEAR award on 4th January 2007 at Bapalal Bhavan, Chennai.
The Music Academy, Chennai conferred the SANGITA KALA ACHARYA (two awards) on C V Chandrasekhar and Seetha Rajan on January 1, 2007 at the conclusion of the annual conference.

Highlights - Yearwise listing