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   Kathak dancer SHILA MEHTA received the PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR PROMOTING HOLISTIC WELLBEING from Prof Ramesh Mehta OBE on November 28, 2025 in London at the annual conference of the British Association for Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO), UK. The award recognizes her contribution to holistic wellbeing and for acknowledging the invaluable role that the arts play in strengthening cultural connection and enriching community health. Such benefits are often under recognized. Shila’s presentation at the conference was on ‘Indian classical dance forms as preventive medicine.’  Bharatanatyam and Kathak dancer LEKHA WOOD based in New York, has been selected as 2026 YOUNGARTS AWARD WINNER with distinction in dance. Bestowed annually since 1981, the YoungArts Award is the only award in the nation that recognizes exceptional young talent across artistic disciplines and affirms their pursuit of a professional life in the arts. YoungArts award winners, all ages 15-18 or in grades 10-12, are selected through a highly competitive application reviewed by panels of esteemed artists in a rigorous adjudication process. Wood will receive a monetary award of $250 in recognition of her achievement.  On December 17, 2025 The Mylapore Fine Arts Club presents NRITHYA KALA NIPUNA to Bharatanatyam Guru KANCHANA JANARDHANAN (Jathiswaraalaya) at the club premises, Chennai. Kartik Fine Arts awards for Dec 2025. NADANAMAMANI: Deepti Ravichandran, NRITYA PEROLI: The Dhananjayans, NATYA CHUDAR: Sanjana Ramesh, NRITHYAJOTHI AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: B. Aishwarya, NATYA KALAI ARASI: Bala Devi Chandrasekhar, MADURAI KRISHNAN MEMORIAL AWARD: V Balagurunathan, PROMISING ARTISTES IN BHARATANATYAM: Sahana Selvaganesh, NRM Abhirami, Saipriya Senthilvasan, and Smrithi Vishwanath.  On December 11, 2025 Brahma Gana Sabha honors MEENAKSHI CHITHARANJAN with NAATYA PADHMAM at RR Sabha Hall, Chennai. On December 14, 2025 the following awards will be given by Bharat Kalachar at the YGP auditorium, Chennai. ACHARYA KALA BHARATHI: Padmini Krishnamurthy, VIMARSHAKA KALA BHARATHI: S Janaki, KALA SEVA BHARATHI: Mohan Das Delemound YUVA KALA BHARATHI: Riha Giri, Shruthe Raammohan, Sundaresan Pandurangan (BN) ALL ROUNDER AWARD: Kameswari Ganesan SPECIAL COMMEMORATION AWARD: Sowjanya Suresh, Sathvikaa Shankar BALA KALA BHARATHI: Akshath Piram (BN), PS Sudarsan (Bhagavata Mela)  On December 17, 2025 NIRUPAMA and TD RAJENDRA receive the NATYA KALASIKHAMANI award from The Indian Fine Arts Society at Ethiraja Kalyana Nilayam, Chennai.  On December 21, 2025 Tamil Isai Sangam confers ISAI PERARINGNAR award on CHITRA VISWESWARAN at Rajah Annamalai Mandram, Chennai.  The ODISHA SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI AWARDS were given on November 26, 2025 at a special ceremony held at the convention centre of Lok Seva Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, for 2023, 2024 & 2025. - KABI SAMRAT UPENDRA BHANJA AWARD, the highest award of the OSNA. 2023: Dr. Pranab Kishore Pattnaik (Sugam Sangeet), Badal Sikdar (Director, Mogal Tamasa Folk Theatre) 2024: Mohini Mohan Pattnaik (Flute), Sudhakar Sahoo (Odissi dance guru) 2025: Ghanashyam Panda (Odissi music guru), Bhagabat Pradhan (Sabda Nrutya guru) - ODISHA SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI AWARD 2023: Prafulla Kumar Mangaraj (mardala), Roopashree Mohapatra (Mahari), Pagala Swain (Odissi dance) 2024: Bijay Kumar Barik (mardala), Srinibas Satapathy and Niranjan Biswal (string instrument), Sujata Mohapatra and Pushpita Mishra (Odissi dance) 2025: Muktolata Pal (Odissi dance) -KABICHANDRA KALICHARAN YUVA PRATIBHA SAMMAN 2023: Rupak Kumar Parida (Odissi vocal), Pravat Kumar Swain and Rajashree Praharaj (Odissi dance) 2024: Gouri Shankar Dash (Odissi dance), Sibacharan Mahanta (Chhau dance), Debiprasad Mishra (light design) 2025: Arupa Gayatri Panda (Odissi dance), Sachin Dhada and Sushant Behera (Chhau dance), Prajnadatta Sahu (stage craft), Chitrasen Swain (Gotipua dance)  On December 7, 2025 Ambalam presents NRITYA ARADHAKA award to Guru USHA DATAR and KALA ARADHAKA award to lighting designer T RAVI at Seva Sadan, Bangalore.  VYJAYANTHIMALA BALI received the DR. MRS YGP AWARD FOR CULTURAL EXCELLENCE from actor Rajnikanth at the birth centenary celebration of educationist Dr. YGP organized by Bharat Kalachar on 26th November 2025 at Chennai.  KAMALA LAKSHMINARAYANAN (June 16, 1934 - November 24, 2025) Bharatanatyam dance icon Kamala Lakshminarayanan (Kumari Kamala as she was popularly known) passed away in the early hours of November 24, 2025 (IST) in California at her son’s place. She was 91. A torch bearer of the Vazhuvoor bani, Kumari Kamala was the reason why many started learning Bharatanatyam. She brought respect to the profession and inspired a whole generation of women to make their daughters Bharatanatyam dancers. As child prodigy Baby Kamala of the 1940s, she initially featured as a child dancer, reigning supreme for over three decades, making a mark in the cinema field also. Kamala worked in over 100 Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi films in her career. She was trained in Kathak by Lacchu Maharaj and in Hindustani music by Shankar Rao Vyas. She later trained in Bharatanatyam under Kattumannarkoil Muthukumara Pillai and Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai. Discovered by filmmaker A.N. Kalyanasundaram Iyer, she made her debut in ‘Valibhar Sangham’ (1938). She made her Hindi debut with ‘Jailor’ (1938). Her breakthrough Tamil film was ‘Jagathalapratapan’ (1944). This was followed by some enchanting Bharatanatyam performances in AVM's ‘Nam Iruvar’ (1947). Kamala’s Snake Dance in ‘Nagalokam’ is a favorite with rasikas. Besides, she played major roles in Tamil movies like ‘Lavanya,’ ‘Konjum Salangai’ and ‘Sivaganga Seemai’ and in Hindi films like ‘Jwala.’ Between the 1940s and the 1970s, Kamala represented India at cultural festivals and events all over the world and performed before many world dignitaries, including Queen Elizabeth on the occasion of her coronation in 1953 and former U.S. President Eisenhower during his state visit to India in 1959. Her first marriage to cartoonist R.K. Laxman ended in 1960. She later married T.V. Lakshminarayanan, an officer in the US army. In 1980, she moved to New York and started a classical dance school Shri Bharatha Kamalalaya. She received the Kalaimamani (1967), Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1968), Padma Bhushan (1970), E. Krishna Iyer Medal from the Sruti Foundation (1989), Platinum Jubilee Award from Madras Music Academy (2002) and National Heritage Fellowship (2010). Kamala’s disciples Ramaa Bharadvaj and her twin sister Uma Suresh pay tribute to her. Ramaa Bharadvaj has created ‘Fragrant Petals: Kamala’s Natyam’ as a 3 episode video series. “Kamala-akka was not merely a dancer; she was a living flame of the classical arts - radiant, precise, and timeless. She was the light that shaped my artistic journey and the presence that taught me what grace truly means. In every movement, she carried the weight of tradition and the lightness of divine grace. As a guru, she imparted discipline with love and artistry with devotion. She was fierce in her standards, yet tender in her guidance. She saw potential where we saw hesitation; she demanded excellence not out of rigidity, but because she wanted us to touch the divine the way she did. Every correction, every gesture, every story she shared was a blessing, something sacred. Ramaa and I were blessed and fortunate enough to learn under her gaze,” writes Uma Suresh, on Facebook. Kamala is survived by her sisters Vasanthi and Rhadha. More info: The dance architect - S Janaki From child prodigy to cultural icon, Kamala brought Bharatanatyam to the modern stage and inspired generations of dancers. Kumari Kamala: The dancer who made Bharatanatyam respectable - K Balakumar In the history of Bharatanatyam, there should be a distinct 'before' and 'after' to the arrival of 'Kumari' Kamala.  On December 4, 2025 the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (Bengaluru) presents the BHAVAN-ZAKIA SHANKAR PATHAK AWARD 2024 to writer and artiste V.R. DEVIKA at BVB, Bangalore.  ILEANA CITARISTI will be conferred with the NAATYACHARYA MAHANKALI NATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD 2025 by Sri Kirthi Nrithya Akademi at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad on December 5, 2025.  Mumbai based Guru LATA RAMAN, a teacher in Bharatanatyam and classical Carnatic music, has been selected for the ‘Honorary Doctorate Award (Honoris Causa) in Performing Arts’ from Trinity Crest University, Panther Creek, Texas, USA in recognition of her exceptional accomplishments, contributions, influence and service to the performing arts sector. She will receive the certificate on December 19, 2025.  RATIKANT MOHAPATRA was honoured with the BHARATI NRUTYA SAMMAN 2025 by Bharati Nrutya Mandir of Bharat Charan Giri, on November 14, 2025 at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar.  ILEANA CITARISTI will be conferred with the CHOUSATHI YOGINI NRUTYA PRATIVA SAMMAN 2025 at the 20th International Chausathi Yogini Mahotsav organised by Nrutya Prativa at Chausathi Temple on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, on December 25, 2025.  VR DEVIKA received the LAADLI MEDIA AND ADVERTISING AWARD FOR GENDER SENSITIVITY 2025 for her book ‘Rukmini Devi Arundale: Arts Revivalist and Institution Builder’ on November 19, 2025 presented by Population First, a non-governmental organisation, at the 15th edition of the Laadli awards at NCPA, Mumbai.  On November 14, 2025 JAI GOVINDA (Mandala Arts and Culture) received the DRISHTI AWARD for innovation in the Arts at the 11th Drishti gala event in Vancouver also honouring other awardees in the fields of medicine, philanthropy, sports, entrepreneurship etc. It was the first time that the Drishti Award was given to dance.  Movement therapist and dance educator TRIPURA KASHYAP received the INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR WORKING WOMEN 2025 at Marwah Studios, Film City, Noida on 22nd November 2025. The award was presented by International Chamber of Media and Entertainment Industry in association with International Women's Film Forum.  SUMITRA CHARATRAM AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT was awarded to the late theatre legend RATAN THIYAM on November 17, 2025 at New Delhi. He was alive when the trustees of SBKK decided to confer the award on him. His son Thawai Thiyam received the award on his behalf.  GURU SANKAR BEHERA, eminent Odissi guru of Mumbai, who had laid the foundation of Odissi in Mumbai along with Guru Natabar Moharana, was honoured with the ODISSI INTERNATIONAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD during the Mumbai Odissi Utsav on October 26, 2025.  Dhwani conferred the inaugural DHWANI SHAMBHU SMRITI PURASKAR 2025 award for Dance posthumously upon late Kathak Guru DR. MAYA RAO, and for Music, upon USTAD AMJAD ALI KHAN, on November 18, 2025 at Delhi. It is profound that this honour carries the name of the doyen of the Lucknow Ghana of Kathak- Guru Shambhu Maharaj - whose artistry and spirit deeply inspired Dr. Maya Rao's own journey in Kathak. Madhu Nataraj received the award for her mother.  Trinity Arts Festival conferred the following awards for Bharatanatyam on November 19, 2025 at Chennai. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Bragha Bessell, Anitha Guha, Prof S Raghuraman BHARATA KALA RATNA: Meenakshi Srinivasan NATYA KALA MANI: Shankar Kandasamy KALA RATNA: CK Vasudevan NATYA RATNA: Bhavya Kumaran, Meenakshi Grama, Sandhya Easwar, Seethalakshmi Vijay, Shobit Ramesh, Shruti Priya Vignesh, Smriti Sudhakar, Vidhya Venugopal NATYA CHEMMAL: Anagha GS, Vaishnavi Srinivasan, Vedya Spurthi Konda, Vivek Ramanan  The 9TH NRUTYA NAIBEDYA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD was conferred on Odissi's best known violin exponent RAMESH CHANDRA DAS on September 30, 2025 at Bhubaneswar.  Kathak dancer SONIA SABRI was honoured with an MBE for her Services to Dance as part of His Majesty's King Charles III birthday honours. She received her medal on 12 November 2025 at Windsor Castle. Sonia is the first British born south Asian woman who has trained in her craft fully in the UK, to receive this recognition.  This year's KERALA KALAMANDALAM KATHAKALI MUSIC AWARD will be awarded to KALAMANDALAM MOHANAKRISHNAN, a distinguished musician and torchbearer of the Kathakali music tradition. Over the years, Kalamandalam Mohanakrishnan has performed alongside some of the greatest Kathakali maestros, earning recognition as one of the rare artistes who has upheld and enriched the musical tradition of Kathakali on national and international stages.  On the occasion of the centenary year celebrations of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Bharathanjali Trust's Anitha Guha and trustees presented the following awards on November 23, 2025 at RR Sabha hall, Chennai. SATHYA KALA SEVA RATNA SUNDARAM: Shobana Ramesh, SATHYA KALPANA PRAVEENA NARTHAKA SUNDARAM: Sathyanarayana Raju, SATHYA NATANA RATNA SUNDARAM: Shankar Kandasamy, SATHYA KALA RATNA SUNDARAM: Sailaja, SATHYA KALA NIPUNA SUNDARAM: Dr. Veena Murthy Vijay, SATHYA KALA POSHAKA RATNA SUNDARAM: DS Rajagopalan, SATHYA VIDWATH RATNA SUNDARAM: Dr. K Sivaloganathan, SATHYA SISHYA SUNDARAM: Sukanya Ravindhar, SATHYA NRITYA PROTHSAHANA SUNDARAM: Mahalakshmi Ashwin, SATHYA KALA PRAVEENA SUNDARAM: Sai Kripa Prasanna, SATHYA NRITYA LASYA SUNDARAM: Aishwarya Balasubramanian, SATHYA NARTHAKI VIMARSHAKA SUNDARAM: Lalitha Venkat, SATHYA KALA SADHAKA RATNA SUNDARAM: VV Ramani, SATHYA MELATTUR BHAGAVATHA MRIDANGA SIMHA SUNDARAM: Nagai P Sriram, SATHYA LAYA JALA SUNDARAM: Dr. GV Guru Bharadwaj, SATHYA GANA SUNADHA SUNDARAM: Vishwesh Swaminadhan, SATHYA UDHYAMI SUNDARAM: RS Kumar, SATHYA KALA PROTHSAHAKA SUNDARAM: KR Ramakrishnan  On November 2, 2025 Guru Gopal Panda Odishi Academy presented GURU SINGHARI SAMMAN to Bankim Sethi (Odissi vocalist & composer), BHAGAWATI SMRUTI SAMMAN to Aruna Mohanty (Odissi dancer/guru), GURU GOPAL PANDA YUVA PRATIVA SAMMAN to Rahul Acharya (Odissi dancer and scholar), at Utkal Rangamanch, Bhubaneswar.  During the Indradhanush Festival by Sunaina held at Delhi, the GURU SAMMAN was given to RAMA VAIDYANATHAN on Nov 5 and to RANI KHANAM on Nov 6, 2025.  Aatmalaya Academy, Bangalore, with the support of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi presented its annual memorial awards at the 10th edition of Samarpanam on Nov 8, 2025 at Black Box Theatre, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, Thrissur, Kerala. DEVIKA AND CHAKYAR RAJAN AWARD for Pothiyil Narayana Chakyar KOKILAM AND SHANKARI AWARD for Kunjaru AATMALAYA VAGGEYAKARA AWARD for PS Krishnamoorthy Ashish Mohan Khokar's ATTENDANCE ANNUAL AWARDS 2025 will be given at Ravindra Kalakshetra on December 19, 2025 at Bangalore and at Kathak Kendra, New Delhi on December 27, 2025. MOHAN KHOKAR DANCE WRITING AWARD: Leela Venkataraman MAYA RAO LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Ratna Kumar RAM GOPAL AWARD FOR BEST MALE SOLOIST: Rahul Varshney UDAY SHANKAR CHOREOGRAPHY AWARD: Jigyasa Giri RUKMINI DEVI OVERALL CONTRIBUTION AWARD: Rama Vaidyanathan MK SAROJA TRUE GURU SHISHYA PARAMPARA AWARD: Pt Harish Gangani SPECIAL MENTION: Dr.'Vandana' Putanjani Purgus, Bhupinder Sachdev (Printways)  Kartik Fine Arts confers the title NRITHYA PEROLI on The Dhananjayans on 12th December 2025, the inaugural day of the dance seminar 'Natya Darshan' at Sathguru Gnanananda Hall (Main Hall) of Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai. The recognition carries a cash award of Rs.25000, a medallion with citation and a shawl.   Krishna Gana Sabha confers the NRITHYA CHOODAMANI award on acharya G NARENDRA at the inauguration of the 69th Margazhi Mela on December 12, 2025 at Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai. Founder-Director of Avigna Dance Ensemble in Chennai, he trained at the Kalakshetra Foundation where he completed his Post Diploma in Bharatanatyam. He also worked as a faculty at Bharatakalanjali established by the Dhananjayans. SANGEETHA CHOODAMANI award goes to mridanga vidwan K.V. PRASAD.  Bharatanatyam dancer URMILA SATYANARAYANA is to receive the NRITYA KALANIDHI award from Madras Music Academy for 2025. MADAMBI SUBRAMANIA NAMBOODIRI will receive the TTK AWARD for Kathakali music.  Bharatanatyam Guru Padmini Ravi to receive the SHANTALA NATYA PRASHASTI by the Govt of Karnataka.  Sonal Mansingh to receive SRIMANTA SANKARDEVA AWARD, the highest honor given by govt of Assam once in 3 years.  The KALIDAS SAMMAN of Govt of Madhya Pradesh goes to Dr. Sandhya Purecha and Pandit Uday Bhawalkar. The other awardees include: Sudha Raghuraman (RASHTRIYA KUMAR GANDHARVA SAMMAN), Kalpana Zokarkar and Pt Akhilesh Gundecha (SHIKHAR SAMMAN). Highlights ; Obituaries |
