Sangeet Natak Akademi awards announced: Fellowships for Venuji, Kaithapram, and Jayaprakash Kuloor

THRISSUR: Koodiyattam Acharyan Venuji, music director and lyricist Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri, and drama director and playwright Jayaprakash Kuloor have been awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi's 2025 Fellowship. The award is for their comprehensive contributions to various fields of art. The fellowship consists of Rs 50,000, a plaque, a citation and a sculpture. 18 talents have been selected for the 2025 award and 22 talents for the Guru Pooja Award. The awardees will receive Rs 30,000 each, a citation and a sculpture. The date of the award presentation will be announced later.

Awardees

Dr. N. J. Nandini (Classical Music), C. S. Anuroop (Violin), Prof. Kalamandalam Krishnakumar (Mridangam), Shomi Davis (Drums, Western Instruments), Jency (Light Music), Gayathri Ashokan (Hindustani Classical), Kakkad Rajappan Marar (Chenda), Chitra Sukumaran (Mohiniyattam), B. K. Shafiqudeen (Bharatanatyam), Manoj Narayanan (Drama, Direction), Seetha Sasidharan (Dance), Kalamandalam Sandhya Ramachandran (Drama- Actress), Manoj Kothamangalam (Drama- Actor), Thekkady Shyamlal (Dance Drama), Vijayan Kadamperi (Drama-Stage Design), Rajeev Narikkal (Storytelling), Dr. Joy Krishnan (Kerala Drama), Sainan Ketamangalam (Mimicry). Chirayinkeezhu Dr.G.Gangadharan Nair Award (Rajashilpi in Amateur Drama) Nidheesh Pookkad.

Guru Pooja Award

C.S. Narayanan Namboothiri (Carnatic Music - Vocal), Prof. R. Manoj Kumar (Violin), Karunagappally Krishnankutty (Drama), N. Sulochana (Drama - Actress), Mohankrishnan (Drama), Paravur Viswanathan (Flute), Kaviyoor Sadashiva Marar (Panchavadyam-Thimila), Aryad Vallabhadas (Kadhaprasangam), K.R. Mohandas (Drama Direction), K.C. Krishnan Payyannur (Drama Actor), Kalabhavan Rahman (Mimicry), Sivan Ayodhya (Drama Actor), Peramangalam Vijayan (Kombu), Thekkady Rajan (Light Music), Ushadharan (Drama - Actor), Asiad Shashi Marar (Elathalam), Shalu Menon (Dance Drama), C.R. Ramadevi (drama actress), L. Thankamma (Alappi Thankam) (drama actress), Kalanilayam Gopi (Kathakali role), Kalamandalam Sreekumar (Kathakali role), Thrissur Janardhanan (music, dance).

Sangeet Natak Academy Chairman Mattanur Sankarankutty, Secretary Karivellur Murali, Vice Chairperson P.R. Pushpavathi, and Executive Committee member Renu Ramanath participated in the press conference held at the Academy Conference Hall.