Ninth-grader from Malappuram wins PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar

MALAPPURAM: Master Devi Prasad of Sreelakshi Nilayam, Perinthalmanna Angadipuram received the Prime Minister's Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, the country's premier award for children. Devi Prasad was the only Keralite on the list. He was recognised as the best percussionist( Mridangam player) in the art and cultural category. A citation and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh was awarded by District Collector VR Premkumar. Devi Prasad is a son of Deepesh, a percussionist and Thirumandhamkunnu Devaswom clerk, and Praseetha, a teacher at Poopalam Al Fadak English Medium School.

He is a ninth standard student of St. Joseph English Medium School, Puthanangadi.V. Surendran, an expert percussionist from Thiruvananthapuram is his guru. His first performance was at the age of seven by playing mridangam for Kumari Gayatri Sivaprasad's concert at the Sri Thirumandhamkunnu temple. He has also performed at Guruvayoor Chembai Music Festival, Kozhikode Thyagaraja Music Festival, Thiruvananthapuram Udiyannur Adichova Music Festival, Angadipuram Nharalath Music Festival and Kannur Mridangashaileshwari Music Festival.