Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (

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: Saṅgīta Nāṭaka Akādamī Puraskāra), also known as the Akademi Puraskar, is an award given by the

Sangeet Natak Akademi Sangeet Natak Akademi (The National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama in English) is the national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India. History It was set up by the Indian education ministry on 31 May 1952 and be ...

, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. It is the highest Indian recognition given to people in the field of performing arts. The award earlier in 2003, consisted of

Rs. Rupee is the common name for the currencies of India, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka, and of former currencies of Afghanistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates (as the Gulf rupee), British East Africa, B ...

50,000, a citation, an '' angavastram'' (a

shawl A shawl (from fa, شال ''shāl'',) is a simple item of clothing from Kashmir, loosely worn over the shoulders, upper body and arms, and sometimes also over the head. It is usually a rectangular or square piece of cloth, which is often folde ...

), and a ''tamrapatra'' (a brass plaque). Since 2009 cash prize has been increased to ₹1,00,000. The awards are given in the categories of music, dance, theatre, other traditional arts and puppetry, and for contribution/scholarship in performing arts.

Award recipients

The recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in various categories of performing arts have been listed below

Music

Hindustani music

Vocal

*1952 –

Mushtaq Hussain Khan Ustad Mushtaq Hussain Khan (1878–1964) was an Indian classical vocalist. He belonged to the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana. Early life Mushtaq Hussain was born in a family of traditional musicians in Sahaswan, a small town in Budaun District of U ...

*1953 –

Kesarbai Kerkar Kesarbai Kerkar (13 July 1892 – 16 September 1977) was an Indian classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. A protege of Ustad Alladiya Khan (1855–1946), the founder of the gharana, from age sixteen, she went on to become one of th ...

*1954 – Rajab Ali Khan *1955 – Anant Manohar Joshi *1956 –

Rajabhaiyya Poonchhwale Raja Bhaiya Poochwale (1882–1956) was an Indian musician from Poonch Gharana. Raja Bhaiya Poochwale also considered from Gwalior Gharana. Raja Bhaiya was born on 12 August 1882 in Gwalior State of the Central India Agency. His birth name was R ...

*1957 –

Rasoolan Bai Rasoolan hussain (1902 – 15 December 1974) was a leading Indian Hindustani classical music vocal musician. Belonging to the Benaras gharana, she specialized in the romantic Purab Ang of the Thumri musical genre and tappa. Early life an ...

*1958 – Ganesh Ramachandra Behere *1959 –

Krishnarao Shankar Pandit ''Gaan Maharishi'' Pt. Krishnarao Shankar Pandit (1893–1989) was an Indian musician, considered by many as one of the leading vocalists of the Gwalior gharana. He authored several articles and 8 books on music and was the founder of ''Shankar ...

*1960 – Altaf Hussain Khan *1961 – Y. S. Mirashi Buwa *1962 –

Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan (2 April 1902 – 23 April 1968) was an Indian Hindustani classical vocalist, from the Patiala gharana.Omkarnath Thakur Pandit Omkarnath Thakur (24 June 1897 – 29 December 1967), was an Indian music teacher, musicologist and Hindustani classical singer. A disciple of classical singer Vishnu Digambar Paluskar of Gwalior gharana, he became the principal of Gand ...

*1964 – Rahimuddin Khan Dagar *1965 –

Hirabai Barodekar Hirābai Barodekar (1905 – 1989) was an Indian Hindustāni classical music singer, of Kirana gharana. She was disciple of Ustād Abdul Wahid Khān. Early life and background Hirabai was born as Champākali to Kirānā Gharānā master Us ...

*1966 –

Siddheswari Devi Siddheswari Devi (1908 – 18 March 1977) was a legendary Hindustani singer from Varanasi, India, known as ''Maa'' (mother). Born in 1908, she lost her parents early and was brought up by her aunt, the noted singer Rajeshwari Devi. Initiation ...

*1967 – Amir Khan *1968 –

Mogubai Kurdikar Mogubai Kurdikar (15 July 1904 – 10 February 2001) was a renowned Indian classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. Early years and background Mogubai was born in the village of Kurdi in Portuguese-ruled Goa. Little is known of her fat ...

*1969 – Ramchatur Mallick *1970 – Nisar Hussain Khan *1971 –

Mallikarjun Mansur Pandit Mallikarjun Bheemaraayappa Mansur (Kannada: ಮಲ್ಲಿಕಾರ್ಜುನ ಮನ್ಸೂರ), (31 December 1910 – 12 September 1992) was an Indian classical singer from Karnataka, an excellent vocalist in the khyal style in th ...

*1972 –

Begum Akhtar Akhtari Bai Faizabadi (7 October 1914 – 30 October 1974), also known as Begum Akhtar, was an Indian singer and actress. Dubbed "Mallika-e-Ghazal" (Queen of Ghazals), she is regarded as one of the greatest singers of ghazal, dadra, and thumr ...

*1973 –

Gangubai Hangal Gangubai Hangal (5 March 1913 – 21 July 2009) was an Indian singer of the ''khayal'' genre of Hindustani classical music from Karnataka, who was known for her deep and powerful voice. Hangal belonged to the Kirana gharana. Early life G ...

*1974 –

Kumar Gandharva Pandit Kumar Gandharva (pronunciation:, Kn: ಕುಮಾರ್ ಗಂಧರ್ವ; 8 April 1924 – 12 January 1992), originally known as Shivaputra Siddharamayya Komkalimath was an Indian classical singer, well known for his unique vocal style ...

*1975 –

Bhimsen Joshi Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi BR (; ; 4 February 1922 – 24 January 2011), also known by the honorific prefix Pandit, was one of the greatest Indian vocalists from Karnataka, in the Hindustani classical tradition. He is known for the '' khaya ...

*1975-76

Gavri Devi Gavri Devi (also known as Gavari Bai) (14 April 1920 – 29 June 1988) was an Indian folk singer from Rajasthan, India, known for her Mand, a singing style of folk music. In addition to Mand singing, she used to sing Thumri, Bhajan and Ghazal ...

(Vocal) (Jodhpur, Rajasthan) *1976 – Narayanrao Vyas *1977 –

Girija Devi Girija Devi (8 May 1929 – 24 October 2017) was an Indian classical singer of the Seniya and Banaras gharanas. She performed classical and light classical music and helped elevate the profile of thumri. She was dubbed as the 'Queen of Thumri ...

*1978 –

Khadim Hussain Khan Khadim Hussain Khan (1907 – 11 January 1993) was an Indian classical music singer born in Atrauli, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, India. Early life Khadim Hussain Khan was born in Atrauli, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh in 1907. In ...

*1979 – Sarachchandra Arolkar *1980 – Nivruttibua Sarnaik *1981 –

Basavaraj Rajguru Pandit Basavraj Rajguru (24 August 1920 – 1991) was a leading Indian classical vocalist in the Kirana gharana (singing style). Early life and training Basavraj was born into a family of scholars, astrologers and musicians in Yaliwal, a ...

*1982 –

Vasantrao Deshpande Vasantrao Deshpande (2 May 1920 – 30 July 1983) was a Hindustani classical vocalist renowned for his contribution to Natya Sangeet (musical dramas). Early life Vasantrao Deshpande was born into a Deshastha Brahmin family in Murtizapur, Akol ...

*1983 –

Mahadev Prasad Mishra Mahadev Prasad Mishra (1906 – 13 December 1995) was an Indian thumri singer from Benares (Varanasi). Career He was accompanied many times by Baccha Lal Mishra on sarangi and Ishwar Lal Mishra on tabla A tabla, bn, তবলা, prs, � ...

*1984 –

Sharafat Hussain Khan Sharafat Hussain Khan (1 July 1930 – 7 July 1985) was an Indian classical vocalist from the Agra Gharana (singing style).

*1985 –

Kishori Amonkar Kishori Amonkar (10 April 1932 – 3 April 2017) was a leading Indian classical vocalist, belonging to the Jaipur ''gharana'', or a community of musicians sharing a distinctive musical style. She was a performer of the classical genre ' ...

Aminuddin Dagar Ustad Nasir Aminuddin Dagar (20 October 1923 at Indore, India – 28 December 2000 Kolkata, India), of Dagar Gharana of Dhrupad singing Gavri Devi Gavri Devi (also known as Gavari Bai) (14 April 1920 – 29 June 1988) was an Indian folk singer from Rajasthan, India, known for her Mand, a singing style of folk music. In addition to Mand singing, she used to sing Thumri, Bhajan and Ghazal ...

(Vocal) (Jodhpur, Rajasthan) *1986 – Asgari Bai,

Firoz Dastur Firoz Dastur (also spelled Feroze Dastur) (30 September 1919 – 9 May 2008) was an Indian actor and an Indian classical vocalist from the Kirana gharana (singing style). Career Dastur worked in the Indian film industry in 1930s, acting in a f ...

Manik Varma Manik Varma (16 May 1926 – 10 November 1996) was an Indian classical singer from the Kirana and Agra gharanas (singing styles). Career Besides the pure classical khyal, she also sang semi-classical and light music like thumri, Marathi Naty ...

*1987 –

C. R. Vyas Chintaman Raghunath Vyas (9 November 1924 – 10 January 2002), popularly known as C. R. Vyas, was an Indian classical singer. He was known for singing khyal style. Early life Vyas was born in Osmanabad, Maharashtra, into a family of San ...

Shobha Gurtu Shobha Gurtu (1925–2004) was an Indian singer in the light Hindustani classical style. Though she had equal command over pure classical style, it was with light classical music that she received her fame, and in time came to be known as the ''T ...

Pandit Jasraj Pandit Jasraj (28 January 1930 – 17 August 2020) was an Indian classical vocalist, belonging to the '' Mewati gharana'' (musical apprenticeship lineage). His musical career spanned 75 years resulting in national and international fame ...

*1988 – Padmavati Gokhale Shaligram *1989 –

Jitendra Abhisheki Ganesh Balawant Nawathe, better known as Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki (21 September 1929 – 7 November 1998), was an Indian vocalist, composer and scholar of Indian classical, semi-classical, and devotional music. While he distinguished himself ...

*1990 – K. G. Ginde,

Dhondutai Kulkarni Dhondutai Kulkarni, (23 July 1927 – 1 June 2014) was an Indian classical singer from the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She was the last legendary exponent of orthodox Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana. Early life Dhondutai was born in a Brahmin family in Kolh ...

*1991 – N. Zahiruddin Dagar,

Prabha Atre Prabha Atre (born 13 September 1932) is an Indian classical vocalist from the Kirana gharana. She has been awarded all three of the Padma Awards by the Government of India. Early life and education Atre was born to Abasaheb and Indirabai At ...

*1992 –

Ramarao V. Naik Ramarao V. Naik (1909–1998) was an Indian classical singer of the Agra Gharana. Early life Naik was born in 1909 in Bangalore. His father was a renowned violinist. He was one of the most renowned singers of the Agra Gharana in South India. ...

, Shiv Kumar Shukla *1993 – Bala Saheb Poochwale, Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar *1994 – Sulochana Brahaspati, Zia Fariddudin Dagar *1995 –

A. Kanan A. Kanan / Arkut Kannabhiran (18 June 1920 – 12 September 2004), more popularly known as A. Kanan, was an Indian vocalist in the Hindustani classical tradition and one of the legendary vocalist from Kirana Gharana. He is known for the khayal f ...

*1996 – Dinkar Kaikini, Hafeez Ahmad Khan *1997 – L. K. Pandit *1998 – Puttaraj Gawaigalu,

Parveen Sultana Begum Parveen Sultana ( as, বেগম পাৰৱীন চুলতানা; born May 1950) is an Indian Hindustani classical singer of the Patiala Gharana. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1976 and the Padma Bhushan in 2014 by the Govern ...

Rajan and Sajan Mishra Rajan and Sajan Mishra ( hi, राजन और साजन मिश्रा) are brothers, singers of the khyal style of Indian classical music. They were awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2007, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, jointly in 1998, the ...

*1999–2000 –

Ajoy Chakraborty Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty (born 25 December 1952) is an Hindustani classical vocalist, composer, lyricist and an exponent of the Patiala-Kasur gharana. He was given Padma Bhushan Award, the third highest civilian award in India in 2020. Early li ...

, Rita Ganguly,

Malabika Kanan Malabika Kanan (27 December 1930 – 17 February 2009) was an Indian classical vocalist. Biography Kanan was born in Lucknow on 27 December 1930 to Rabindralal Roy, a musicologist and a disciple of Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande. In her early years ...

*2001 – Abhay Narayan Mallick, Sangameshwar Gurav,

Malini Rajurkar Malini Rajurkar (born 8 January 1941) is a Hindustani classical singer of Gwalior Gharana. Early life She grew up in the state of Rajasthan in India. For three years she taught mathematics at the Savitri Girls’ High School & College, Ajmer, ...

*2002 –

Sushila Rani Patel Sushila Rani Patel (1918–2014) was an Indian classical singer, actress, vocalist, doctor, and journalist. She established Shiv Sangeetanjali, a school for classical music. Career Sushila Rani Patel began her singing career in 1942 when she s ...

, Sharayu Kalekar *2003 –

Ghulam Mustafa Khan Ghulam Mustafa Khan, SI ( ur, ڈاکٹر غلام مصطفیٰ خان) (23 September 1912 – 25 September 2005) was a researcher, literary critic, linguist, author, scholar of Urdu literature and linguistics, educationist and religious and ...

, Yeshwant Balkrishna Joshi *2004 – Balwant Rai Bhatt, Tejpal Singh and Surinder Singh *2005 – S. C. R. Bhat, Ramashreya Jha *2006 – Vijay Kumar Kichlu,

Rashid Khan Rashid Khan Arman ( ps, ; born 20 September 1998) is an Afghan international cricketer and a former captain of the national team. In franchise leagues, he plays for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Adelaide Strikers in Austra ...

*2007 –

Vidyadhar Vyas Pandit Vidyadhar Vyas (born 8 September 1944) is an Indian Hindustani vocalist, and a contemporary exponent of the Paluskar style of North Indian classical singing. He belongs to the Gwalior gharana and the lineage of Sangeet Maharshi Pandit Vi ...

, Govardhan Mishra *2008 –

Ulhas Kashalkar Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar (born 14 January 1955) is a Hindustani classical vocalist. He has received training in the Gwalior, Jaipur and Agra gharanas, and is considered one of the finest representative of all three schools. Early life Ulhas was ...

M.R. Gautam Madura Ramaswami Gautam (born 19 March 1924), often shortened to M. R. Gautam, is an Indian Hindustani classical vocalist of the Agra Gharana. Early life He was born in March 1924 in Tiruchappali, Tamil Nadu. Gautam learned under Ramarao Naik ...

*2009 –

Abdul Rashid Khan Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan (19 August 1908 – 18 February 2016) was an Indian vocalist of Hindustani music. Apart from khayal, he performed dhrupad, Dhamar (music), dhamar and thumri. , he is the oldest person to have been conferred a Orders ...

, Vasundhara Komkali *2010 –

Chhannulal Mishra Pandit Chhannulal Mishra (born 3 August 1936) is a celebrated Hindustani classical singer from Banaras, a noted exponent of the Kirana gharana (school) of the Hindustani classical music and especially the Khayal and the 'Purab Ang' – Thumri. ...

, Yashpaul *2011 –

Shruti Sadolikar Shruti Sadolikar Katkar (born 9 Nov. 1951) is an Indian classical singer of the khyal style in the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She is a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Hindustani vocal music for 2011. Early life and career Sadolik ...

, Pandit Venkatesh Kumar *2012 – Shankar Lal Mishra,

Rajashekhar Mansur Rajshekhar Mansur (born 16 December 1942 death 1 May 2022) was an Indian classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. He was the son and disciple of vocalist Mallikarjun Mansur. Early life and education Mansur was born to singer Mallikarjun ...

Ajay Pohankar Ajay Pohankar (born 24 February 1947) is an Indian classical vocalist belonging to Kirana Gharana school of Hindustani classical music. Background and career Ajay Pohankar ( mr, अजय पोहणकर) was born in Jabalpur, Madhya Prades ...

*2013 –

Ritwik Sanyal Pandit Ritwik Sanyal (born 12 April 1953) is an Hindustani classical music, Indian classical singer and the Dhrupad maestro from Varanasi. He is a retired professor and Ex Dean from the department of vocal music at the faculty of performing art ...

Veena Sahasrabuddhe Veena Sahasrabuddhe (14 September 1948 – 29 June 2016) was an Indian vocalist and composer of Hindustani classical music from Kanpur. Her singing style had its roots in Gwalior gharana, but it also borrowed from Jaipur and Kirana gharanas. ...

*2014 –

Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande (born 7 October 1960) is a Hindustani classical music vocalist from Mumbai. She belongs to the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana tradition. Early life and education Born in Mumbai into a family with strong musical tradition, Ashw ...

Iqbal Ahmad Khan Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan (195417 December 2020) was an Indian classical vocalist from Delhi Gharana. Biography Khan was born in 1954 into a family with a rich musical pedigree. Ustad Chand Khan and Ustad Jahan Khan were his grandfathers from the ma ...

, Nathrao Neralkar *2015 –

Mashkoor Ali Khan Ustad Mashkoor Ali Khan is an Hindustani classical music, Indian classical singer and teacher from the Kirana gharana, Kirana musical style. As the grandson of Abdul Karim Khan, a founder of the Kirana style, he is a descendant of the gharana's ...

*2016 –

Prabhakar Karekar Pandit Prabhakar Karekar (b 1944) is a Hindustani classical vocalist, born in Goa, India. He was awarded Tansen Samman in 2014 and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in the year 2016. Background Prabhakar Janardan Karekar was born in 1944, in what wa ...

*2017 –

Lalith J. Rao Lalith J. Rao (also spelt Lalit) (born 6 November 1942) is an Hindustani classical music, Indian classical singer and a representative of the Agra gharana (singing style). Early life Rao's introduction to classical music was at the age of three, ...

, Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha -

Gundecha Brothers The Gundecha Brothers are Indian classical singers of the dhrupad genre of the Dagar vani. From 1985 to 2019 the duo consisted of brothers Umakant Gundecha and Ramakant Gundecha and were awarded the Padma Shri for art for 2012. Following the de ...

*2018 –

Mani Prasad Pandit Mani Prasad (4 November 1930) is an Indian classical vocalist from the Kirana gharana (singing style). Early life and training Mani Prasad was born into a family of musicians. His father, Sukhdev Prasad, had received music training fro ...

Madhup Mudgal Madhup Mudgal is an Indian Hindustani classical music vocalist., known for his khayal and bhajan renditions. A disciple of Kumar Gandharva, he is also a composer, conductor of famous Gandharva Choir and has been principal of the Gandharva Mah ...

*2019 –

Vinayak Torvi Pandit Vinayak Malharrao Torvi, (born 4 September 1948) is an Hindustani classical music, Indian classical vocalist. He belongs to the Gwalior gharana, Gwalior and Kirana gharana, Kirana gharanas (singing styles). Early life and training Pa ...

, Prem Kumar Mallick *2020 –

Sumitra Guha Vidushi Sumitra Guha is an Indian classical vocalist, known for her expertise in the Carnatic and Hindustani schools of classical music. The Government of India honored her in 2010, with the fourth highest civilian award of Padma Shri. Biogr ...

Arati Ankalikar-Tikekar Arati Ankalikar-Tikekar (born 27 January 1963) is an Indian classical singer who is active mostly in Marathi, Konkani and Hindi film Industry; known for singing in Agra as well as Gwalior and Jaipur style. She has received two National Film Awar ...

*2021 –

Uday Bhawalkar Pandit Uday Bhawalkar is an Indian classical vocalist. He is an exponent of the dhrupad genre. Early years Uday Bhawalkar was born in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, the youngest of three siblings. He began training in classical music from his elder si ...

, Subhra Guha

Instrumental

= Been/
Rudra Veena The ''Rudra veena'' ( sa, रुद्र वीणा) (also spelled ''Rudraveena'' or ''Rudra vina'')—also called ''Bīn'' in North India—is a large plucked string instrument used in Hindustani Music, especially dhrupad. It is one of the m ...
/
Vichitra Veena The ''vichitra veena'' ( sa, विचित्र वीणा) is a stick zither, a plucked string instrument used in Hindustani music. Similar to the Carnatic ''gottuvadhyam'' (chitra vina) it has no frets and is played with a slide. The s ...

= *1969 – Dabir Khan *1977 –

Asad Ali Khan Asad Ali Khan (1 December 1937 – 14 June 2011) was an Indian musician who played the plucked string instrument ''rudra veena''. Khan performed in the style ''dhrupad'' and was described as the best living ''rudra veena'' player in India by ...

*1981 –

Zia Mohiuddin Dagar Zia Mohiuddin Dagar (14 March 1929 – 28 September 1990), popularly known as Z. M. Dagar, was a North Indian ( Hindustani) classical musician, one of the 19th generation of Dagar family dhrupad musicians. He was largely responsible for the r ...

*1994 –

Pandit Gopal Krishan Pandit Gopal Krishan Sharma (1926-2004) was an exponent of Vichitra Veena, an ancient Indian musical instrument. Early life and Musical Training Gopal Krishan was given initial music lessons by his father, Pandit Nand Kishore, who was himself ...

*2012 –

Bahauddin Dagar Baha'ud'din Mohiuddin Dagar (born 1970) is the rudra veena player and son of famous north Indian musician Zia Mohiuddin Dagar. He plays rudra veena with the ''dagarbani'' style. He represents the 20th generation of Dagar lineage, referring to N ...

=
Flute The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...

= *1983 – Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasiya *1986 –

Devendra Murdeshwar Devendra Murdeshwar (19 September 1923 – 29 January 2000) was an Indian bansuri flutist. Early life Murdeshwar was born in 1923 in a Brahmin family in Masur in the Mysore State in Karnataka. His father played the violin, tabla and the bansuri ...

*1994 –

Raghunath Seth Pandit Raghunath Seth (1931 – 15 February 2014) was a noted Indian exponent of Hindustani classical music through the medium of Bansuri, or bamboo flute; he was also a noted film score composer. He has received Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 199 ...

*2010 – Nityanand Haldipur *2014 –

Ronu Majumdar Ronu Majumdar is an Indian flautist in the Hindustani classical music tradition. Awards, nominations, and music collaborations In 1981, Ronu Majumdar won the first prize at the All India Radio competition, and the President's Gold Medal. He ...

*2017 – Pt. Rajendra Prasanna *2019 –

Chetan Joshi Chetan Joshi is a noted flautist in the Hindustani Music, Hindustani classical music tradition. He was born in Jharia and brought up at Noamundi and Bokaro Steel City. He was trained under Late Acharya Jagadish (Bokaro), Late Pandit Bholanath Pr ...

=
Guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

= *2005 – Brij Bhushan Kabra

=
Harmonium The pump organ is a type of free-reed organ that generates sound as air flows past a vibrating piece of thin metal in a frame. The piece of metal is called a reed. Specific types of pump organ include the reed organ, harmonium, and melodeon. T ...

= *1999–2000 – Appa Jalgaonkar *2005 – Tulsidas Vasant Borkar

=
Pakhavaj The pakhavaj is a barrel-shaped, two-headed drum, originating from the Indian subcontinent, the oldest version of double sided drums and its descendants are mridangam of Southern India and kendang of Maritime Southeast Asia and other South Asi ...

= *1955 – Govind Rao Burhanpurkar *1965 – Sakharam Tavde *1967 –

Ayodhya Prasad Ayodhya Prasad Sharma (Hindi: अयोध्या प्रसाद शर्मा, 30 April 1909 – 28 February 1972) was an Indo-Fijian farmers' leader and politician. He formed the most successful farmers' union in Fiji and forced the ...

*1978 –

Purushottam Das Purushottam Das (Born: 7 July 1907 – Died: 21 January 1991) was the pioneer of the Nathdwara school of Pakhawaj (a barrel-shaped, two-headed drum instrument usually played in the Indian subcontinent) playing. Awards and recognitions * Rajas ...

*1988 – Ramshankardas Pagaldas *1991 – Chatrapati Singh *1993 – Gopaldas Panse *1995 – Ram Ashish Pathak *2003 – Bhavani Shankar *2011 – Totaram Sharma *2020 – Dal Chand Sharma

=
Santoor The Indian santoor instrument is a trapezoid-shaped hammered dulcimer, and a variation of the Iranian santur. The instrument is generally made of walnut and has 25 bridges. Each bridge has 4 strings, making for a total of 100 strings. It is ...

= *1986 –

Shivkumar Sharma Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (13 January 1938 – 10 May 2022) was an Indian classical musician and santoor player who is credited with adapting the santoor for Indian classical music. As a music composer, he collaborated with Indian flautist Ha ...

*1993 –

Bhajan Sopori Pandit Bhajan Sopori (22 June 1948 – 2 June 2022) was an Indian instrumentalist. He was a player of the santoor, an ancient stringed musical instrument. Early life and family Sopori was born in Srinagar to Shambhu Nath Sopori on 22 June ...

*2018 –

Tarun Bhattacharya Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya (born 23 December 1957) is an Indian classical musician who plays the santoor, a type of hammered dulcimer. He studied with Ravi Shankar. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2018. Early life Tarun Bhat ...

=
Sarangi The sārangī is a bowed, short-necked string instrument played in traditional music from South Asia – Punjabi folk music, Rajasthani folk music, and Boro folk music (there known as the ''serja'') – in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. It is ...

= *1966 – Shakoor Khan *1975 –

Ram Narayan Ram Narayan (; born 25 December 1927), often referred to with the title Pandit, is an Indian musician who popularised the bowed instrument ''sarangi'' as a solo concert instrument in Hindustani classical music and became the first internationa ...

*1976 – Gopal Misra *1986 –

Sabri Khan Ustad Sabri Khan (21 May 1927 – 1 December 2015) was an Indian sarangi player, who was descended on both sides of his family from a line of distinguished musicians. Early life Sabri Khan was born on 21 May 1927 in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, ...

*1988 – Hanuman Prasad Mishra *1990 – Abdul Lateef Khan *1992 – Sultan Khan *1996 – Inderlal Dhandra, Ramchandra Mishra *2008 –

Ramesh Mishra Ramesh Mishra ( hi, रमेश मिश्रा, surname also spelled Misra) (Varanasi, India, 2 October 1948 - New York, U.S., 13 March 2017) was an Indian sarangi player. Mishra comes from a family of sarangi players and studied from an ...

*2013 –

Dhruba Ghosh Dhruba Ghosh (1957 - 2017) was an Indian classical musician and Sarangi player from Mumbai. Biography Dhruba Ghosh was born in 1957 in Mumbai. His father Padma Bhushan Pt Nikhil Ghosh was a famous musician, teacher and writer, known his profici ...

=
Sarod The sarod is a stringed instrument, used in Hindustani music on the Indian subcontinent. Along with the sitar, it is among the most popular and prominent instruments. It is known for a deep, weighty, introspective sound, in contrast with the sweet ...

= *1952 –

Allauddin Khan Allauddin Khan, also known as Baba Allauddin Khan ( – 6 September 1972) was an Indian sarod player and multi-instrumentalist, composer and one of the most notable music teachers of the 20th century in Indian classical music. For a generation ...

*1953 –

Hafiz Ali Khan Hafiz Ali Khan (1888–1972) was an Indian sarod player.Brick, mortar & false notes
Dawn (newspaper), Published 29 Ap ...

*1963 –

Ali Akbar Khan Ali Akbar Khan (14 April 192218 June 2009) was a Indian Hindustani classical musician of the Maihar gharana, known for his virtuosity in playing the sarod. Trained as a classical musician and instrumentalist by his father, Allauddin Khan, he ...

*1971 –

Radhika Mohan Maitra Radhika Mohan Maitra (1917–1981) was an Indian sarod player and the guru of Narendra Nath Dhar, Kalyan Mukherjea, Buddhadev Das Gupta, Sanjoy Bandopadhyay, Abanindra Maitra, Pranab Kumar Naha, Samarendra Nath Sikdar, Michael Robbins, and many ...

*1986 –

Sharan Rani Backliwal Sharan Rani (also known as Sharan Rani Backliwal, '' née'' Mathur) (9 April 1929 – 8 April 2008) was an Indian classical sarod player and music scholar. Her private collection of 379 musical instruments ranging from the 15th to the 19th ...

*1988 – Zarin Sharma *1989 –

Amjad Ali Khan Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (born 9 October 1945) is an Indian classical ''sarod'' player, best known for his clear and fast ekhara taans. Khan was born into a classical musical family and has performed internationally since the 1960s. He was awar ...

*1993 –

Buddhadev Das Gupta Buddhadev Das Gupta (1 February 1933 – 15 January 2018) was an Indian classical musician who played the sarod. He used to reside in Kolkata, India. He was one of the artists featured in Nimbus Records' ''The Raga Guide''. Early life and tr ...

*1999–2000 –

Rajeev Taranath Rajeev Taranath (born 17 October 1932) is an Indian classical musician who plays the sarod. Taranath is a disciple of Ali Akbar Khan. Career Rajeev Taranath was born in Bangalore on 17 October 1932. He received his initial training in vocal mus ...

*2004 –

Aashish Khan Aashish Khan Debsharma (born 5 December 1939) is an Indian classical musician, a player of the sarod. He was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2006 in the 'Best World Music' category for his album "Golden Strings of the Sarode". He is also a reci ...

*2018 –

Tejendra Majumdar Pandit Tejendra Narayan Majumdar (born 17 May 1961) is an Indian sarod player and pupil of Bahadur Khan. Majumdar is one of the most popular and celebrated modern sarod players. Training He started his music training under his grandfather Bibhu ...

=
Shehnai The ''shehnai'' is a musical instrument, originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is made of wood, with a double reed at one end and a metal or wooden flared bell at the other end.Ustad Bismillah Khan Bismillah Khan (born Amaruddin Khan, 21 March 1916 – 21 August 2006), often referred to by the title ''Ustad'', was an Indian musician credited with popularizing the shehnai, a reeded woodwind instrument. While the shehnai had long held imp ...
1985 – Ali Hussain Khan 1989 – Pt. Anant Lal 1996 – Pt. Raghunath Prasanna 2008 – Krishna Ram Chaudhary 2009 – Ali Ahmad Hussain 2017 –
Rajendra Prasanna Rajendra Prasanna (; born 15 April 1956) is an Indian classical flautist and shehnai (Indian oboe) player from Benares Gharana. Career Rajendra was born in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. He learnt music from his father Raghunath Prasanna a ...

=
Sitar The sitar ( or ; ) is a plucked stringed instrument, originating from the Indian subcontinent, used in Hindustani classical music. The instrument was invented in medieval India, flourished in the 18th century, and arrived at its present form in ...

= *1958 – Yusuf Ali *1960 –

Wahid Khan Wahid Khan was an Indian surbahar and sitar player. He was the son of Imdad Khan and belonged to the Imdadkhani gharana or ''Etawah gharana'' of classical music. Early life Wahid Khan was born in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh. He was still quite young ...

*1962 – Pt. Ravi Shankar *1968 –

Mushtaq Ali Khan Mushtaq Ali Khan (20 June 1911 in Banaras – 21 July 1989) and was an Indian classical sitar, surbahar (and pakhawaj) player. Training and lineage Khan learnt music from his father, Ashiq Ali Khan, who had learned sitar from the 19th cent ...

*1974 –

Nikhil Banerjee Pandit Nikhil Ranjan Banerjee (14 October 1931 – 27 January 1986) was an Indian classical sitarist of the Maihar Gharana. Along with Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Vilayat Khan, he emerged as one of the leading exponents of the sitar. He ...

*1987 –

Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan (18 February 1927 – 4 January 2017) was an Indian sitar player. Khan received the national awards Padma Shri (1970) and Padma Bhushan (2006) and was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 1987. Early life Abdul Hali ...

Imrat Khan Imrat Khan (17 November 1935 – 22 November 2018) was an Indian sitar and surbahar player and composer. He was the younger brother of sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Khan.Farrell, Gerry (2001)"Khan, Imrat" ''Grove Music Online''. (subscription ...

(also Surbahar) *1989 – Balaram Pathak *1992 – Uma Shankar Mishra *1994 – Shamim Ahmed Khan *1996 – Debu Chaudhuri *2001 –

Manilal Nag Pandit Manilal Nag (born 16 August 1939) is an Indian classical sitar player and an exponent of the Bishnupur gharana of Bengal. He was given the Padma Shri Award, the fourth highest civilian award in India in 2020. Training and career Nag was ...

*2003 –

Arvind Parikh Arvind Parikh (born 19 October 1927) is an Indian classical sitar player. Early life Arvind was born in Ahmedabad into a Gujarati business family with cultural and spiritual influences. His father Natwar Lal was a businessman and mother Chandra ...

*2006 –

Shahid Parvez Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan (commonly known as Shahid Parvez, born 14 October 1954) is an Indian classical sitar maestro from the Imdadkhani gharana. He represents the seventh generation of the Etawah Gharana as its primary exponent. He is praise ...

*2010 –

Budhaditya Mukherjee Pandit Budhaditya Mukherjee is an Indian classical sitar and surbahar maestro of the Imdadkhani gharana (school), recognizable by his intricate vocalic playing complemented by spectacular high speed playing. He holds a unique distinction of be ...

*2015 – Karthick Kumar *2019 –

Manju Mehta Manju is a Sanskrit word meaning pleasant, sweet, snow, beautiful, clouds, morning dew and is predominantly an Indian female given name. * Manju Kak, a Kashmiri wri ...

*2020 –

Kushal Das Pandit Kushal Das (pronunciation: bn, কুশল দাস), born in Kolkata in 1959, is an Indian classical sitar and surbahar player. Early life Kushal was born in a musical family in Kolkata. His grandfather Bimal Das was an esraj playe ...

=
Surbahar ''Surbahar'' (; ) sometimes known as bass sitar, is a plucked string instrument used in the Hindustani classical music of the Indian subcontinent. It is closely related to the sitar, but has a lower pitch. Depending on the instrument's size, it ...

= *1991 –

Annapurna Devi (1927 – 13 October 2018) was an Indian surbahar (bass sitar) player of Hindustani classical music. She was given the name 'Annapurna' by former Maharaja Brijnath Singh of the former Maihar Estate (M.P.), and it was by this name that she was p ...

*2011 – Pushparaj Koshti

=
Tabla A tabla, bn, তবলা, prs, طبلا, gu, તબલા, hi, तबला, kn, ತಬಲಾ, ml, തബല, mr, तबला, ne, तबला, or, ତବଲା, ps, طبله, pa, ਤਬਲਾ, ta, தபலா, te, తబల� ...

= *1954 – Ustad Ahmed Jan Thirakwa *1959 – Ustad Jahangir Khan *1961 – Pt. Kanthe Maharaj *1970 – Masit Khan *1976 – Karamatulla Khan *1979 – Pt. Samta Prasad *1982 –

Ustad Alla Rakha Ustad Alla Rakha Qureshi (29 April 1919 – 3 February 2000), popularly known as Alla Rakha, was an Indian tabla player who specialized in Hindustani classical music. He was a frequent accompanist of sitar player Pandit Ravi Shankar and wa ...

*1984 – Pt. Kishan Maharaj *1990 –

Ustad Zakir Hussain Ustad Zakir Hussain (born 9 March 1951) is an Indian tabla player, composer, percussionist, music producer and film actor. He is the eldest son of tabla player Alla Rakha. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1988, and the Padma Bhushan in 2002, ...

*1991 – Shaikh Dawood *1997 – Swapan Chaudhuri, Lalji Gokhale *1998 – Pandharinath Gangadhar Nageshkar *1999–2000 –

Shankar Ghosh Pandit Shankar Ghosh (10 October 1935 – 22 January 2016) was an Indian tabla player from the Farukhabad gharana of Hindustani classical music. He was an occasional Hindustani classical singer where he followed the Patiala gharana. He was ...

*2001 – Ishwar Lal Mishra *2002 – Suresh B. Gaitonde,

Anindo Chatterjee Pandit Anindo Chatterjee is an Indian tabla player of the Farukhabad gharana school. He was born into a musical family. Chatterjee is a disciple of Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh. As director of the Farrukhabad Gharana of Tabla, founded by Haji ...

*2004 – Pt. Suresh Talwalkar *2006 –

Kumar Bose Pandit Kumar Bose ( Bangla পন্ডিত কুমার বোস), born 4 April 1953, is an Indian tabla musician and composer of Indian classical music. Family Bose was born in Kolkata in a musical family. His father, Biswanath Bose, ...

*2007 –

Nandan Mehta Nandan Mehta (26 February 1942 – 26 March 2010) was an Indian tabla player and music teacher from Ahmedabad who belonged to the Benaras Gharana of Hindustani classical music. He established Saptak School of Music and started Saptak Annual ...

*2009 – Lachman Singh Seen *2012 –

Sabir Khan Sabir or Sabbir Khan may refer to: * Sabir Khan (musician), Indian sarangi player * Sabbir Khan (Bangladeshi cricketer) (born 1978), Bangladeshi cricketer * Sabir Khan (Indian cricketer) (born 2000), Indian cricketer * Sabbir Khan (born 1976), In ...

(Tabla) *2013 – Hashmat Ali Khan *2014 – Pt. Nayan Ghosh *2016 – Arvind Mulgaonkar *2017 – Pt. Yogesh Samsi *2021 – Ravindra Yavagal

=
Violin The violin, sometimes known as a ''fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone (string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in the family in regular ...

= *1972 –

Gajananrao Joshi Gajanan Anant Joshi, better known as "Gajananbuwa Joshi", (January 30, 1911 – June 28, 1987) was a vocalist and violinist in the field of Hindustani music. Early life and background Gajananrao Joshi came from a family of musicians. His gran ...

*1980 – V. G. Jog *1990 –

N. Rajam N. Rajam (born 1938) is an Indian violinist who performs Hindustani classical music. She remained professor of Music at Banaras Hindu University, eventually became head of the department and the dean of the Faculty of Performing Arts of the Uni ...

*1995 – D. K. Datar *1996 –

Annavarapu Rama Swamy Annavarapu Rama Swamy (born 27 March 1926) is an Indian classical violinist from Andhra Pradesh, India. Career He is known for his contributions in the field of Carnatic music. He is noted for inventing new Ragas and Talas such as ''Vandana Ra ...

*1997 – Sisir Kana Dhar Chowdhury *2007 – Ramoo Prasad Shastri *2016 –

Kala Ramnath Kala Ramnath is an Indian classical violinist. She belongs to the Mewati gharana, a lineage of musicians. She was awarded the Sangeet Natak Academy Puraskaar in 2016, Rashtriya Kumar Gandharva Sanman in 2008 and the Pandit Jasraj Gaurav Puraska ...

*2021 –

Sangeeta Shankar Dr. Sangeeta Shankar is an Indian violinist who performs Hindustani classical music. Early life Sangeeta Shankar, was born in Banaras in a musical family to N. Rajam and T. S. Subramaniyan. Sangeeta started her training at a very early age in ...

Carnatic music

Vocal

*1952 –

Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar (19 May 1890 – 23 January 1967), popularly known as ''Ariyakudi'', was a Carnatic music vocalist, born in Ariyakudi, a town in the present-day Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu. Ariyakudi developed a unique style of ...

*1953 – Semmangudi R. Srinivasa Iyer *1954 – Mysore K. Vasudevacharya *1955 – Maharajapuram Vishwanatha Iyer *1956 –

M. S. Subbulakshmi Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi (16 September 1916 – 11 December 2004) was an Indian Carnatic singer from Madurai, Tamil Nadu. She was the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour. She is ...

*1957 –

Musiri Subramania Iyer Musiri Subramania Iyer (9 April 1899 – 25 March 1975) was a Carnatic vocalist whose stage performing career spanned the 1920s to the 1940s. After retirement from the stage, he remained an iconic figure in Carnatic music as a dedicated teache ...

*1958 –

Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar a.k.a. Vaidyanatha Iyer (1 September 1896 – 16 October 1974) was a Carnatic music singer from Palakkad (state of Kerala, India). Known by his village name ''Chembai'', or simply as ''Bhagavatar'', he was born to ...

*1959 – G. N. Balasubramaniam *1960 –

Madurai Mani Iyer Madurai Mani Iyer ( ta, மதுரை மணி ஐயர்; 25 October 1912 – 8 June 1968) was an Indian Carnatic music singer, who was famous for his unique style. He was one of the most highly celebrated carnatic vocalists during the fi ...

*1961 – Mudikondan C. Venkatarama Iyer *1962 – D. K. Pattammal *1963 – B. Devendrappa *1964 – Chittoor S. Subramanyam *1965 – T. Brinda *1966 – Madurai Srirangam Iyengar *1967 – C. Venkata Rao *1968 –

Alathur Srinivasa Iyer Alathur Srinivasa Iyer (1911–1980), born in Tamil Nadu, was an Indian vocalist. Together with Alathur Sivasubramania Iyer, he formed the successful duo known as the Alathur Brothers (though the two were not in fact brothers). He was awarded ...

*1969 – Dandapani Desikar *1970 –

M. L. Vasanthakumari Madras Lalitangi Vasanthakumari (popularly referred to as MLV) (3 July 1928 – 31 October 1990) was a Carnatic musician and playback singer for film songs in many Indian languages. MLV and her contemporaries D. K. Pattammal and M. S. Subbulak ...

*1971 – N. Channakeshaviah *1972 – T. Muktha *1973 –

B.S. Raja Iyengar B.S. Raja Iyengar (1901 - 1978) was a carnatic vocalist who also served as Court Musician at Mysore Kingdom. Background and personal life B.S. Raja Iyengar was born in 1901 in Banavar, Karnataka. Career B.S. Raja Iyengar studied the carnati ...

*1974 – M. D. Ramanathan *1975 – M. Balamurali Krishna *1976 –

K.V.Narayanaswamy Palghat Kollengode Viswanathan Narayanaswamy (15 November 1923 – 1 April 2002), often referred to as K. V. Narayanaswamy was an Indian musician, widely considered to be among the finest Carnatic music vocalists of the 20th century. He was award ...

*1977 –

Sripada Pinakapani Sripada Pinakapaani (3 August 1913 – 11 March 2013), was a medical doctor, administrator, professor in medicine, and carnatic musician. He received Sangeetha Kalanidhi award in 1983. Pinkapani was born at Priya Agraharam of Srikakulam d ...

*1978 – Madurai S. Somasundaram *1979 – R K Srikanthan *1980 – Seerkhazhi S. Govindarajan *1981 – Radha and Jayalakshmi *1982 – T. M. Thiagarajan *1983 –

D. K. Jayaraman Damal Krishnaswamy Jayaraman (popularly known as DKJ), the renowned brother of D. K. Pattammal, was a professional Carnatic music singer. He was awarded the Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 1990. After learning music from his si ...

*1984 – Maharajapuram V. Santhanam *1985 – Voleti Venkatesvarulu *1986 –

B. Rajam Iyer B. Rajam Iyer (15 July 1922 – 3 May 2009) was a List of Carnatic singers, Carnatic singer from South India. He was awarded the Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 1987. Family Rajam Iyer was born in Karaikudi, in Ramanathapuram d ...

*1986 – Nedunuri Krishnamoorthy *1987 –

Madurai N. Krishnan Madurai Narayanan Krishnan (1928–2005) was an Indian musician, known for his proficiency in carnatic music. He was known to have been proficient in all the three facets of music viz. vocals, lyrics and music and was considered by many as a ''V ...

*1987 –

Mani Krishnaswami Mani Krishnaswami, (also written as Mani Krishnaswamy, 3 February 1930 – 12 July 2002) was a Carnatic music vocalist of Tamil Nadu, India. Family Her birth name was Mani Perundevi. Her father, LakshmiNarasimhachari, was the secretary of Vell ...

*1988 – Nookala Chinna Satyanarayana *1989 – Titte Krishna Iyengar *1990 –

T. V. Sankaranarayanan T. V. Sankaranarayanan, (7 March 1945 – 2 September 2022) was an Indian Carnatic music, Carnatic vocalist (South Indian classical singer), known for his music that stems from the style of his guru and maternal-uncle, Madurai Mani Iyer. TVS ...

*1991 – S. Rajam *1992 – K. R. Kumaraswamy Iyer *1993 – Trichy Swaminathan Iyer *1994 – C. S. Krishna Iyer *1995 – R. Vedavalli *1996 – T. K. Govinda Rao *1997 – M. S. Balasubramanya Sarma *2000 – S. R. Janakiraman *2001 – B. V. Raman *2002 –

T. R. Subramaniam Professor T. R. Subramaniam (20 September 1929 – 4 October 2013), popularly known as TRS, was a vocalist in the Carnatic tradition. He was popular for infusing unconventional and populistic techniques in his renditions, especially of the pall ...

*2003 –

Trichur V. Ramachandran Trichur V. Ramachandran(born 1940) is a Carnatic music vocalist. He received the most prestigious award of Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 2012 from the Madras Music Academy. He was born in 1940 in Thrissur, Cochin State. He gave ...

, M. A. Narasimhachar *2004 – Thiruvengadu A. Jayaraman, C. Saroja &

C. Lalitha The Bombay sisters, C. Saroja (b. 7 December 1936) and C. Lalitha (b. 26 August 1938), are a Carnatic music singing duo. Early life The Bombay Sisters, C. Saroja and C. Lalitha, were born in Trichur, Kerala to Mukthambal and N. Chidambaram Iye ...

*2005 – S. V. Parthasarrathy, P. S. Narayanaswamy *2006 – D. Pasupathi,

Chingleput Ranganathan Chingleput Ranganathan was a classical Carnatic vocalist and Guru. Early life and background Chingleput Chelappa Ranganathan, was born in Chennai on 3 June 1938 to Sriman Chellappa Iyengar and Srimathi Rajalakshmi. His mother used to be a stu ...

*2007 – B. Krishnamoorti *2008 –

Puranam Purushottama Sastri Puranam Purushottama Sastri (1925–2010) was an eminent Carnatic musician and winner of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. He is son of Puranam Kanakayya Sastri. He was born in Nallapadu in Guntur district in 1925. His father Kanakayya Sastri was al ...

*2009 – Parassala B Ponnammal *2010 – Suguna Purushothaman, Mysore Nagamani Srinath *2011 – J. Venkataraman *2012 – O. S. Thyagarajan *2013 –

Aruna Sairam Sangita Kalanidhi Aruna Sairam is an Indian classical vocalist and carnatic music singer. She is a recipient of the Padma Shri award from the Government of India and has been elected as Vice Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Academy (India's premier ...

, D. Seshchari & D. Raghavachari (Hyderabad Brothers) *2014 –

Neyveli Santhanagopalan Neyveli Santhanagopalan (born 1963) is an Indian Carnatic vocalist and teacher. He has learned from masters such as Shri Thanjavur Sankara Iyer, Shri Maharajapuram Santhanam, and Shri TN Seshagopalan. He has distinguished himself with numer ...

*2015 – R.N. Tharanathan,

Suguna Varadachari Suguna Varadachari is a Carnatic vocalist and Carnatic music teacher from Tamil Nadu, India. She is also a Veena artist. She received several awards including Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and Sangita Kala Acharya Award by Madras Music Academy. B ...

, R.N. Thiagarajan *2016 –

Neela Ramgopal Neela Ramgopal (25 May 1935 – 1 March 2023) was an Indian Carnatic vocalist and Carnatic music teacher. Some of her works included ''Tamizh Inbam'', ''Rama Upasana'' and ''Narayana Enniro''. She was a recipient of awards, including the Sange ...

K. Omanakutty Kamalakshi Omanakutty is an academician, music teacher and carnatic vocalist noted for her research and publications in the field of music. Her research on Kathakali music led to her doctorate in this field. She currently serves as professor a ...

*2017 – M. S. Sheela *2018 – Alamelu Mani, Malladi Suribabu *2019 –

Charumathi Ramachandran Charumathi Ramachandran (born 12 July 1951) is a Carnatic music singer. She is a disciple of M.L. Vasanthakumari. She was a gold medalist and stood first in music from the Madras University. She was one of the first carnatic vocalists to introd ...

, Pala C. K. Ramachandran *2020 – R. K. Padmanabha, G. Balakrishna Prasad *2021 –

Sudha Ragunathan Sudha Ragunathan is an Indian Carnatic vocalist, singer and composer. She was conferred the Kalaimamani award by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1994, Padma Shri (2004) and Padma Bhushan (2015) by the Government of India, and Sangeetha Kalanidh ...

, Radha Namboodiri

Instrumental

= Clarionet

= *1994 – A. K. C. Natarajan

=
Flute The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...

= *1954 – Palladam Sanjiva Rao *1961 – T. N. Swaminatha Pillai *1965 – T. R. Mahalingam *1984 – Natesan Ramani *1987 –

T. Viswanathan Tanjore Viswanathan (13 August 1927 – 10 September 2002) was a Carnatic musician specializing in the Carnatic flute and voice. Early life and background Viswa, as T. (Tanjore/Thanjavur) Viswanathan is often called, was born in Madras, I ...

*1989 – Sikkil Sisters - Kunjumani & Neela *1997 – Kesi Narayanaswamy *1999–2000 – T.S Sankaran *2004 –

Prapancham Sitaram Prof Dr. Prapancham Sitaram was a Carnatic flautist from the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. Prof. Sitaram was a disciple of flautist T.R. Mahalingam and was a top artist in the All India Radio. He served as head of many institutions in Andhra ...

*2017 –

Shashank Subramanyam Shashank Subramanyam (born 14 October 1978) is a flutist from India and specializes in Indian classical music. The Govt. of France awarded the prestigious Knighthood / title of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. He is also th ...

*2019 –

Sikkil Mala Chandrasekar Sikkil Mala Chandrasekhar (b 1963) is a noted South Indian carnatic flautist. Mala Chandrasekhar was born to a musical family. Mala Chandrasekhar started learning from Sikkil Sisters, her aunt Kunjumani and her mother Neela. In playing style, ...

=
Ghatam The ghaṭam ( sa, घटं ''ghaṭaṁ'', kan, ಘಟ ''ghaṭah'', ta, கடம் ''ghatam'', te, ఘటం ''ghatam'', ml, ഘടം, ''ghatam'') is a percussion instrument used in various repertoires across India. It's a variant ...

= *1988 –

Thetakudi Harihara Vinayakram Thetakudi Harihara Vinayakram (born 11 August 1942), also known as Vikku Vinayakram, is an Indian percussionist. He is also known as the God of ''ghatam''. He plays Carnatic music with the ''ghatam'', an earthen pot, and is credited with popula ...

*1995 – Umayalpuram K. Narayanaswamy *2011 – E. M. Subramaniam *2014 –

Sukanya Ramgopal Sukanya Ramgopal is an Indian carnatic musician from Tamil Nadu. She is best known as the first woman ghatam player in Carnatic music. She is also proficient in carnatic vocal, violin, mridangam and veena. She received several awards including ...

=
Gottuvadhyam The chitravina ( sa, चित्रवीणा) (also known as chitra veena, chitraveena, chitra vina, hanumad vina, or mahanataka vina) is a 20 or 21-string fretless lute-style veena in Carnatic music. Around the late 19th and early 20th ce ...

= *1958 –

Budaloor Krishnamurthy Shastri Budaloor Krishnamurti Shastri (1894–1978) was an Indian gottuvadhyam player. Early life Shastri was born in Andanallur in South India, He first training in music came from his father Seturama Shastri. He continued his training under the music ...

*2006 –

N. Ravikiran Narasimhan Ravikiran (born 12 February 1967) is an Indian slide instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, and orator, who created the concept of melharmony. He is the son of gottuvadhyam player Chitravina Narasimhan and the grandson of Narayan Iye ...

= Kanjira

= *2001 – G. Harishankar

=
Mandolin A mandolin ( it, mandolino ; literally "small mandola") is a stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally plucked with a pick. It most commonly has four courses of doubled strings tuned in unison, thus giving a total of 8 ...

= *2009 – U. Srinivas

=
Mridangam The mridangam is a percussion instrument of ancient origin. It is the primary rhythmic accompaniment in a Carnatic music ensemble. In Dhrupad, a modified version, the pakhawaj, is the primary percussion instrument. A related instrument is the ...

= *1956 –

Palghat Mani Iyer Palghat T. S. Mani Iyer (1912–1981), born Thiruvilvamalai Ramaswamy was one of the leading mridangists in the field of Carnatic music. He, along with his contemporaries Palani Subramaniam Pillai and Ramanathapuram C. S. Murugabhoopathy, are ...

*1975 – C.S. Murugabhupathy *1979 – Kolanka Venkata Raju *1983 –

Palghat R. Raghu Palghat R. Raghu (9 January 1928 – 2 June 2009) was a Carnatic musician and percussionist. He was awarded the Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 2007. Early life Palghat Ramaswamy Raghu was born in Rangoon, Burma (now Myanma ...

*1987 – T. K. Murthy *1990 –

T. V. Gopalakrishnan Tripunithura Viswanathan Gopalakrishnan (born 11 June 1932 in Tripunithura, Kerala), known as TVG, is a Carnatic and Hindustani musician from Cochin, Kerala, India. He was awarded the Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 2014. Ea ...

*1991 – Vellore G. Ramabhadran *1992 –

Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman Umayalpuram Kasiviswanatha Sivaraman (born 17 December 1935) is an Indian musician and exponent of the Carnatic percussion instrument, the mridangam. He is a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan as well as the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. Earl ...

*1994 – Dandamudi Ram Mohan Rao *1996 –

Guruvayur Dorai Guruvayur Dorai (born 2 July 1935) is an Indian percussionist. He is one of the most senior exponents of the South Indian classical percussion instrument, the mridangam. He had his initial training under Palghat Subba Iyer and E.P. Narayana P ...

*1998 – Karaikudi Mani *1999–2000 – V. Kamalakar Rao *2002 – Yella Venkateshwara Rao *2004 –

Madras A. Kannan Madras A. Kannan was a Mridangam exponent from Tamil Nadu, India. Due to his outstanding performances in the field of percussion, he is often called as the ''Mrudanga Samrat'' which literally means "Emperor of Mridangam". He received several awa ...

*2006 – Thiruvarur Bakthavathsalam *2008 – Mannargudi Easwaran *2009 –

Dandamudi Sumathi Ram Mohan Rao Nidumolu Sumathi (born October 16, 1950), also known as Dandamudi Sumathi is an Indian percussionist, primarily playing the mridangam. She is married to "Mridangam Maestro" Sri Dandamudi Ram Mohan Rao. She is one of the first female mridangam pl ...

*2010 – Srimushnam V. Raja Rao *2012 – K. V. Prasad *2013 –

Trichy Sankaran Trichy Sankaran (born 27 July 1942) is an Indian percussionist, composer, scholar, and educator. He was awarded the Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 2011. As a mridangam ''vidwan'', he has been called a "doyen among the percussion ...

*2016 – J. Vaidhyanathan *2017 –

Tiruvarur Vaidyanathan Tiruvarur Vaidyanathan (திருவாரூர் வைத்தியநாதன்) is a mridangam artist born 11 May 1963 in Tiruvarur, India to a family of mridangam artists. Awards and honors *South Asian Arts and cultural Organi ...

*2019 – Trivandrum V Surendran *2020 – Patri Satish Kumar

=
Nagaswaram The Nagaswaram (nādḥasvaram) is a double reed wind instrument from South India. It is used as a traditional classical instrument in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala. This instrument is "among the world's loudes ...

= *1955 –

T. N. Rajarathinam Pillai Thirumarugal Natesapillai Rajarathinam Pillai (27 August 1898 – 12 December 1956) or TNR was an Indian Carnatic musician, nadaswaram ''maestro'', vocalist and film actor. He was popularly known as "Nadaswara Chakravarthi" (literally, the Empero ...

*1962 – Dr. Thiruvengadu Subramania Pillai *1966 – P. S. Veeruswamy Pillai *1972 – T. S. Natarajasundaram Pillai *1976 –

Sheik Chinna Moulana Sheik Chinna Moulana (12 May 1924, Karavadi Prakasham, Andhra Pradesh – 13 April 1999, Srirangam, Tamil Nadu), popularly known as Sheik, was a legendary nadhaswaram player in the Carnatic tradition. He was awarded the Madras Music Academy's Sa ...

*1981 –

Namagiripettai Krishnan Namagiripettai K Krishnan (2 April 1924 – 30 April 2001) was a Carnatic musician who played the Nadaswaram. He was born in Namagiripettai village and lived in Sendamangalam, Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu, India. He gave many performances acro ...

*1995 – Domada Chittiabbayi *2005 – Ongale N. Rangaiah *2007 –

S. R. D. Vaidyanathan S. R. D. Vaidyanathan (Tamil: S.R.D. வைத்தியநாதன்; 15 March 1929 − 18 November 2013) was an Indian musician who played the Nadaswaram. Early life and background S. R. D. Vaidyanathan was born in Mayiladuthurai, Tamil ...

*2011 – Seshampatti T Sivalingam *2013 –

Thiruvizha Jayashankar Thiruvizha Jayashankar (born 1940) is an Indian classical musician and a well known Nadaswaram expert in South India. Early life and education Born in the family of musicians in a small village Thiruvizha, Alleppey, Jayashankar was keen to ...

*2017 – S.Kasim, S.Babu -

Kasim-Babu Brothers The Kasim-Babu Brothers are the grandsons and disciples of the Nadhaswaram Maestro Dr. Sheik Chinna Moulana. Today, Kasim-Babu are the front ranking Nadhaswaram artists and torch bearers of Chinna Moulana's tradition. Kasim and Babu are noted ...

=
Saxophone The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed on a mouthpiece vibrates to pr ...

= *2003 –

Kadri Gopalnath Kadri Gopalnath (6 December 1949 – 11 October 2019) was an Indian alto saxophone, alto saxophonist and one of the pioneers of Carnatic music for that instrument. Early life Born in Sajeepa Mooda village in Bantwal taluk of Dakshina Kannada ...

=
Thavil A ''thavil'' (Tamil:தவில்) or ''tavil'' is a barrel-shaped percussion instrument from Tamil Nadu. It is also widely used in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu and Telangana States of South India. It is used in temple, folk ...

= *1985 – Valangaiman A. Shanmugasundaram Pillai *1988 –

Valayapatti A. R. Subramaniam Valayapatti A. R. Subramaniam is an Indian classical musician and percussionist, considered by many as one of the foremost prominent exponents of thavil also known as dolu, a traditional percussion instrument in Carnatic music, accompanying wind ...

*2001 – Haridwaramangalam A. K. Palanivel *2014 –

Thiruvalaputhur T A Kaliyamurthy Kalaimamani Thiruvalaputhur T A Kaliyamurthy (22 October 1948 – 19 February 2020) was a noted Thavil musical artist providing 'special' Thavil accompaniment ('Special' in percussion circles denotes selection-grade status and seniority) to th ...

*2021 – Thanjavur R. Govindarajan

=
Veena The ''veena'', also spelled ''vina'' ( sa, वीणा IAST: vīṇā), comprises various chordophone instruments from the Indian subcontinent. Ancient musical instruments evolved into many variations, such as lutes, zithers and arched harps.< ...

= *1952 –

Karaikudi Sambasiva Iyer Karaikudi Sambasiva Iyer (1888 - 1958) was noted Indian classical musician and Veena player. In 1952, he was amongst the first awardees of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship the highest honour conferred by Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's Natio ...

*1960 – L. Subramanya Sastri *1968 –

K. S. Narayanaswamy K. S. Narayanaswamy, (full name Koduvayur Sivarama Iyer Narayanaswamy; 27 September 1914 – 1999) was a Carnatic veena exponent of the Thanjavur style, in which nuances and subtleties are given more importance over rhythm based acrobatics.

*1969 – Devakottai A. Narayana Iyengar *1970 –

Mysore V. Doreswamy Iyengar Mysore Venkatesha Doreswamy Iyengar (1920-1997) was a Carnatic musician and one of the greatest exponents of the veena in modern Indian history. Early life He was a son of Venkatesha Iyengar, a learned vainika and royal musician at the court ...

*1973 –

Emani Sankara Sastry Emani Sankara Sastry (23 September 1922 – 1987), was a renowned Veena player of Carnatic music. Life sketch Emani Sankara Sastry was born on 23 September 1922 in Draksharamam, India. He came from a family of celebrated classical musicians. H ...

*1977 –

S. Balachander Sundaram Balachander (18 January 1927 – 13 April 1990) was an Indian veena player and filmmaker. He directed, produced, and also composed music for a few of his films. Balachander was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1982. He died of a hear ...

*1980 – Thanjavur K.P. Sivanandam *1986 – Rajeswari Padmanabhan *1988 – R. Pichumani Iyer *1990 – Chitti Babu *1992 – M. K. Kalyanakrishna Bhagavathar *1993 –

Kalpakam Swaminathan Kalpakam Swaminathan (15 August 1922 – 6 April 2011) was a ''vainika'' (veena player) of Carnatic music. Profile Kalpakam was born in Sethalapathi village in the Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu, India. Her mother Abhayambal initiated he ...

*2001 – R. N. Doreswamy *2002 – E. Gayathri *2007 – Vidya Shankar *2011 – Ayyagari Syamasundaram *2017 – Suma Sudhindra *2021 – D. Balakrishnan

=
Violin The violin, sometimes known as a ''fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone (string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in the family in regular ...

= *1953 –

Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu (8 November 1893 – 25 November 1964) was one of the most important carnatic music violinists of the 20th century. Naidu was partially blind. He played at the National Physical Laboratory auditorium, New Delhi in 1952 ...

*1957 –

Tirumakudalu Chowdiah Tirumakudalu Chowdiah ( kn, ಸಂಗೀತ ರತ್ನ ತಿರುಮಕೂಡಲು ಚೌಡಯ್ಯ) (1895 – 19 January 1967) was a violin maestro from India in the Carnatic classical tradition. Early years Chowdiah, was born in ...

*1959 –

Kumbakonam Rajamanickam Pillai Kumbakonam Rajamanickam Pillai ( ta, கும்பகோணம் ராஜமாணிக்கம் பிள்ளை), 5 August 1898 - 1970 was a Carnatic music violinist of Tamil Nadu, Southern India. Bringing up He was born in the small ...

*1963 – T. K. Jayarama Iyer *1964 – K. N. Chinnaswamy Iyer *1967 – K. S. Venkataramiah 'Papa' *1971 – Madurai S. Subramanya Iyer *1974 –

T. N. Krishnan Trippunithura Narayana Krishnan (6 October 19282 November 2020) was an Indian Carnatic music violinist. Along with Lalgudi Jayaraman and M. S. Gopalakrishnan he was considered part of the violin-trinity of Carnatic music. He was awarded the Mad ...

*1978 –

Lalgudi Jayaraman Lalgudi Gopala Iyer Jayaraman (17 September 1930 – 22 April 2013) was an Indian Carnatic violinist, vocalist and composer. He is commonly grouped with M.S. Gopalakrishnan and T.N.Krishnan as part of the violin-trinity of Carnatic Mu ...

*1982 –

M. S. Gopalakrishnan M.S. Gopalakrishnan, a.k.a. MSG, (10 June 1931 – 3 January 2013) was a violinist in the field of Carnatic music. He is commonly grouped with Lalgudi Jayaraman and T.N.Krishnan as part of the violin-trinity of Carnatic Music. He was awarded ...

*1986 –

M. Chandrasekaran Mohanan Chandrasekaran is a Carnatic classical violinist from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. He was born in Calcutta, on 1937 December 11 as the younger of the two sons of T.N. Mohanan and Charubala Mohanan, a violinist herself. He was awarded th ...

*1988 – Chalakudy N. S. Narayanaswamy *1989 – R. K. Venkatarama Sastry *1991 –

Kandadevi S. Alagiriswamy Kandadevi S. Alagiriswamy (1925–2000) was a Carnatic violinist. Early life He was born on April 21, 1925, in the village of Kandadevi near Devakottai, Sivaganga district in Tamil Nadu to Sundararaja Iyengar and Alimelu Ammal. He initially ha ...

*1993 –

Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan (2 March 1935 – 8 September 2008) was an Indian classical music violinist and music composer. Early life Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan was born on 2 March 1935 and was trained by his father, Ramaswamy Sastry. He was the brother ...

*1996 – Annavarapu Ramaswamy *1997 – T. Rukmini *1998 – M. S. Anantharaman *1999–2000 – R. R. Keshavamurthy *2003 – A. Kanyakumari *2005 – V. V. Subrahmanyam *2008 – B. Sasikumar *2010 –

Nagai Muralidharan Nagai Muralidharan (born 4 December 1958 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu) is a Carnatic music, Carnatic violinist from India. He was awarded Kalaimamani#2003, Kalaimamani by the State Government of Tamil Nadu in 2003. Musical career Muralidharan initi ...

*2012 – Mysore M. Nagaraja *2014 – Dwaram Durga Prasad Rao *2015 – Lalgudi G. J. R. Krishnan *2016 –

Mysore Manjunath Mysore Manjunath (born in Mysore, India), is an Indian violinist. The son and disciple of violinist Prof. Mahadevappa, Manjunath performed his first concert at the age of eight in Mysore as a child prodigy storming in to the music world. Trai ...

*2018 –

Ganesh and Kumaresh Ganesh and Kumaresh are Indian duo of violin players who are a part of the Carnatic music (South India) fraternity. The brothers are known as modern contemporary artists in "Sastriya Sangitam". They were awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award f ...

*2020 – M. A. Sundareswaran

Creative and experimental music

*1973 – Vishnudas Shirali *1976 – Timir Baran Bhattacharya *1978 – Rai Chand Boral *1982 – Vijay Raghav Rao *1983 – Chidambaram S. Jayaraman *1986 – Anil Biswas *1986 – M. B. Srinivasan *1986 –

Hemanta Kumar Mukhopadhyay Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (16 June 1920 – 26 September 1989), known professionally as Hemant Kumar and Hemanta Mukherjee, was a legendary Indian music composer and playback singer who primarily sang in Bengali and Hindi, as well as other Indian ...

*1988 – Bhaskar Chandavarkar *1989 –

Vanraj Bhatia Vanraj Bhatia (Hindi: वनराज भाटिया ; 31 May 1927 – 7 May 2021) was an Indian composer best known for his work in Indian New Wave cinema. He was also one of the leading composers of Western classical music in India. Bha ...

*1990 –

L. Subramaniam Lakshminarayana Subramaniam (born 23 July 1947) is an Indian violinist, composer and conductor, trained in the classical Carnatic music tradition and Western classical music. Early years Subramaniam was born in Madras, Madras Presidency, Br ...

*1994 – V. Balsara *1995 – Atul Desai *1997 – Satish Bhatia *1998 –

Vishwa Mohan Bhatt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, professionally known as V. M. Bhatt (born 27 July 1950), is an Hindustani classical music instrumentalist who plays the Mohan veena ( slide guitar). Personal life Bhatt lives in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, with his wife and ...

*2001 – S. Rajaram *2002 – K. P. Udayabhanu *2007 –

Khayyam Ghiyāth al-Dīn Abū al-Fatḥ ʿUmar ibn Ibrāhīm Nīsābūrī (18 May 1048 – 4 December 1131), commonly known as Omar Khayyam ( fa, عمر خیّام), was a polymath, known for his contributions to mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, ...

*2012 –

Ilaiyaraaja Ilaiyaraaja (born R. Gnanathesikan, 3 June 1943) is an Indian musician, composer, arranger, conductor, orchestrator, instrumentalist, lyricist and singer, popular for his works in Indian Cinema, prominently in Tamil films. Reputed to be one of ...

*2020 –

Bickram Ghosh Bickram Ghosh is an Indian classical tabla player. Early life He started learning tabla from his father, Pandit Shankar Ghosh, who had played with Ali Akbar Khan. Career Ghosh has performed with Ali Akbar Khan and Pandit Ravi Shankar. Gho ...

Folk music

*2022 –

Mahavir Nayak Mahavir Nayak (born 26 March 1942), is a nagpuri singer and songwriter. He is an exponent of Theth Nagpuri music, which is a genre of typical Nagpuri music, based on traditional Nagpuri folk music. He is the recipient of Sangeet Natak Akade ...

Other major traditions of music

*2008 – Ningombam Ibobi Singh ( Nata Sankirtana, Manipur) *2009 – L. Ibohalmacha Singh (Nata Sankirtana, Manipur) *2010 – M.V. Simhachala Sastry (

Harikatha ''Harikatha'' (Kannada: ಹರಿಕಥೆ : ''Harikathe''; Telugu: హరికథ : ''Harikatha;'' Marathi: हरीपाठ '': Haripatha'', ), also known as ''Harikatha Kaalakshepam'' in Telugu and Tamil (), is a form of Hindu tradition ...

, Tirupathi) *2011 –

Gopal Chandra Panda ''Pandit'' Gopal Chandra Panda (, ; born 1940) is a Guru of Odissi classical music, vocalist, researcher and composer. A disciple of Singhari Shyamsundar Kar, he has authored several books such as ''Odissi Raga Ratnabali'' & ''Odissi Raga Darpa ...

(Odissi Music) *2012 – Bhai Balbir Singh Ragi (

Gurbani Gurbani ( pa, ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ) is a Sikh term, very commonly used by Sikhs to refer to various compositions by the Sikh Gurus and other writers of Guru Granth Sahib. In general, hymns in the central text of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib, ...

) *2013 – Bankim Sethi (Odissi Music) *2018 –

Suresh Wadkar Suresh Ishwar Wadkar (born 7 August 1955) is an Indian playback singer. He performs in both Hindi and Marathi films. He has sung songs in some Bhojpuri films, Odia albums and bhajans and in Konkani films. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Aka ...

(Sugam Sangeet), Shanti Hiranand (Sugam Sangeet), H. Ashangbi Devi (Nata Sankirtana, Manipur) *2019 – O. S. Arun (Sugam Sangeet),

Sharma Bandhu Sharma Bandhu (Sharma Brothers) ( hi, शर्मा बन्धु) refers to four Indian classical music, Indian classical vocalist brothers, who perform bhajan and Hindu devotional music. They were born in the music family of Pandit Jyoti Pr ...

(Sugam Sangeet), D. Uma Maheshwari (Harikatha) *2020 –

Anup Jalota Anup Jalota, (born 29 July 1953) is an Indian singer, musician and actor, best known for his contributions to the Bhajan genre of Indian Music. He is popularly known as the "Bhajan Samraat" (Emperor of Bhajans).Bharatanatyam Bharatanatyam () is a major form of Indian classical dance that originated in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the eight widely recognized Indian classical dance forms, and expresses South Indian religious themes and spiritual ideas, particularly of S ...

*1955 – T. Balasaraswati *1957 – Rukmini Devi Arundale *1959 – Mylapore Gouri Amma *1962 – R. Muthurathnambal *1965 – P. Chockkalingam Pillai *1966 – Vazhuvoor B. Ramiah Pillai, Swarnasaraswathi *1968 –

Kamala Kamala refers to: People * Kamala (name), given name and surname, includes list of people and characters with the name ** Kamala Harris, the 49th and current Vice President of the United States * Kamala (wrestler) (1950–2020), American profess ...

*1969 – T. K. Swaminatha Pillai *1970 – Shanta Rao *1971 – T. Chandrakanthamma *1972 – Sikkil Ramaswami Pillai *1973 – Kumbakonam K. Bhanumathi *1974 – K. P. Kittappa Pillai *1976 – M. Muthiah Pillai *1977 –

Yamini Krishnamurthy Mungara Yamini Krishnamurthy (born 20 December 1940) is an Indian dancer of Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi styles of dancing. Early life Yamini Krishnamurthy was born in Madanapalli, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh. She was brought up in Chidam ...

*1979 – Pandanallur Subbaraya Pillai *1981 –

Indrani Rahman Indrani Rahman (19 September 1930, Chennai – 5 February 1999, New York) was an Indian classical dancer of Bharata Natyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali and Odissi, which she popularised in the west, and later settled in New York in 1976. In 1952, ...

*1982 –

Vyjayanthimala Vyjayanthimala (born 13 August 1936) is a former Indian actress, dancer and parliamentarian. She is the recipient of several accolades, including two BFJA Awards and five Filmfare Awards. She made her screen debut at the age of thirteen with ...

*1983 – Padma Subramanyam *1984 – Subramaniam Sarada, Sudharani Raghupathy *1985 – T. K. Mahalingam Pillai *1986 – Krishnaveni Lakshmanan *1987 – U. S. Krishna Rao and Chandrabhaga Devi, Chitra Viswaswaran *1989 – V. S. Muthuswamy Pillai *1990 –

Kalanidhi Narayanan Kalanidhi Narayanan (7 December 1928 – 21 February 2016) was an Indian dancer and teacher of Indian classical dance form of Bharatnatyam, who was the early non- devadasi girl to learn the dance form and perform it on stage in the 1930s and 19 ...

*1991 –

Adyar K. Lakshman Adyar K. Lakshman (16 December 1933 – 19 August 2014) was a noted Indian Bharatnatyam dancer, choreographer and guru. Early life Born on 16 December 1933, Adyar K. Lakshman hails from Kuppam in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. His fath ...

*1992 – K. J. Sarasa *1993 �
Guru Kubernath Tanjorkar(Tanjavurkar)
C. V. Chandrasekhar *1994 – V. P. Dhananjayan and Shanta Dhananjayan *1995 – M. K. Saroja, Indira Rajan *1996 – Sarada Hoffman *1997 – Kanaka Srinivasan *1998 – Lakshmi Viswanathan *1999–2000 – K. Kalyanasundaram Pillai,

Leela Samson Leela Samson (born 6 May 1951) is a Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, instructor, writer and actress from India. As a soloist, she is known for her technical virtuosity and has taught Bharatanatyam at Shriram Bhartiya Kala Kendra in Delhi f ...

H. R. Keshava Murthy H. R. Keshava Murthy (22 February 1934 – 21 December 2022) was an Indian gamaka exponent and guru. He was honoured with Shantala Natya Sri Award by the Government of Karnataka in 1998 and Padma Shri in 2022 by the Government of India in the ...

*2001 –

Alarmel Valli Alarmel Valli is a leading Indian classical dancer and choreographer and the foremost exponent of the Pandanallur style in the Indian classical dance form, Bharatanatyam. She is widely acclaimed for her ability to turn traditional grammar in ...

Pratibha Prahlad Prathibha Prahlad (b 1962) is a Bharata Natyam dancer, educator, choreographer, arts administrator, and author. She was the founder director of the Delhi International Arts Festival. Personal life Prathiba Prahlad was born on January 29, 1969, ...

*2002 – Malavika Sarukkai *2003 – C. K. Balagopalan *2004 – Nirmala Ramachandran *2005 – R. Rhadha *2006 – S. Narmada *2007 – Sucheta Bhide Chapekar *2008 –

Saroja Vaidyanathan Saroja Vaidyanathan (born 19 September 1937) is a choreographer, guru and a notable exponent of Bharatanatyam. She was conferred the Padma Shri in 2002 and the Padma Bhushan in 2013 by the Government of India. Early life and education Saroj ...

*2009 –

Ananda Shankar Jayant Ananda Shankar Jayant is an Indian classical dancer, choreographer, scholar and bureaucrat, known for her proficiency in the classical dance forms of Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. She is the first woman officer in the Indian Railway Traffic Serv ...

*2011 – Narthaki Natraj (First Transgender to receive SN Akademi Award) *2012 – Priyadarsini Govind *2013 – Jamuna Krishnan, B. Herabhanathan *2014 – Adayar Janardanan *2015 – Ranganayaki Jayaraman *2016 – Geeta Chandran *2017 –

Rama Vaidyanathan Rama Vaidyanathan is an Indian bharatnatyam artist from Delhi. She is one of the directors of Ganesha Natyalaya, one of the best Bharatanatyam institutes of the country. She has toured the country and the world, performing and showcasing her ar ...

*2018 – Radha Sridhar *2019 –

Vasundhara Doraswamy Vasundhara Doraswamy (born 1949) is the founder and director of Vasundhara Performing Arts Centre, Mysore (India). She is a Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, and guru (teacher). She is also one of the disciples of the late K. Pattabhi Jois, Sh ...

*2020 – Meenakshi Chitharanjan *2021 – Jayalakshmi Eshwar

Chhau

*1963 – Sudhendra Narayan Singh Deo (Seraikella) *1971 – Ananta Charan Sai (Mayurbhanj) *1975 – Krishna Chandra Naik (Mayurbhanj) *1981 – Kedar Nath Sahoo (Seraikella) *1982 – Gambhir Singh Mura (Purulia) *1987 – Madan Mohan Lenka (Mayurbhanj) *1988 – Srihari Nayak (Mayurbhanj) *1990 – Bikram Kumbhakar (Seraikella) *1991 – Chandra Sekhar Bhanj (Mayurbhanj) *2004 – Shashadhar Acharya *2012 – Jai Narayan Samal *2014 – Jagru Mahato *2015 – Sadashiva Pradhan *2016 – Gopal Prasad Dubey *2017 – Janmajay Saibabu *2018 – Tapan Kumar Pattanayak (Seraikella) *2019 – Brajendra Kumar Pattnaik *2020 – Trilochan Mohanta *2021 – Bhuvan Kumar

Creative dance/Choreography

*1960 –

Uday Shankar Uday Shankar (8 December 1900 – 26 September 1977) was an Indian dancer and choreographer, best known for creating a fusion style of dance, adapting European theatrical techniques to Indian classical dance, imbued with elements of Indian cl ...

*1970 –

Mrinalini Sarabhai Mrinalini Vikram Sarabhai (11 May 1918 – 21 January 2016) was an Indian classical dancer, choreographer and instructor. She was the founder and director of the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, an institute for imparting training in dance, ...

*1976 –

Narendra Sharma Pandit Narendra Sharma (28 February 1913 – 12 February 1989) was an Indian writer, poet and lyricist in Hindi language. He also wrote some songs for Indian Hindi cinema, like the title song for ''Satyam Shivam Sundaram'' (1979), for which he ...

*1979 – Prabhat Ganguli *1980 – R. K. Priyagopal Sana *1981 – Parvati Kumar *1984 –

Rajkumar Singhajit Singh Rajkumar Singhajit Singh, (born 1 May 1935) is a leading exponent, choreographer and a guru of Indian classical dance form of Manipuri, including the Pung cholom and Raslila. He was awarded with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1984 an ...

*1989 –

Maya Rao Maya Rao (2 May 1928 – 1 September 2014) was an Indian classical dancer, choreographer and educator, in Kathak dance. She is known for her pioneering work in Kathak choreography, especially in dance ballets, and is credited for bringing Kath ...

*1991 – Chandralekha *1992 – Sachin Shankar *1993 – Manjusri Chaki Sircar *1995 –

Astad Deboo Astad Deboo (13 July 194710 December 2020) was an Indian contemporary dancer and choreographer. He was considered a pioneer of modern dance in India. Through his career he collaborated with artists including Pina Bausch, Alison Becker Chase a ...

*1999–2000

Mallika Sarabhai Mallika Sarabhai (born 9 May 1954) is an activist and Indian classical dancer and actress from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Daughter of a classical dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai and space scientist Vikram Sarabhai, Mallika is an accomplished Kuchip ...

*2001 – Gul Bardhan *2002 – Sambhu Bhattacharya *2005 – Th. Chaotombi Singh *2006 – Gorima Hazarika *2008 – Yogsunder Desai *2009 – Daksha Sheth *2010 – Uttara Asha Coorlawala *2011 –

Tanushree Shankar Tanushree Shankar (born 16 March 1956) is an Indian dancer and choreographer. She is based in Kolkata, India. She was a leading dancer of the Ananda Shankar Centre for Performing Arts in the 1970s and 1980s. She also acted in various films, ...

*2014 –

Navtej Singh Johar Navtej Singh Johar (born 8 August 1959) is an Indian Sangeet Natak Akademi award-winning Bharatnatyam exponent and choreographer. He is also an LGBTQ activist. Life and career Johar is faculty at Ashoka University, Sonipat. He is trained in B ...

*2015 – W. Lokendrajit Singh *2016 –

Anita Ratnam Anita Ratnam (born 21 May 1954) is an Indian classical and contemporary dancer and choreographer. Classically trained in Bharat Natyam, she has also received formal training in Kathakali, Mohiniattam, and T'ai chi and Kalarippayattu, thus c ...

*2018 – Deepak Mazumdar *2019 –

Mamata Shankar Mamata Shankar (born 7 January 1955) is an Indian actress and dancer. She is known for her work in Bengali cinema. She has acted in films by directors including Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Rituparno Ghosh, Buddhadeb Dasgupta and Gautam Ghosh. I ...

*2020 – Bhushan Lakhandri

Kathak Kathak ( hi, कथक; ur, کتھک) is one of the eight major forms of Indian classical dance. It is the classical dance from of Uttar Pradesh. The origin of Kathak is traditionally attributed to the traveling bards in ancient northern Ind ...

*1955 –

Shambhu Maharaj Pandit Shambhu Maharaj (1910 – 4 November 1970) was a Guru of the Lucknow ''Gharana'' (school) of the Indian classical dance form, Kathak. Early life and training Shambhu Maharaj was born in Lucknow as Shambhunath Mishra. He was the younges ...

*1957 – Baijnath Prasad " Lacchu Maharaj" *1959 –

Sunder Prasad Pandit Sunder Prasad (died 29 May 1970 ) was a guru (teacher) of - Jaipur Gharana of the Indian classical dance form, Kathak. He received his training from his father Pandit Chunnilal of Jaipur Gharana. He also trained under Bindadin Maharaj of ...

*1962 –

Mohanrao Kallianpurkar Mohanrao Shankarrao Kallianpurkar (; 12 August 1913 – 1 December 1985) was a Kathak dancer and teacher from Karnataka, considered to be one of the greatest scholars and teacher of Kathak dance form. He belongs to Jaipur school of Kathak. Bio ...

*1964 –

Birju Maharaj Pandit Birju Maharaj (born Brijmohan Nath Mishra; 4 February 1938 – 16 January 2022) was an Indian dancer, composer, singer, child molester and exponent of the Lucknow "Kalka-Bindadin" Gharana of Kathak dance in India. He was a descendant o ...

*1968 –

Damayanti Joshi Damayanti Joshi (5 September 1928 – 19 September 2004) was a noted renowned exponent of the Kathak dance form.She believed Kathak is the art of storytelling. She began in the 1930s dancing in Madame Menaka's troupe, which travelled to many pa ...

*1969 –

Sitara Devi Sitara Devi (named Dhanlakshm; 8 November 1920 – 25 November 2014) was an Indian dancer of the classical Kathak style of dancing, a singer, and an actress. She was the recipient of several awards and accolades, and performed at several prest ...

*1974 – Gauri Shankar Devilal Kathak *1975 – Roshan Kumari *1979 – Rohini Bhate *1982 – Kartik Ram,

Kumudini Lakhia Kumudini Lakhia (born 17 May 1930) is an Indian Kathak dancer and choreographer based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where she founded Kadamb School of Dance and Music, an institute of Indian dance and music in 1967. A pioneer in contemporary Kathak d ...

*1984 –

Durga Lal Pandit Durga Lal (1948 - 21 January 1990) was a renowned Kathak dancer of the Jaipur Gharana. He was born in Mahendragarh, Rajasthan. He is known for playing the main role in the 1989 dance drama ''Ghanashyam'', the music of which was composed ...

*1987 –

Uma Sharma Uma Sharma (born 1942) is a kathak dancer, choreographer and teacher. She is also runs the Bharatiya Sangeet Sadan, Delhi, a classical dance and music academy, situated in New Delhi, founded by her father in 1946. She is most known for reviving ...

*1991 – Reba Vidyarthi *1995 – Ramlal Bareth *1996 –

Rani Karnaa ''Rani'' in Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, sometimes spelled ''Ranee'', is a Hindu/Sanskrit feminine given name. The term is the female form of the term for princely rulers in South and Southeast Asia and applies equally to the wife of a ...

*1998 – Sunderlal Sathyanarayan Gangani *1999–2000 –

Shovana Narayan Shovana Narayan is a recognised Indian Kathak dancer and a career officer with Indian Audit and Accounts Service. She performs in India and internationally, and has been awarded the Padma Shri. She trained under Birju Maharaj. Early life and ...

*2000 – Surendra Saikia *2002 – Rajendra Gangani *2003 – Sunayana Hazarilal Agarwal, Urmila Nagar *2004 –

Saswati Sen Saswati Sen is an Indian dancer and choreographer, and an exponent of Kathak, an Indian classical dance form. She was a senior disciple of Pandit Birju Maharaj, and still teaches and performs at his Kalashram Institute in the Jor Bagh distric ...

*2005 – Tirath Ram Azad *2006 –

Munna Shukla Munna Shukla (7 December 1943- 11 January 2022) was a Kathak guru and choreographer of Lucknow Gharana based in New Delhi, India. Born to a family who has been involved in dance for generations, Munna Shukla specialized in Kathak, a classical dan ...

*2007 – Geetanjali Lal *2008 – Shashi Sankhla *2009 – Prerana Shrimali *2010 – Malabika Mitra *2011 – Manjushree Chatterjee *2012 – Vijay Shankar *2013 – Rajashree Shirke *2014 – Uma Dogra *2016 – Jitendra Maharaj *2017 – Shobha Koser *2018 – Maulik Shah, Ishira Parikh *2019 – Raghav Raj Bhatt & Mangala Bhatt *2020 – Kumkum Dhar *2021 – Shama Bhate

Kathakali Kathakali ( ml, കഥകളി) is a major form of classical Indian dance. It is a "story play" genre of art, but one distinguished by the elaborately colourful make-up and costumes of the traditional male actor-dancers. It is native to the M ...

*1956 –

Guru Kunchu Kurup Guru Kunju Kurup (1881–1970) was a Kathakali dancer from south Kerala, India. Life Born in a Poypallilkulam family of Thakazhi village of Kuttanad in present-day Alappuzha district, Kurup was initiated into Kathakali at the age of 13 by hi ...

*1958 – Thotton K. Chandu Panikkar *1961 – Thekinkatti Ramunni Nair *1963 – Chenganoor Raman Pillai *1965 –

Guru Gopinath Perumanoor Gopinathan Pillai, more popularly known as Guru Gopinath (24 June 1908 – 9 October 1987) was a well known actor-cum-dancer. He is well regarded as the greatest preserver of the dance tradition. He is a recipient of the Sangeet Natak ...

*1967 –

Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair (27 March 1914 – 15 August 1990) was a Kathakali dancer from Kerala in India. Life He learned and exhibited various styles of Kathakali. A Padma Shri and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee, A native of Cheruthazha ...

*1968 – Kurichi Kunjan Panickar *1969 – Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair *1970 – M. Vishnu Namboodiri *1971 – Kudamaloor Karunakaran Nair *1972 – M. Madhava Panicker *1973 – Velinezhi K. Nanu Nayar *1973 – Kavungal Chathunni Panicker *1974 –

Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair (25 May 1925 – 11 March 2013) was a performer of Kathakali, who practiced the Kerala art form for more than seven decades. Biography His guru was Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon, his only teacher in his entir ...

*1975 – K. Sankarankutty Panicker *1983 –

Champakulam Pachu Pillai Champakulam Pachu Pillai is a Kathakali exponent from Kerala, India. He was a specialist in the ''thadi'' or bearded roles in kathakali. He has been honored with several noted awards including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 1983, Kerala Sangeet ...

*1985 –

Mankompu Sivasankara Pillai Mankompu Sivasankara Pillai, of Kerala in south India, was a Kathakali artist of the classical dance-drama's southern style. Noted for his consummate depiction of pachcha, kathi and minukku roles, he is a disciple of Chenganoor Raman Pillai. Bo ...

*1987 –

Kalamandalam Gopi Vadakke Manalath Govindan Nair popularly known as Kalamandalam Gopi, is an Indian dancer who is an exponent of the classical dance-drama style known as Kathakali. Life Born as Vadakke Manalath Govindan Nair in the Southern Indian village of ...

*1988 – Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair *1989 – Oyoor Kochugovinda Pillai *1991 – Chennithala Chellapan Pillai *1993 –

Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair (1928–2007) was an eminent Kathakali exponent, equally known for his capacities as a tutor, theoretician and author of a few authentic texts on the classical dance-drama from Kerala in south India. A son of the ...

*1996 – Kottakkal Krishnan Kutty Nair *1997 –

Madavoor Vasudevan Nair Madavoor Vasudevan Nair (7 April 1929 alattukavu, vallikeezhu, kollam, (Kerala) – 6 February 2018) was a veteran Kathakali artiste. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India. He taught the Kaplingadan style of Kathakali pe ...

*1998 –

Kottakkal Sivaraman Kottakkal Sivaraman (1936 – 19 July 2010) was a performing artiste who revolutionised the portrayal of female roles in Kathakali, the classical dance-drama from Kerala in southern India. Career Kathakali, being a largely masculine dance form w ...

*1999–2000 –

Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri or Nelliyod Vasudevan Namboodiri (5 February 1940 – 2 August 2021) was a Kathakali artiste, noted primarily for his vibrant portrayal of the evil ''chuvanna thaadi'' ("red beard") roles of the classical Kathaka ...

*2003 – Sadanam P. V. Balakrishnan *2004 –

Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharody Kalamandalam Vasu Pisharody (15 August 1943 – 1 December 2022) was an Indian Kathakali actor known for his classical dance-drama of Kerala. A frontline disciple of Padma Shri Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair, he exceled in virtuous , anti-hero Kathi ...

*2005 – Mathoor Govindan Kutty *2006 –

Kottakkal Chandrasekharan Kottakkal Chandrasekharan (15 January 1945 – 4 September 2019) was a senior Kathakali artiste known for his portrayal of the virtuous pachcha and anti-heroic Kathi roles in the classical dance-drama from Kerala in south India. Life Born at ...

*2007 – Sadanam Krishnankutty *2008 – Kalamandalam Kuttan *2009 – Kalamandalam Rajan *2010 – Kalamandalam K. G. Vasudevan *2011 –

Thonnakkal Peethambaran Tonnakkal Peethambaran is a Kathakali exponent from Kerala, India. He has been honored with several noted awards including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2011, Kerala state Kathakali award 2014 and Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi award 2003. Bi ...

*2012 – Vazhengada Vijayan *2013 – Kalamandalam M. P. S. Namboodiri *2015 – K. Kunhiraman Nair *2016 – Kalamandalam Ramachandran Unnithan *2017 –

Madambi Subramanian Namboodiri Madambi Subramanian Namboodiri is a Kathakali musician from Kerala, India. He received several noted awards including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Kerala State Kathakali Award, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award and Kerala Kalamandalam ...

*2019 – Kottakkal Nandakumaran Nair *2021 – Inchakkattu Ramachandran Pillai

Kuchipudi Kuchipudi () ( Telugu: ) is one of the eight major Indian classical dances. It originates from a village named Kuchipudi in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Kuchipudi is a dance-drama performance, with its roots in the ancient Hindu Sa ...

*1961 – Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma ‘Satyam’ *1968 – Chinta Krishnamurthy *1978 – C. Ramacharyalu *1981 –

Vempati Chinna Satyam Vempati Chinna Satyam (15 October 1929 – 29 July 2012) was an Indian dancer and a guru of the Kuchipudi dance form. Chinna Satyam was born in a brahmin family at Kuchipudi, Andhra Pradesh. He was taught by Vedantam Lakshmi Narayana Sastry ...

*1983 –

Nataraja Ramakrishna Nataraja Ramakrishna (21 March 1923 – 7 June 2011) was a dance guru from Telangana, India. He was the chairman of Andhra Pradesh Sangeeta Nataka Academy. He was also a scholar and musicologist who promoted classical dance in Andhra Pradesh ...

(also Bharatanatyam) *1985 – Vedantam Prahlada Sarma *1987 – Pasumarthi Venugopala Krishna Sarma *1990 –

Shobha Naidu Sobha Naidu (1956 – 14 October 2020) was among the foremost Kuchipudi dancers of India and a disciple of the renowned master Vempati Chinna Satyam. She mastered the technique of Kuchipudi and began dancing lead roles in dance-dramas at a you ...

*1991 – Raja Reddy and Radha Reddy *1993 – Josyula Seetharamaiah *1994 – Vedantam Parvateesam *1998 – Veernala Jayarama Rao and Banashree Rao *1999–2000 – Swapnasundari Rao *2003 – K. Uma Rama Rao *2004 – Pasumarthi Seetha Ramiah *2005 – Korada Narasimha Rao *2006 – Pasumarthi Rathiah Sarma *2007 – Yelesarapu Nageswara Sarma *2008 – Vasanta Lakshmi and Narasimhachari *2009 – Vyjayanthi Kashi *2010 – Ratna Kumar *2011 – Alekhya Punjala *2012 –

Vedantam Ramalinga Sastry Vedantam Ramalinga Sastry is an Indian classical dancer in Kuchipudi. He won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2012 for his research on Kuchipudi dance form. He is the Principal of Siddhendra Yogi Kuchipudi Kalapeetham. References {{DEFAUL ...

*2013 – Chinta Seetha Ramanjaneyulu *2014 – Vedantam Radhesyam *2015 –

Gaddam Padmaja Reddy Gaddam Padmaja Reddy (born 1 January 1967) is an Indian Kuchipudi exponent and music teacher. She performs ballets on mythological themes and contemporary social issues. She choreographed ''Kakatiyam'', a Kuchipudi visual dance form. She was ...

*2016 – A B Bala Kondala Rao *2017 – Deepika Reddy *2018 – Pasumurthy Ramalinga Sastry *2019 – Manju Barggavee *2020 – Pasumarthy Vithal and Bharathi Vithal *2021 – N. Sailaja

Manipuri

*1956 – Maisnam Amubi Singh *1958 – Haobam Atomba Singh *1961 – T. Amudon Sharma *1963 – Atombapu Sharma *1965 –

Guru Bipin Singh Guru Bipin Singh (23 August 1918 – 9 January 2000) was a director, choreographer and teacher of Manipuri dance. Career The son of a traditional medical doctor and a singer, Singh began training in his childhood,Jhaveri, Darshana and Kalavati ...

*1969 – Ojha Thangjam Chaoba Singh *1972 – Kshetri Tombi Devi *1973 – L. Koireng Singh *1974 – L. Ibemhal Devi *1975 – Rajani Maibi *1976 – Ojha Maibam Ibungohal Singh *1977 – Nayana Susheel Jhaveri *1980 – L. Thouranishabi Devi *1982 – L. Tombi Devi *1985 – Khaidem Lokeshwar Singh *1987 – Tarun Kumar Singh *1988 – Ibopishak Sharma *1990 – Th. Babu Singh *1993 – H. Ngangbi Devi *1994 – T. Nadia Singh *1995 – L. Thambalngoubi Devi *1996 – Darshana Jhaveri *1997 – Samanduram Tondon Devi *1998 – N. Madhabi Devi *1999–2000 – Sorokhaibam Naran Singh *2001 – Charu Sija Mathur *2002 – K. Ongbi Leipaklotpi Devi *2003 – Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi, Kalavati Devi *2005 – K. Radhamohon Sharma *2009 – L. Bino Devi *2010 – Phanjoubam Iboton Singh *2011 – Priti Patel *2014 – N. Amusana Devi *2016 – Maisnam Kaminikumar Singh *2017 – L.N. Oinam Ongdi Doni Devi *2018 – Akham Lakshmi Devi *2020 – Sruti Bandopadhay *2021 – Thokchom Ibemubi Devi

Mohiniattam Mohiniyattam, ( ml, മോഹിനിയാട്ടം), is an Indian classical dance form that developed and remained popular in the state of Kerala. Kathakali is another classical dance form of Kerala. Mohiniyattam dance gets its name fr ...

*1972 – T. Chinnammu Amma *1978 – Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma *1994 – Kalamandalam Satyabhama *1998 – Kalamandalam Kshemavathy *1999–2000 – Bharati Shivaji *2004 – Kalamandalam Sugandhi *2006 – Kalamandalam Vimala Menon *2007 – Deepti Omchery Bhalla *2008 – Kalamandalam Leelamma *2011 – V. K. Hymavathy *2015 – Mandakini Trivedi *2018 – Gopika Varma *2019 – Nirmala Paniker *2021 – Neena Prasad

Odissi Odissi (), also referred to as Orissi in old literature, is a major ancient Indian classical dance that originated in the Hindu temple, temples of Odisha – an eastern coastal state of India.Kelucharan Mohapatra Kelucharan Mohapatra (8 January 1926 – 7 April 2004) was a legendary Indian classical dancer, guru, and exponent of Odissi dance, who is credited with the revival and popularizing of this classical dance form in the 20th century. He is ...
1970 –
Pankaj Charan Das Guru Pankaj Charan Das (1919-2003) was an Indian classical dancer, choreographer and the ''Ādi Guru'' of Odissi dance. He is known as the 'Father of Odissi dance'. Life He was the adopted son of a ''mahari'' (temple dancer) Ratna Prabha De ...
1976 –
Sanjukta Panigrahi Sanjukta Panigrahi (24 August 1944 – 24 June 1997) was a dancer from India, who was the foremost exponent of Indian classical dance Odissi. Sanjukta was the first Odia woman to embrace this ancient classical dance at an early age and ensure ...
(joint award with
Raghunath Panigrahi Suramani' Pandit'' Raghunath Panigrahi (; 10 August 1932 – 25 August 2013) was an Odissi music Guru, vocalist, composer and music director. He is most known for his renditions of Jayadeva's Gita Govinda and his vocal support for his wife, th ...
for Odissi music) 1977 –
Deba Prasad Das Deba Prasad Das was an Indian classical dancer, considered by critics and connoisseurs as one of the four first generation gurus of the Indian classical dance form of Odissi. His Odissi style is robust and unique. He was a recipient of the 1977 ...
1985 –
Mayadhar Raut Guru Mayadhar Raut (born 6 July 1930) is an Indian classical Odissi dancer, choreographer and Guru. Early life and background Raut was born in the village Kantapenhara a Ahir family in Cuttack district, subsequently he received his dance trai ...
1986 – Priyambada Mohanty Hejmadi 1987 –
Sonal Mansingh Sonal Mansingh (born 30 April 1944) is an Indian classical dancer and Guru Bharatanatyam and Odissi dancing style. She has been nominated by the President of India to become a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha. She is the youngest recipient of ...
1992 – D. N. Pattnaik 1994 – Kumkum Mohanty 1995 – Raghunath Dutta 1997 –
Gangadhar Pradhan Gangadhar Pradhan (10 July 1948 – 10 October 2010) was an Indian Odissi dancer. Life and career Pradhan was born in Parikula, a village in Puri district, Odisha. He was a sickly baby; his father, Muralidhar Pradhan, a farmer, and mother, Dwi ...
1999–2000 – Minati Mishra,
Madhavi Mudgal Madhavi Mudgal is an Indian classical dancer known for her Odissi dance style. She has won several awards, including the ''Sanskriti Award'', 1984, President of India's award of Padma Shri, 1990, the ''Orissa State Sangeet Natak Akademi Award' ...
2002 – Kiran Segal 2003 – Hare Krishna Behera 2004 – Durllav Chandra Singh 2005 – Durga Charan Ranbir 2006 – Surendra Nath Jena 2007 – Ranjana Gauhar 2008 – Ramani Ranjan Jena 2009 –
Geeta Mahalik Geeta Mahalik (born 1948)"Odissi"
Sangeetnatak.com< ...
2010 –
Aruna Mohanty Aruna Mohanty (born April 4, 1960) is an Odissi dancer, choreographer and guru. She is currently the Secretary of the Orissa (Odisha) Dance Academy. She has received a number of awards for her work, including the Padmashree award. Training ...
2011 – Ramli Ibrahim 2012 – Sharmila Biswas 2013 – Sangeeta Dash 2014 – Sudhakar Sahoo 2015 – Aloka Kanungo 2016 –
Ratikant Mohapatra Ratikant Mohapatra is a dancer, percussionist, Guru, and Choreographer and archivist of Odissi. Under the direction and choreography of Ratikant Mohapatra, 555 Odissi dancers, a large number of them belonging to foreign countries, performed in u ...
2017 –
Sujata Mohapatra Sujata Mohapatra (born 27 June 1968) is an Indian classical dancer and teacher of Odissi dancing style. Early life and background Sujata Mohapatra was born in Balasore in 1968. She started learning Odissi at an early age from Guru Sudhakar Sa ...
2018 – Surupa Sen 2019 – Sutapa Talukdar 2020 – Rabindra Atibudhi

Sattriya ''Sattriya'' ( as, সত্ৰীয়া), or ''Sattriya Nritya'', is a major Indian classical dance. This dance was initially created as part of Bhaona which are performances of '' Ankiya Nat'', one-act plays, originally created by Sankar ...

*1963 – Maniram Datta Moktar *1978 – Bapuram Bayan Attai *1980 – Roseshwar Saikia Bayan Moktar *1996 – Indira P. P. Bora *1998 – Pradip Chaliha *1999–2000 – Parmanand Borbayan *2001 – Ghanakanta Bora *2004 – Jatin Goswami *2007 – Ganakanta Dutta Borbayan *2010 – Manik Borbayan *2013 – Jogen Dutta Bayan *2014 – Anita Sharma *2015 – Sarodi Saikia *2016 – Haricharan Bhuyan Borbayan *2017 – Ramkrishna Talukdar *2018 – Tankeswar Hazarika Borbayan *2019 – Ranjumoni Saikia

Other major traditions of dance and dance theatre

*2007 – Kalamandalam Sivan Namboodiri (Kutiyattam) *2009 – Kala Krishna (Andhranatyam) *2010 – Painkulam Rama Chakyar (Kutiyattam) *2012 – Painkulam Damodara Chakyar (Kutiyattam) *2013 – Srinivasa Rangachariar (Arayer Sevai) *2021 – Kalamandalam Girija (Kutiyattam)

Music for dance

*2005 – Josyula Krishna Murthy (Kuchipudi Bhagavatha Maddalla) *2006 – Kalamandalam Gangadharan (Kathakali Pattu) *2008 –

Ramhari Das ''Pandit'' Ramhari Das (, ; born 1953) is a leading singer, composer, musicologist and Guru of Odissi music. Known for his renditions, compositions, lecture-demonstrations and writings, Das has served as a professor and led the Odissi vocal depa ...

(Odissi) *2010 – S. Rajeswari (Bharatanatyam) *2011 – Karaikudi Krishnamurthi *2012 – Jwala Prasad *2013 – Dhaneshwar Swain *2014 – Varanasi Vishnu Namboothiri (Kathakali) *2015 – Rajkumar Bharathi *2017 –

Ashit Desai Ashit Desai ( gu, આશિત દેસાઈ; born 16 May 1951) is an Indian composer, vocalist, musician and music director. He composes scores for films, TV serials, dance productions and dramas. He is known as Gujarati Sugam Sangeet artist. ...

*2020 – Prema Ramamurthy, Arambam Tombinou Devi *2021 – Bijay Kumar Jena

Folk and Tribal dance

*2017 –

Mukund Nayak Mukund Nayak (born 15 October 1949), is an Indian artist. He is a folk singer, songwriter and dancer. Nayak is an exponent of Nagpuri folk dance Jhumar. He is recipient of the Padma Shri and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. Early life and family H ...

Theatre

Acting

From 1952–2003 (language-wise)

= Assamese

= *1961 – Mitradev Mahanta Adhikari *2001 – Girish Chowdhury

=
Bengali theatre Bengali theatre primarily refers to theatre performed in the Bengali language. Bengali theatre is produced mainly in West Bengal, and in Bangladesh. The term may also refer to some Hindi theatres which are accepted by the Bengali people. Ben ...

= *1958 –

Ahindra Choudhury Ahindra Choudhury (1896-1974) was an Indian actor, director, theatre personality and the co-founder of ''Photo Play Syndicate'', a Kolkata-based art organization for bioscope shows. A winner of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1958, Choudhu ...

*1962 –

Tripti Mitra Tripti Mitra (''née'' Bahaduri; 25 October 1925 – 24 May 1989) was a popular Indian actress of Bengali theatre and films, and wife of Sombhu Mitra, noted theatre director, with whom she co-founded pioneering theatre group ''Bohurupee'' in 19 ...

*1967 – Sabitabrata Dutta *1970 – Saraju Bala Devi *1973 –

Shobha Sen Shobha Sen (17 September 1923 – 13 August 2017) (also known as Sova Sen) was Bengali theatre and film actress.Anit Mukerjea (28 June 2004)"A Woman of Grit"Asia Africa Intelligence Wire (From The Statesman (India)) Career After graduating from ...

*1975 –

Molina Devi Molina Devi (1917 — 13 August 1977), also known as Molina Debi and Malina Debi, was a Bengali Indian actress of Bengali and Hindi film and theatre. As an actress, she played a wide variety of parts, later frequently playing matronly parts, esp ...

*1977 – Krishna Roy *1983 –

Kumar Roy Kumar Roy (1926–2010) was a Bengali theatre actor, director and playwright. In 1983 he won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. He was associated with the group Bohurupee. In 1989 he directed the re-creation of the classic play ''Nabanna'' (1948) ...

*1989 – Sekhar Chatterjee *1995 –

Satya Bandopadhyay ''Satya'' (Sanskrit: सत्य; IAST: ''satya)'' is a Sanskrit word loosely translated as truth, essence. A. A. Macdonell, ''Sanskrit English Dictionary'', Asian Educational Services, , pp. 330–331 It also refers to a virtue in Indian relig ...

*1998 –

Soumitra Chatterjee Soumitra Chatterjee (also spelt as Chattopadhyay; 16 June 193515 November 2020) was an Indian film actor, play-director, playwright, writer, thespian and poet. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential actors in the history of ...

*1999–2000 – Ketaki Dutta

Sabitri Chatterjee Sabitri Chatterjee (born 22 February 1937) is an Indian actress who is known for her work in Bengali theatre and cinema. Her career spans more than 60 years. She is the recipient of BFJA Awards for two times. In 1999, she was conferred with Sa ...

*2003 –

Shaoli Mitra Shaoli Mitra শাঁওলি মিত্র); 1948 – 16 January 2022) was an Indian Bengali theatre and film actress, director, and playwright. She played the role of ''Bangabala'' in Ritwik Ghatak's ''Jukti Takko Aar Gappo''. She is ...

=
Gujarati theatre Gujarati theatre refers to theatre performed in the Gujarati language, including its dialects. Gujarati theatre is produced mainly in Gujarat and Maharashtra, in cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Baroda, Surat and else where Gujarati diaspora ex ...

= *1960 – Ashraf Khan *1965 – Muljibhai Khushalbhai Nayak *1968 – Jashwant Thaker *1974 – Pransukh Manilal Nayak *1980 – Dina Pathak (Gandhi) *1988 –

Sarita Joshi Sarita Joshi (''née'' Bhosle) is an Indian stage, television and film actress and is a veteran actress of Gujarati theatre and Marathi theatre and also Marathi cinema. In 2020, she was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian awa ...

=
Hindi theatre Hindi theatre is theatre performed in the Hindi language, including dialects such as Braj Bhasha, Khari Boli and Hindustani. Hindi theatre is produced mainly in North India, and some parts of West India and Central India, which include Mumbai and ...

= *1979 –

Amrish Puri Amrish Puri (22 June 1932 – 12 January 2005) was an Indian actor, who was one of the most notable and important figures in Indian cinema and Theatre. He acted in more than 450 films, established himself as one of the most popular actors ...

*1982 –

Manohar Singh Manohar Singh (12 April 1938 – 14 November 2002) was an Indian theatre actor-director and character actor in Hindi films. He is best known for his performances in films such as ''Party'' (1984) and ''Daddy'' (1989). Starting his acting career ...

*1984 –

Uttara Baokar Uttara Baokar is an Indian stage, film and television actress. She acted in several notable plays, like as Padmavati in ''Mukyhamantri'', Mena in ''Mena Gurjari'', Desdemona in Shakespeare's ''Othello'', the mother in playwright Girish Karnad ...

*1985 – Fida Hussain *1989 – Surekha Sikri *1990–

Naseeruddin Shah Naseeruddin Shah (born 20 July 1950) is an Indian actor. He is notable in Indian parallel cinema. He has also starred in international productions. He has won numerous awards in his career, including three National Film Awards, three Filmfare A ...

(also Urdu) *1999–2000 –

Seema Biswas Seema Biswas (born 14 January 1965) is an Indian actress who works in Hindi films and the theatre. She gained prominence after playing the role of Phoolan Devi in Shekhar Kapur's film '' Bandit Queen'' (1994), for which she won the National Fi ...

= Kannada

= *1955 –

Gubbi Veeranna Gubbi Hampanna Veeranna (1891 – 1972) was an Indian theatre director. He was one of the pioneers and most prolific contributors to Kannada theatre. He established the drama company, ''Gubbi Sree Channabasaveshwara Nataka Company'', which play ...

*1961 –

Subbaiah Naidu Mysore Venkatappa Subbaiah Naidu (1896 – 21 July 1962) was an Indian stage artiste in the silent movies era. He was an actor and director, well known for the movies '' Sati Sulochana'' (1934) in Kannada, which was also the first Kannada talkie ...

*1985 – B. Jayamma *1992 – R. Nagarathnamma *1994 – Balappa Yenagi *1996 –

B. Jayashree B. Jayashree (born 9 June 1950) is a veteran Indian theatre actress, director and singer, who has also acted in films and television and worked as dubbing artist in films. She is the creative director of Spandana Theatre, an amateur theatre co ...

*2003 – C. R. Simha

= Malayalam

= *1960 – C. I. Parameswaran Pillai *1965 – V. T. Aravindaksha Menon *1969 – N. N. Pillai

= Manipuri

= *1991 –

Sabitri Heisnam Sabitri Heisnam is an Indian stage actor and one of the notable theatre personalities in Manipuri theatre. She has also acted in the critically acclaimed short film, ''Scribbles on Akka'' (2000), directed by Madhusree Dutta, which won the IDPA ...

*1997 – R. K. Bhogen

=
Marathi theatre Marathi theatre is theatre in the Marathi language, mostly originating or based in the state of Maharashtra in India, and elsewhere with Marathi diaspora. Starting in the middle of the 19th century, it flourished in the 1950s and 1960s. Today, ...

= *1955 – Narayan Rao Rajhans 'Bal Gandharva' *1956 – Ganesh Govind Bodas *1957 –

Chintaman Ganesh Kolhatkar , native_name_lang = Marathi , image = File:Mama Warerkar-CG Kolhatkar-Jaishankar Sundari-1957.jpg , alt = , caption = Kolhatkar (centre) in conversation with Mama Warerkar (left) and Jaishankar Sundari (right) ...

*1960 – Gopal Govind Pathak *1964 – Keshav Trimbak Date *1971 –

Shreeram Lagoo Dr.Shriram Lagoo (16 November 1927 – 17 December 2019) was an Indian film and theatre actor, in Hindi and Marathi, in addition to being an ENT Surgeon. He was known for his character roles in films. He acted in over 250 films including Hindi ...

*1976 –

Jyotsna Bhole Jyotsna Keshav Bhole also known as Jyotsnabai Bhole ( mr, ज्योत्स्ना केशव भोळे) (11 May 1914 – 5 August 2001), was a veteran Marathi stage artist and a Hindustani classical singer. Along with Padmabai ...

*1978 – Dattaram N. Walwaikar *1981 – Chintamani Govind Pendse *1983 – Dattatray Ramachandra Bhat *1986 – Prabhakar V. Panshikar *1987 –

Sulabha Deshpande Sulabha Deshpande ( mr, सुलभा देशपांडे; 1937 – 4 June 2016) was an Indian actress and theatre director. Apart from Marathi theatre and Hindi theatre in Mumbai, she acted in over 73 mainstream Bollywood films. She als ...

(also Hindi) *1988 – Saudagar Nagnath Gore 'Chhota Gandharva' *1990 – Bhakti Barve Inamdar *1991 – Neelu Phule *1996 – Mohan Agashe

= Oriya

= *1961 – Samuel Sahu

= Sanskrit

= *1965 – Krishnachandra Moreshwar "Daji Bhatawadekar"

= Tamil

= *1959 –

Pammal Sambandha Mudaliar Pammal Vijayarangam Sambandham Mudaliar (1873–1964), who has been described as "the founding father of modern Tamil theatre", was a playwright, director, producer and actor of the late nineteenth- and early twentieth centuries. He was a recipi ...

*1962 –

T. K. Shanmugam T. K. Shanmugam (1912–1973; also known as "Avvai" T. K. Shanmugam) was a Tamil theatre and film artist. He acquired the prefix "Avvai" after portraying saint-poet Avvaiyar in a play. Early life T.K. Shanmugam was born on 26 April 1912 to Tamil ...

*1967 –

S. V. Sahasranamam Singanallur Venkataramana Iyer Sahasranamam (29 November 1913 – 19 February 1988), also known as S. V. S., was an Indian actor and director. Primarily a theatre actor, he also worked in over 200 films, mainly in Tamil cinema. Early lif ...

*1992 –

Poornam Viswanathan Poornam Viswanathan (15 November 1921 – 1 October 2008) was an Indian actor who predominantly appeared in Tamil films. He started performing on stage at age 18. He worked as a reader for All India Radio and went on to act in films such as ''C ...

=
Telugu theatre Telugu theatre is Indian theatre in the Telugu language, based in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Gurajada Apparao wrote the play, ''Kanyasulkam'' in 1892, which is often considered the greatest play in the Telugu language.20th Cent ...

= *1961 – Sthanam Narasimha Rao *1963 –

Banda Kanakalingeswara Rao Banda Kanakalingeswara Rao (20 January 1907 – 3 December 1968) was an Indian actor known for his works in Telugu theatre, and Telugu cinema. He was the member of Kendriya Sangeet Natak Akademi since 1952 and Andhra Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akade ...

*1973 –

Kalyanam Raghuramaiah Kalyanam Raghuramayya (1901–1975), popularly known as Eelapata Raghuramayya, was an Indian actor, and thespian known for his works in Telugu cinema, and Telugu theatre. A recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, and the Padmashri, He was k ...

*1986 –

Peesapati Narasimha Murty Peesapati Narasimha Murty (Telugu: పీసపాటి నరసింహమూర్తి) (10 July 1920 – 28 September 2007) was an Indian actor known for his works in Telugu theatre, and Telugu cinema.Nata Ratnalu, Mikkilineni Radhakrish ...

= Urdu

= *1963 –

Zohra Sehgal Zohra Mumtaz Sehgal (born Sahibzadi Zohra Mumtazullah Khan Begum; 27 April 1912 – 10 July 2014) was an Indian actress, dancer, and choreographer. Having begun her career as a member of a contemporary dance troupe, she transitioned into acting ...

*1994 –

Uzra Butt Uzra Butt nee Mumtaz (22 May 1917 – 31 May 2010) was a theatre personality of the Indian Subcontinent, who moved to Pakistan in 1964. She was the sister of theatre and Bollywood film actress Zohra Sehgal, who, unlike her, lived in India. S ...

From 2004 onwards

*2004 – Rohini Hattangady, Ramcharan Nirmalkar *2005 –

Chindodi Leela Chindodi Leela (1943 – 21 January 2010) was an Indian stage and film actress, politician, and writer from Karnataka. Family Leela was born in 1943 at Davangere, Karnataka into a family of professional theater artists. Her father Chindodi Vee ...

*2006 – Dharani Barman, Gita Dey, K. Kaladharan Nair *2007 – Ramesh Mehta *2008 – Markand Bhatt,

Arundhati Nag Arundhati Nag (née Rao; born 1955/1956) is an Indian actress. She has been involved with multilingual Theatre in India, for over 25 years, first in Mumbai where she got involved with Indian People's Theatre Association ( IPTA), and did various ...

*2009 – Sudha Shivpuri, Neeta Mohindra *2010 –

Dilip Prabhavalkar Dilip Prabhavalkar (born 4 August 1944) is an Indian Marathi actor, director, playwright and author. He has a career spanning over four decades in Hindi and Marathi theatre, television and movies. He was awarded the National Film Award for Best ...

, Banwari Taneja, Maya Krishna Rao, Swatilekha Sengupta *2012 – Parvesh Seth, Nirmal Rishi, Purisai Kannappa Sambandan *2013 – Vasant Josalkar, Kusum Haidar *2014 –

Debshankar Haldar Debshankar HaldarSpelling according tTelegraph Calcutta (or Debshankar HalderSpelling according t or Debsankar HalderThis spelling has been used in Nandikar'website.) is a Bengali theatre actor with a long career in Bengali theatre groups such a ...

Ramdas Kamat Ramdas Shantaram Kamat (18 February 1931 – 8 January 2022) was an Indian musician. He worked in Sangeet Natak, Marathi theatre. Early life As a child he took Hindustani classical music lessons from elder brother Upendra. Natya Sangeet studied ...

*2017 –

Anil Tickoo Anil Tickoo is a stage actor in the Dogri and Hindi language, and a prominent figure in Jammu and Kashmir Theatre. Awards He has won numerous National awards in his career, including the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for the year 201 ...

*2018 –

Suhas Joshi Suhasini Joshi (born 12 July 1947), popularly known by her screen name Suhas Joshi, is a Marathi theater, film and television actress. She is also seen in many Bollywood films. She was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2018 for Acting ...

, Teekam Joshi *2019 – Alok Chatterjee, Pranjal Saikia *2020 –

Prashant Damle Prashant Damle (born 5 April 1961) is a Marathi actor, comedian who has acted in numerous Marathi drama, movie and Soap opera over 35 years. He has been associated with Marathi theatre since 1983 and till date has performed in 27 different play ...

, Bhupesh Joshi, Amit Banerjee *2021 – Neeleshwar Mishra, Y. G. Mahendran

Mime

*1993 – Jogesh Dutta *2002 – Niranjan Goswami *2009 – Moinul Haque *2018 – Swapan Nandy *2021 – Vilas Janve

Direction

* 1957 –

Jaishankar Bhojak Jaishankar Bhudhardas Bhojak, (30 January 1889 – 22 January 1975) better known by his theatre name Jaishankar Sundari , was an Indian actor and director of Gujarati theatre. Starting at the young age, he rose to fame for his roles of female imp ...

'Sundari' * 1959 – Sombhu Mitra * 1961 – Kasambhai Nathubhai Mir * 1962 –

Ebrahim Alkazi Ebrahim Alkazi (18 October 1925 – 4 August 2020) was an Indian theatre director and drama teacher. A rigid disciplinarian, he instilled in his acting students an awe and reverence that they still carry with them, with several of them havin ...

* 1964 – T. S. Rajamanikkam * 1969 –

Habib Tanvir Habib Tanvir (1 September 1923 – 8 June 2009) was one of the most popular Indian Urdu, Hindi playwrights, a theatre director, poet and actor. He was the writer of plays such as, ''Agra Bazar'' (1954) and '' Charandas Chor'' (1975). A pi ...

* 1970 – Adi Ferozeshah Marzban * 1971 –

Satyadev Dubey Satyadev Dubey (13 July 1936 – 25 December 2011) was an Indian theatre director, actor, playwright, screenwriter & film director. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1971. He won the 1978 National Film Award for Best Scre ...

* 1972 –

Shyamanand Jalan Shyamanand Jalan (13 January 1934 – 24 May 2010) was a Kolkata-based Indian theatre director, and actor. He is credited for the renaissance period of modern Indian theatre and especially the Hindi theatre in Kolkata from the 1960s to 1980s. H ...

* 1973 –

Ajitesh Bandopadhyay Ajitesh Bandopadhyay ( bn, অজিতেশ বন্দোপাধ্যায়; born: 30 September 1933 ― 13 October 1983) was an actor, playwright, activist and director. He along with Shambhu Mitra and Utpal Dutt are considered to be ...

* 1974 – Damodar Kashinath Kenkre * 1975 –

Vijaya Mehta Vijaya Mehta (born 4 November 1934), is a noted Indian Marathi film and theatre director and also an actor in many films from the Parallel Cinema. She is a founder member of Mumbai-based theatre group, Rangayan with playwright Vijay Tendulka ...

* 1976 –

B. V. Karanth Babukodi Venkataramana Karanth (Kannada: ಬಾಬುಕೋಡಿ ವೆಂಕಟರಮಣ ಕಾರಂತ) (19 September 1929 – 1 September 2002) widely known as B. V. Karanth was an Indian film director, playwright, actor, screenwriter, co ...

* 1977 – Rajinder Nath * 1978 –

Jabbar Patel Dr. Jabbar Patel (born 23 June 1942, Pandharpur) is a former paediatrician and a Marathi-language theatre and film director of India. His production of the play Vijay Tendulkar's play Ghashiram Kotwal, in 1973 is considered a classic in Mode ...

* 1979 – B. M. Shah * 1980 –

Rudraprasad Sengupta Rudraprasad Sengupta (born 31 January 1935) is a Bengali Indian actor, director and cultural critic. Biography Sengupta was born in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Bengal, the son of Anant Sengupta and Usha Prabha Sengupta. He studied at the Scottish ...

* 1981 – R.S. Manohar * 1982 – Sheila Bhatia * 1983 – Kavalam Narayana Panikkar * 1985 – Heisnam Kanhailal * 1986 –

Alyque Padamsee Alyque Padamsee (5 March 1928 – 17 November 2018) was an Indian theatre personality and ad film maker. He played Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the 1982 British period film ''Gandhi''. Besides being involved in Indian theatre as an actor and produce ...

* 1987 – Tarun Roy * 1987 –

Ratan Thiyam Ratan Thiyam (born 20 January 1948) is an Indian playwright and theatre director, and the winner of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987, one of leading figures of the "''theatre of roots''" movement in Indian theatre, which started in the 1970s ...

* 1989 –

Bibhash Chakraborty Bibhash Chakraborty (alternatively spelt Bibhas Chakraborty; born 23 September 1937) is an Indian Bengali actor and theatre personality. He is also a social activist. He is a prolific writer too. He was associated with Paschim Banga Natya Akademi ...

* 1990 –

Geoffrey Kendal Geoffrey Kendal (7 September 1909 – 14 May 1998) was an English actor and theatre director who delivered Shakespeare performances throughout India in the 1940s and 1950s. Early life and family Born Richard Geoffrey Bragg in Kendal, Westmorla ...

& Laura Kendal (Joint Award) * 1991 –

Fritz Bennewitz Fritz Bennewitz (20 January 1926 – 13 September 1995) was a German theatre director. Life Bennewitz was born in Chemnitz. His father was a train driver: his mother worked as a seamstress. Between 1950 and 1953 he was a student of German st ...

* 1992 –

Mohan Maharishi Mohan Maharishi is an Indian theatre director, actor and a playwright. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 'Direction' in 1992. Early life Mohan Maharishi graduated from National School of Drama, New Delhi in 1965, and later serv ...

* 1993 – Kailash Pandya * 1993 –

Barry John Barry John (born 6 January 1945) is a former Welsh rugby union fly-half who played, during the amateur era of the sport, in the 1960s, and early 1970s. John began his rugby career as a schoolboy playing for his local team Cefneithin RFC befor ...

* 1995 –

M. K. Raina Maharaj Krishen Raina (born 10 February 1948), popularly known as M. K. Raina, is an Indian theatre actor and Theatre director, director. Raina graduated from National School of Drama in 1970 with the Best Actor award. Early life Maharaj Krishn ...

* 1995 – Bansi Kaul * 1996 – Purushottam Darwhekar * 1997 – Bhanu Bharti * 1998 –

Amal Allana Amal Allana (born 14 September 1947) is an Indian theatre director, scenic designer and costume designer and presently she is in her second consecutive term as the Chairperson of National School of Drama, India's premier institute of Theatre tra ...

* 1998 – Dulal Roy * 1998 – Usha Ganguly * 1999–2000 – Balwant Thakur * 1999–2000 – Nadira Zaheer Babbar * 1999–2000 – Prasanna * 2001 –

Shanta Gandhi Shanta Kalidas Gandhi (20 December 1917 – 6 May 2002) was an Indian theatre director, dancer and playwright who was closely associated with IPTA, the cultural wing of the Communist Party of India. She studied with Indira Gandhi at a residen ...

* 2002 – Arun Mukherjee, Satish Anand, * 2003 – Devendra Raj Ankur,

Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry Dr. Neelam Man Singh Chowdhry (born 14 April 1951) is a Chandigarh-based theatre artist who has worked around the world. She was awarded the 2003 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in the Theatre Direction category. She was the recipient of the 2011 Pa ...

* 2004 –

Anuradha Kapur Anuradha Kapur is an Indian theatre director and professor of drama. She taught at the National School of Drama (NSD) for over three decades and was the Director of National School of Drama for six years (2007–2013). For her work as a theatr ...

, Arambam Lokendra Singh, Raj Besaria * 2005 – Ranjit Kapoor,

V K Sharma Vinod Kumar Sharma is an Indian actor, writer and director who works in Hindi cinema, Hindi films, television and stage. He is the recipient of a Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for direction in theatre. He is the founder and director of Khilona Thea ...

* 2006 – E. Joychandra Singh, R. Nagesh, Amitava Dasgupta * 2007 – Hari Madhab Mukherjee, N.C. Thakur * 2008 – S. Ramanujam, Probir Guha * 2009 – Joy Michael, Dinesh Thakur * 2010 – Veenapani Chawla, Urmil Kumar Thapliyal * 2011 – Alakhnandan, Kirti Jain * 2012 – Tripurari Sharma, Waman Kendre * 2013 – Kamalkar Muralidhar Sontakke, Kewal Dhaliwal, Prasanna Ramaswamy * 2014 – Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha, Chidambar Rao Jambe * 2015 – Parvez Akhtar, Mushtaq Kak * 2016 – Satyabrata Rout, Rajkamal Nayak * 2018 – Sanjay Upadhyay, S. Raghunandana * 2019 –

Bharti Sharma Bharti Sharma (born 15 October 1961), M.A. (Hindi) from Delhi University, National School of Drama Graduate (1987), is an Indian theater director, actor, and teacher. Her plays cover a variety of topics such as historical, realistic, experi ...

, Kumar Sohoni, Abinash Sarma * 2020 – Lokendra Trivedi, Mithilesh Rai * 2021 – R. Venugopal Rao (Surabhi), Lalit Singh Pokharia, Sudesh Sharma, Ajay Malkani, Manoj Pattnaik

Playwriting

*Assamese **1986 – Satya Prasad Barua **2003 – Aruna Sarma *Bengali **1968 –

Badal Sircar Sudhindra Sircar (Born 15 July 1925), also known as Badal Sarkar, was an influential Indian dramatist and theatre director, most known for his anti-establishment plays during the Naxalite movement in the 1970s and taking theatre out of the pro ...

**1969 – Manmatha Ray **1975 –

Bijon Bhattacharya Bijon Bhattacharya ( bn, বিজন ভট্টাচার্য; 17 July 1906 – 19 January 1978) was an Indian theatre and film actor from West Bengal. He was an eminent playwright and dramatist. Bhattacharya was born in 1906 at Farid ...

**1985 –

Manoj Mitra Manoj Mitra (born 22 December 1938) is an Indian theatre, film and television actor, director and playwright. Early life Mitra was born on 22 December 1938 in Dhulihar village of Satkhira, Khulna, Bangladesh. Initially he used to study at home ...

**1991 – Mohit Chattopadhyaya *Dogri **2008 – Narsingh Dev Jamwal *Gujarati **1961 – Prabhulal Dayaram Dwivedi **1971 – C. C. Mehta, Pragji Dossa, *Hindi **1965 – Upendra Nath Ashk **1968 –

Mohan Rakesh Mohan may refer to: People * Mohan Shumsher JBR, Former prime minister of Nepal * Mohan (actor) (born 1956), Indian film actor * Mohan (director), Indian director of Malayalam films * Mohan (name), a name generally found among Hindus * Mohan (cl ...

**1977 – Lakshmi Narain Lal **1988 –

Dharamvir Bharati Dharamvir Bharati (25 December 1926 – 4 September 1997) was a renowned Hindi poet, author, playwright and a social thinker of India. He was the chief editor of the popular Hindi weekly magazine '' Dharmayug'', from 1960 till 1987.The Illustr ...

**1992 – Surendra Verma **2001 –

Bhisham Sahni Bhisham Sahni (8 August 1915 – 11 July 2003) was an Indian writer, playwright in Hindi and an actor, most famous for his novel and television screenplay '' Tamas'' ("Darkness, Ignorance"), a powerful and passionate account of the Partition of ...

, D.P. Sinha **2006 – Prabhat Kumar Bhattacharya **2004 – Swadesh Deepak **2007 – Reoti Sharan Sharna **2008 – Mudra Rakshasa *Kannada **1963 – Adya Rangacharya 'Shriranga' **1972 –

Girish Karnad Girish Karnad (19 May 1938 – 10 June 2019) was an Indian actor, film director, Kannada writer, playwright and a Jnanpith awardee, who predominantly worked in South Indian cinema and Bollywood. His rise as a playwright in the 1960s marked the ...

**1983 –

Chandrashekhara Kambara Chandrashekhara Kambara ( kn, ಚಂದ್ರಶೇಖರ ಕಂಬಾರ; born 2 January 1937) is a prominent Indian poet, playwright, folklorist, film director in Kannada language and the founder-vice-chancellor of Kannada University in Hamp ...

**1980 – Narasinga Rao Parwathavani **1989 – G. B. Joshi **1997 –

H. S. Shivaprakash Hulkuntemath Shivamurthy Sastri Shivaprakash (born 1954) is a leading poet and playwright writing in Kannada. He is professor at the School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He heads the Cultural Centre at Berlin, kn ...

*Kashmiri **1997 –

Moti Lal Kemmu Moti Lal Kemmu (born 1933) is an Indian contemporary playwright from Jammu & Kashmir. He was born in Srinagar into a Kashmiri Pandit family and attended Jammu and Kashmir University. His plays include ''Nagar Udas'', ''Teen Asangati Aikanki' ...

*Malayalam **1979 – G. Sankara Pillai **1983 – Kavalam Narayana Panikkar **1986 – K. T. Muhammed **1997 –

N. Krishna Pillai N. Krishna Pillai (22 September 1916 – 10 July 1988) was an Indian dramatist, literary critic, translator and historian of Malayalam language. Known for his realism and dramatic portrayal of psycho-social tensions, Pillai's plays earned him th ...

**2009 – Vayala Vasudevan Pillai *Manipuri **2007 – Yumnam Rajendra Singh *Marathi **1958 – B.V. 'Mama' Warerkar **1967 –

P. L. Deshpande Purushottam Laxman Deshpande (alternatively written as Pu La Deshpande; 8 November 1919 – 12 June 2000), popularly known by his initials ("Pu. La.") or as P. L. Deshpande, was a Marathi writer and humorist from Maharashtra. He was also an a ...

**1970 –

Vijay Tendulkar Vijay Dhondopant Tendulkar (6 January 1928 – 19 May 2008) was a leading Indian playwright, movie and television writer, literary essayist, political journalist, and social commentator primarily in Marāthi. His Marathi plays established him as ...

**1976 –

C. T. Khanolkar Chintamani Tryambak Khanolkar (C. T. Khanolkar) ( mr, चिंतामणी त्र्यंबक खानोलकर) (8 March 1930 – 26 April 1976) was a Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India. He wrote poetry under the name "Arati ...

**1982 –

M.G. Rangnekar Motiram Gajanan Rangnekar (M. G. Rangnekar) (Devanagari: मोतीराम गजानन रांगणेकर) (10 April 1907 – 1 February 1995) was a Marathi Marathi may refer to: *Marathi people, an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic gr ...

**1984 –

Vasant Shankar Kanetkar Vasant Shankar Kanetkar (20 March 1922 – 31 January 2000) was an Indian Marathi-language playwright and novelist from Maharashtra. He was born in the town of Rahimatpur in Satara District, Maharashtra. His father, Shankar Keshav Kanetkar, was ...

**1987 – V.V. Shirwadkar **1989 –

Mahesh Elkunchwar Mahesh Elkunchwar (born 9 October 1939) is an Indian playwright and screenplay writer in Marathi language with more than 20 plays to his name, in addition to his theoretical writings, critical works, and his active work in India's ''Parallel Cin ...

**1994 –

Satish Alekar Satish Vasant Alekar (born 30 January 1949) is a Marathi playwright, actor, and theatre director. A founder member of the Theatre Academy of Pune, and most known for his plays ''Mahanirvan'' (1974), ''Mahapoor'' (1975), ''Atirekee'' (1990), ''P ...

**1996 – G.P. Deshpande **2003 – Ratnakar Ramkrishna Matkari **2009 – Shankar Narayan Navre *Mizo **2007 – Lathangfala Sailo *Oriya **1981 – Manorajan Das **1982 – Biswajit Das **1987 – Gopal Chhotray *Punjabi **1993 – Gursharan Singh **1998 –

Balwant Gargi Balwant Gargi (4 December 1916 – 22 April 2003) was an Indian Punjabi language dramatist, theatre director, novelist, and short story writer, and academic. Early life On 4 December 1916, in Canal House in Sehna, Barnala (Punjab), Balwant Gar ...

**2010 – Atamjeet Singh *Tamil **1974 – S.D. Sundaram **1999–2000 – Na. Muthuswamy **2004 –

Indira Parthasarathy R. Parthasarathy, commonly known as Indira Parthasarathy or Ee. Paa., is an Indian author and playwright who writes in Tamil. He has published 16 novels, 10 plays, anthologies of short stories, and essays. He is best known for his plays, "Aurang ...

*Telugu **2010 – D. Vizai Bhaskar

2012 onwards

*2012 – Arjun Deo Charan *2013 – Rameshwar Prem, Pundalik Narayan Naik *2014 – Asgar Wajahat *2018 – Rajiv Naik,

Laltluangliana Khiangte Laltluangliana Khiangte is a Mizo academic, playwright and poet of Mizo literature. He was the principal of the Serampore College and a former professor at Pachhunga University College and the North Eastern Hill University. He is presently ser ...

*2019 –

Hrishikesh Sulabh Hrishikesh Sulabh (born 15 February 1955) is a Hindi writer. He is the recipient of the prestigious 2019 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. He is best known for writing short stories, and writing plays in Bideshiya Shaili. He worked with the All Indi ...

Allied Theatre Arts

*Lighting **1974 –

Tapas Sen Tapas Sen ( 11 September, 1924 – 28 June, 2006) was a noted India, Indian Stage lighting, stage lighting designer, who was an important figure in 20th-century Indian theatre. He started working with Bengali theatre movement in Kolkata in the l ...

**1977 – V, Ramamurthy **1989 – G.N. Dasgupta **1994 – Kanishka Sen **1997 – Mansukh Joshi (for scenic design also) **1999–2000 – R.K. Dhingra **2002 – Ashok Sagar Bhagat **2003 – Sreenivas G. Kappanna **2005 – Suresh Bhardwaj **2006 - Gautam Bhattacharya **2011 – Kamal Jain **2019 – Souti Chakraborty **2020 – Raghav Prakash *Scenic Design **1985 – Goverdhan Panchal **1986 – Khaled Choudhury **1988 – Dattatraya Ganesh Godse **1997 – Mansukh Joshi **1999–2000 – Robin Das **2007 – Mahendra Kumar *Costumes/Make-up **1981 – Ashok Srivastava (Make-up) **1990 – Roshan Alkazi (Costume Design) **1999–2000 – Shakti Sen (Make-up) **2001 –

Dolly Ahluwalia Dolly Ahluwalia is an Indian actress and costume designer who was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2001 for costume design.R. Paramashivan **2009 – Kuldeep Singh **2012 - Murari Roychoudhury **2014 - Amod Bhatt, Amardas Manikpuri (Chhattisgarh) *Stagecraft **1993 – M.S. Sathyu **1995 – N. Krishnamoorthy **2002 – Nissar Allana **2005 – H. V. Sharma **2020 – N. Jadumani Singh

Major traditions of theatre

*2007 – Kolyur Ramachandra Rao (

Yakshagana Yakshagaana is a traditional theatre, developed in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Shimoga and western parts of Chikmagalur districts, in the state of Karnataka and in Kasaragod district in Kerala that combines dance, music, dialogue, ...

) *2008 – Bansi Lal Khiladi, Khayal (Rajasthan) *2012 – Ghulam Rasool Bhagat ( Bhand Pather) *2014 – Manjunath Bhagwat Hostota (Yakshagana) *2018 – Bhagawat A. S. Nanjappa (Yakshagana), A. M. Parameswaran Kuttan Chakkiyar (

Kutiyattam Koodiyattam ( ml, കൂടിയാട്ടം; IAST: kūṭiyāṭṭaṁ; ) is a traditional performing art form in the state of Kerala, India. It is a combination of ancient Sanskrit theatre with elements of '' Koothu'', an ancient perfo ...

) *2019 – K. S. Krishanappa (Isai Natakam) *2020 – P. P. Kandaswami ( Therukoothu) *2021 – Gunindra Nath Ojah (Music and Direction in Ankiya Bhaona)

Other Traditional / Folk/ Tribal/ Dance/ Music/ Theatre and Puppetry

* 1964 –

Mani Madhava Chakyar Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar (IAST: ''Māṇi Mādhava Cākyār'') (15 February 1899 – 14 January 1990) was a celebrated master performance artist and Sanskrit scholar from Kerala, India, considered to be the greatest Chakyar Koothu and Koodiy ...

(Kutiyattam), Kerala * 1969 – Gahan Chandra Goswami (Ankia Nat, Assam) * 1972 – Kudamaloor Karunakaran Nair (Kathakali), Kerala * 1976 –

Raghunath Panigrahi Suramani' Pandit'' Raghunath Panigrahi (; 10 August 1932 – 25 August 2013) was an Odissi music Guru, vocalist, composer and music director. He is most known for his renditions of Jayadeva's Gita Govinda and his vocal support for his wife, th ...

(Joint Award with

Sanjukta Panigrahi Sanjukta Panigrahi (24 August 1944 – 24 June 1997) was a dancer from India, who was the foremost exponent of Indian classical dance Odissi. Sanjukta was the first Odia woman to embrace this ancient classical dance at an early age and ensure ...

for Odissi Music, Orissa) * 1981 – Kamini Kumar Narzary (Bodo Tribal Dance, Assam) * 1983 – Dharmiklal Chunilal Pandya (Akhyana), Gujarat * 1983 – Lalit Chandra Ojha (Ojapali and Deodhani Dances, Assam) * 1984 – Balakrushna Dash (Odissi Music, Orissa) * 1985 – Mohan Chandra Barman (Bhaona, Assam) * 1984 – Bhubaneswar Mishra (Odissi Music, Orissa) * 1987 – Bhupen Hazarika (Folk Music, Assam) * 1988 – Pratima Barua Pandey (Folk Music, Assam) * 1989 – Rajen Pam (Tribal Music, Assam) * 1990 –

Rameshwar Pathak Rameshwar Pathak (1 March 1938 – 3 December 2010) was an acclaimed Kamrupi Lokgeet singer from Kamrup, Assam, India. He also worked as a teacher in Arya Vidyapeeth Higher Secondary and Multipurpose School, Guwahati from 1963 to 1996. Early ...

(Folk Music, Assam) * 1991 – Puranchand Wadali & Pyarelal Wadali (Folk Music), Punjab * 1992 – Khagen Mahanta (Folk Music, Assam) * 1994 – M. Boyer (

Tiatr is a type of musical theatre popular in the state of Goa on the west coast of India as well as in Mumbai and with expatriate communities in the Middle East, United Kingdom and other cities where Konkani speakers have a considerable presence. The ...

), Goa * 1995 –

Teejan Bai Teejan Bai (born 8 August 1956) is an exponent of Pandavani, a traditional performing art form, from Chhattisgarh, in which she enacts tales from the Mahabharata, with musical accompaniments. She has been awarded the Padma Shri in 1988, Padma ...

(

Pandavani Pandavani (lit.: Songs and Stories of the Pandavas) is a folk singing style involving narration of tales from the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata. The singing also involves musical accompaniment. Bhima, the second of the Pandava is the hero of t ...

), Madhya Pradesh * 1997 – Arghya sen abindra sangeet West Bengal * 1997 – P. R. Thilagam, Kuravanji performer, Tamil Nadu * 1998 –

Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz (died 13 February 2014) was the last known master of Kashmiri Sufiyana Music in the world. He opened a school to teach his genre of music, although it did not attract many students from Kashmir because of religious an ...

, Jammu and Kashmir * 2002 – Dilip Sarma & Sudakshina Sarma (Jyoti Sangeet, Assam - Joint Award) * 2003 – Prabhat Sarma (traditional & Folk Music, Assam) * 2003 – Kosha Kanta Deva Goswami (Mask Making Bhaona, Assam) * 2003 – Banamali Maharana (Odissi Music, Orissa) * 2005 – Khirod Khakhlari (Bodo Dance & Music, Assam) * 2005 – Kashinath Pujapanda (Odissi Music, Orissa) * 2005 – Mathoor Govindan Kutty (Kathakali), Kerala * 2007 – Subodh Debbarma (Folk dance), Tripura * 2007 – Amar Pal (Folk Song,

West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fourt ...

) * 2008 – Kartar Singh * 2008 – Mangi Bai Arya ( Mand), Rajasthan * 2008 – Lakha Khan Mangniyar, (Folk Music), Rajasthan * 2008 – Bansi Lal Khilari ( Khayal), Rajasthan * 2009 – Bhikhudan Gadhvi (Folk music), Gujarat * 2010 – Harbhajan Singh Namdhari (Gurbani Kirtan), Punjab * 2010 – Nazeer Ahmed Khan Warsi and Naseer Ahmed Khan Warsi (

Qawwali Qawwali ( Punjabi: (Shahmukhi), (Gurmukhi); Urdu: (Nasta'liq); Hindi: क़व्वाली (Devanagari); Bengali: কাওয়ালি (Bengali)) is a form of Sufi Islamic devotional singing, originating from the Indian subcontinent ...

), Andhra Pradesh * 2010 – Dwijen Mukherjee (

Rabindra Sangeet ''Rabindra Sangeet'' ( bn, রবীন্দ্র সঙ্গীত; ), also known as Tagore Songs, are songs from the Indian subcontinent written and composed by the Bengali polymath Rabindranath Tagore, winner of the 1913 Nobel Prize in ...

), West Bengal * 2010 – Chandabai Tiwadi (Bharud), Maharashtra * 2010 – T. Somasundaram (Folk dance), Tamil Nadu * 2010 – Krishna Kumari (Folk music:

Bhakha Bhakha, also known as Bhakha (Gir) and Gir Bhakha, is a village / panchayat located in the Gir Gadhada Taluka of Gir Somnath district in Gujarat State, India. Earlier, until August 2013, Bhakha was part of Una Taluka and Junagadh district. The la ...

), Jammu and Kashmir * 2010 – Chand Jagdish Tiwadi (Folk theatre: Bharud), Maharashtra * 2011 – Trippekulam Achuta Marar(Kerla) * 2011 – Hemant Chauhan for Folk Music (Gujarat) * 2011 – Gurmeet Bawa for Folk Music (Punjab) * 2011 – Kashiram Sahu for Folk Theatre (Chhattisgarh) * 2011 – Mipham Otsal for Traditional Theatre (Jammu & Kashmir) * 2011 – Bellagallu Veeranna for Togalu Gombeyatta, Puppetry (Karnataka) * 2011 – Gopal Chandra Das for Putul Nach (Tripura) * 2011 – Kasmi Khan Niyazi for Making of musical Instrument (DeIhi) * 2012 – Go Ru Channabasappa (Folk Music - Karnataka) * 2012 – Kinaram Nath Oja (Suknani Ojapali - Assam) * 2012 – Prem Singh Dehati (Folk Music - Haryana) * 2012 – Sulochana Chavan (Lavani - Maharashtra) * 2012 – Mattannur Sankaran Kutty Marar (Thayambaka - Kerala) * 2012 – Govind Ram Nirmalkar (Nacha - Chhattisgarh) * 2012 – Heera Das Negi (Mask Making - Himachal Pradesh) * 2013 – Meeenakshi K. (Instrument Making - Ghatam - Tamil Nadu) * 2013 – Raj Begum, Traditional, Folk Music/Dance & Theatre (Jammu & Kashmir) * 2013 – T.A.R. Nadi Rao & N Jeeva Rao (Joint Award), Folk Music (Tamil Nadu) * 2013 – Gurdial Singh, Instrument Making (Punjab) * 2013 – Mohan Singh Khangura, Rabindra Sangeet (West Bengal) * 2013 – Umakanta Gogoi (Bairagi), Tokari Geet and Dehbichar Geet, (Assam) * 2013 – Sheikh Riyajuddin alias Rajubaba, Folk Theatre (Maharashtra) * 2014 – Puran Shah Koti (Traditional Music - Punjab) * 2014 – Kalamandalam Ram Mohan (Makeup/Costume for Kathakali) * 2014 – Reba Kanta Mohanta (Mask Making - Assam) * 2014 – Abdul Rashid Hafiz (Folk Music - Jammu & Kashmir ) * 2014 – K.Shanathoiba Sharma (Thang-Ta - Manipur) * 2014 – Ramdayal Sharma (Nautanki - U.P.) * 2014 – Thanga Darlong (Folk Music - Tripura) * 2015 – Ramchandra Singh (Folk Theater - Bihar) * 2017 –

(Folk Music - Jharkhand) * 2017 –

Prakash Khandge Prakash Khandge is an Indian academic, researcher and writer based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. His specialisation is folk dances of Maharashtra. He is a member of the Sangeet Natak Akademi and he is the founder and head of Lok Kala Academy (Performi ...

(Folk Arts - Maharashtra) * 2018 – Malini Awasthi (Folk Music - Uttar Pradesh) * 2018 – Gazi Khan Barna (Folk Music - Khartal, Rajasthan) * 2018 – Narendra Singh Negi (Folk Songs - Uttarakhand) * 2018 – Niranjan Rajyaguru (Folk Music - Gujarat) * 2018 – Mohd. Sadiq Bhagat (Folk Theatre - Bhand Pather, J&K) * 2018 – Kota Sachidanand Shastry (Harikatha - Andhra Pradesh) * 2018 –

Arjun Singh Dhurve Arjun Singh Dhurve (born 12 August 1953) is a folk dancer and a retired teacher from the Dindori district of the Indian State of Madhya Pradesh. He is famous for popularising Baiga folk songs and dance. Baiga Pardhauni dance is the main danc ...

(Folk Dance - Madhya Pradesh) * 2018 – Somnath Battu (Folk Music - Himachal Pradesh) * 2018 – Hem Chandra Goswami (Mask Making - Assam) * 2019 –

Mamta Chandrakar Mamta Chandrakar (born 3 December 1958) is a Padma Shri Awarded folk singer of Chhattisgarh. She is referred to as the Nightingale of Chhattisgarh. Mamta Chandrakar has her post graduation degree in singing from Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidy ...

(Folk Music Chhattisgarh) * 2019 – Ram Lal (Folk Music, Uttarakhand) * 2019 – Shankarbhai Hakabhai Dharjiya (Folk Music & Dance - Gujarat) * 2019 – Nathulal Solanki (Folk Music - Rajasthan) * 2019 – Pandurang Ghotkar (Folk Music - Maharashtra) * 2019 –

Peruvanam Kuttan Marar Peruvanam Kuttan Marar is a chenda artist. He leads several popular traditional orchestra performances in Kerala. He received Padma Shri, India's third highest civilian award, in 2011 for his contributions in the field of art. Early life Peruv ...

(Thayambaka - Kerala) * 2019 – Urmila Pandey (Folk Music - Madhya Pradesh) * 2019 – Sayed Mohmmed P.P. (Folk Music & Dance - Lakshadweep) * 2019 – Majid Gulabsaheb Sitarmaker (Instrument Making - Maharashtra) * 2019 – Dulal Kanji (Instrument Making - West Bengal) * 2020 – Balkar Sidhu (Folk Dance - Punjab) * 2020 – Nandlal Garg (Folk Music - Himachal Pradesh) * 2020 – B. Lalthlengliana (Folk Theatre - Mizoram) * 2020 – Ranjana Kumri Jha (Folk Music - Bihar) * 2020 – S. G. Lakshmidevamma (Folk Music - Karnataka) * 2020 – Tarubala Debbarma (Folk Music and Dance - Tripura) * 2020 – Sang Jangmu (Folk Dance - Arunachal Pradesh) * 2020 – Gafoor Khan Manganiar (Folk Music - Rajasthan) * 2020 – Zachunu Keyho (Folk Music - Nagaland) * 2021 – Silbi Passah (Folk Music - Meghalaya) * 2021 – Durga Prasad Murmu (Folk Music and Dance - Jharkhand) * 2021 – Prashanna Gogoi (Folk Music & Dance - Assam) * 2021 – Gartigere Raghanna (H. N Raghavenda) (Folk Music - Karnataka) * 2021 – S Samundaram (Folk Music - Tamil Nadu) * 2021 – Data Ram Purohit (Folk Music & Theatre - Uttarakhand) * 2021 – Mahavir Singh Guddu (Folk Music & Dance - Haryana) * 2021 – N Tiken Singh (Folk Music - Manipur) * 2021 – N. Sekar (Folk Music - Puducherry) * 2021 – R. Murugan (Instrument Making - Tamil Nadu)

Puppetry/ Mime/ Allied arts of traditional forms

* 1978 – Kathinanada Das (Ravanchhaya puppetry), Orissa * 1979 – U. Kogga Devanna Kamath (Gombeatta puppetry), Karnataka * 1980 – K.L. Krishnan Kutty Pulavar (Tholpava Koothu), Kerala * 1981 – M.R. Ranganatha Rao, Karnataka * 1983 – Meher Rustom Contractor, Gujarat * 1987 – Suresh Dutta, West Bengal * 1992 – Dadi Dorab Pudumjee, Delhi * 1995 – T. Hombiah, Karnataka * 1998 – Kolhacharan Sahu (Ravanchhaya puppetry), Orissa * 1999 – B.H. Puttashamachar, Karanataka * 2001 –

Hiren Bhattacharya Hiren Bhattacharyya (28 July 1932 – 4 July 2012), popularly known as Hiruda, was an Indian poet and lyricist best for his works in the Assamese literature. He had innumerable works published in Assamese and achieved many prizes and accolade ...

, Assam * 2003 –

Puran Bhatt Puran Bhaat is a puppeteer from India. Originally from Rajasthan, his group of puppeteer families settled in Delhi almost fifty years ago. They currently reside in the Kathputli Colony at Delhi, an artist community. He was awarded the Sangeet ...

, Rajasthan * 2005 – Ganpat Sakharam Masge, Maharashtra * 2010 – K. Chinna Anjannamma (Shadow puppetry: Tolu Bommalata), Andhra Pradesh * 2010 – K.V. Ramakrishnan and K.C. Ramakrishnan (Glove puppetry: Pava Kathakali), Kerala * 2012 – Prafulla Karmakar (Traditional Puppetry - West Bengal) * 2013 – Lilavati M Kavi (Bajaj), Puppetry * 2014 – K. Kesavasamy (Puppetry - Puducherry) * 2016 – Prabhitangsu Das (Contemporary Puppetry - Tripura) * 2018 – Anupama Hoskere (Classical String Puppetry of Karnataka, Bengaluru) * 2020 – Meena Nayak (Puppetry - Maharashtra)

Films

Overall Contribution/Scholarship

References

External links

* {{India Honours and Decorations Awards established in 1952 Civil awards and decorations of India Indian film awards Indian music awards Indian art awards Dance awards Sangeet Natak Akademi 1952 establishments in India hi:संगीत नाटक अकादमी पुरस्कार

Award recipients

Music

Hindustani music

Vocal

Instrumental

= Flute The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...

= Guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

= Harmonium The pump organ is a type of free-reed organ that generates sound as air flows past a vibrating piece of thin metal in a frame. The piece of metal is called a reed. Specific types of pump organ include the reed organ, harmonium, and melodeon. T ...

= Pakhavaj The pakhavaj is a barrel-shaped, two-headed drum, originating from the Indian subcontinent, the oldest version of double sided drums and its descendants are mridangam of Southern India and kendang of Maritime Southeast Asia and other South Asi ...

= Santoor The Indian santoor instrument is a trapezoid-shaped hammered dulcimer, and a variation of the Iranian santur. The instrument is generally made of walnut and has 25 bridges. Each bridge has 4 strings, making for a total of 100 strings. It is ...

= Sarangi The sārangī is a bowed, short-necked string instrument played in traditional music from South Asia – Punjabi folk music, Rajasthani folk music, and Boro folk music (there known as the ''serja'') – in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. It is ...

= Sarod The sarod is a stringed instrument, used in Hindustani music on the Indian subcontinent. Along with the sitar, it is among the most popular and prominent instruments. It is known for a deep, weighty, introspective sound, in contrast with the sweet ...

= Sitar The sitar ( or ; ) is a plucked stringed instrument, originating from the Indian subcontinent, used in Hindustani classical music. The instrument was invented in medieval India, flourished in the 18th century, and arrived at its present form in ...

= Surbahar ''Surbahar'' (; ) sometimes known as bass sitar, is a plucked string instrument used in the Hindustani classical music of the Indian subcontinent. It is closely related to the sitar, but has a lower pitch. Depending on the instrument's size, it ...

= Tabla A tabla, bn, তবলা, prs, طبلا, gu, તબલા, hi, तबला, kn, ತಬಲಾ, ml, തബല, mr, तबला, ne, तबला, or, ତବଲା, ps, طبله, pa, ਤਬਲਾ, ta, தபலா, te, తబల� ...

= Violin The violin, sometimes known as a ''fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone (string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in the family in regular ...

Carnatic music

Vocal

Instrumental

= Clarionet

= Flute The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...

= Ghatam The ghaṭam ( sa, घटं ''ghaṭaṁ'', kan, ಘಟ ''ghaṭah'', ta, கடம் ''ghatam'', te, ఘటం ''ghatam'', ml, ഘടം, ''ghatam'') is a percussion instrument used in various repertoires across India. It's a variant ...

= Gottuvadhyam The chitravina ( sa, चित्रवीणा) (also known as chitra veena, chitraveena, chitra vina, hanumad vina, or mahanataka vina) is a 20 or 21-string fretless lute-style veena in Carnatic music. Around the late 19th and early 20th ce ...

= Kanjira

= Mandolin A mandolin ( it, mandolino ; literally "small mandola") is a stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally plucked with a pick. It most commonly has four courses of doubled strings tuned in unison, thus giving a total of 8 ...

= Mridangam The mridangam is a percussion instrument of ancient origin. It is the primary rhythmic accompaniment in a Carnatic music ensemble. In Dhrupad, a modified version, the pakhawaj, is the primary percussion instrument. A related instrument is the ...

= Nagaswaram The Nagaswaram (nādḥasvaram) is a double reed wind instrument from South India. It is used as a traditional classical instrument in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala. This instrument is "among the world's loudes ...

= Saxophone The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed on a mouthpiece vibrates to pr ...

= Thavil A ''thavil'' (Tamil:தவில்) or ''tavil'' is a barrel-shaped percussion instrument from Tamil Nadu. It is also widely used in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu and Telangana States of South India. It is used in temple, folk ...

= Veena The ''veena'', also spelled ''vina'' ( sa, वीणा IAST: vīṇā), comprises various chordophone instruments from the Indian subcontinent. Ancient musical instruments evolved into many variations, such as lutes, zithers and arched harps.< ...

= Violin The violin, sometimes known as a ''fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone (string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in the family in regular ...

Creative and experimental music

Folk music

Other major traditions of music

Chhau

Creative dance/Choreography

Kathak Kathak ( hi, कथक; ur, کتھک) is one of the eight major forms of Indian classical dance. It is the classical dance from of Uttar Pradesh. The origin of Kathak is traditionally attributed to the traveling bards in ancient northern Ind ...

Kathakali Kathakali ( ml, കഥകളി) is a major form of classical Indian dance. It is a "story play" genre of art, but one distinguished by the elaborately colourful make-up and costumes of the traditional male actor-dancers. It is native to the M ...

Kuchipudi Kuchipudi () ( Telugu: ) is one of the eight major Indian classical dances. It originates from a village named Kuchipudi in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Kuchipudi is a dance-drama performance, with its roots in the ancient Hindu Sa ...

Manipuri

Mohiniattam Mohiniyattam, ( ml, മോഹിനിയാട്ടം), is an Indian classical dance form that developed and remained popular in the state of Kerala. Kathakali is another classical dance form of Kerala. Mohiniyattam dance gets its name fr ...

Sattriya ''Sattriya'' ( as, সত্ৰীয়া), or ''Sattriya Nritya'', is a major Indian classical dance. This dance was initially created as part of Bhaona which are performances of '' Ankiya Nat'', one-act plays, originally created by Sankar ...

Other major traditions of dance and dance theatre

Music for dance

Folk and Tribal dance

Theatre

Acting

From 1952–2003 (language-wise)

= Assamese

= Bengali theatre Bengali theatre primarily refers to theatre performed in the Bengali language. Bengali theatre is produced mainly in West Bengal, and in Bangladesh. The term may also refer to some Hindi theatres which are accepted by the Bengali people. Ben ...

= Gujarati theatre Gujarati theatre refers to theatre performed in the Gujarati language, including its dialects. Gujarati theatre is produced mainly in Gujarat and Maharashtra, in cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Baroda, Surat and else where Gujarati diaspora ex ...

= Hindi theatre Hindi theatre is theatre performed in the Hindi language, including dialects such as Braj Bhasha, Khari Boli and Hindustani. Hindi theatre is produced mainly in North India, and some parts of West India and Central India, which include Mumbai and ...

= Kannada

= Malayalam

= Manipuri

= Marathi theatre Marathi theatre is theatre in the Marathi language, mostly originating or based in the state of Maharashtra in India, and elsewhere with Marathi diaspora. Starting in the middle of the 19th century, it flourished in the 1950s and 1960s. Today, ...

= Oriya

= Sanskrit

= Tamil

= Telugu theatre Telugu theatre is Indian theatre in the Telugu language, based in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Gurajada Apparao wrote the play, ''Kanyasulkam'' in 1892, which is often considered the greatest play in the Telugu language.20th Cent ...

= Urdu

From 2004 onwards

Mime

Direction

Playwriting

2012 onwards

Allied Theatre Arts

Major traditions of theatre

Other Traditional / Folk/ Tribal/ Dance/ Music/ Theatre and Puppetry

Puppetry/ Mime/ Allied arts of traditional forms

Films

Overall Contribution/Scholarship

References

External links

=
Flute The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...

=
Guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

=
Harmonium The pump organ is a type of free-reed organ that generates sound as air flows past a vibrating piece of thin metal in a frame. The piece of metal is called a reed. Specific types of pump organ include the reed organ, harmonium, and melodeon. T ...

=
Pakhavaj The pakhavaj is a barrel-shaped, two-headed drum, originating from the Indian subcontinent, the oldest version of double sided drums and its descendants are mridangam of Southern India and kendang of Maritime Southeast Asia and other South Asi ...

=
Santoor The Indian santoor instrument is a trapezoid-shaped hammered dulcimer, and a variation of the Iranian santur. The instrument is generally made of walnut and has 25 bridges. Each bridge has 4 strings, making for a total of 100 strings. It is ...

=
Sarangi The sārangī is a bowed, short-necked string instrument played in traditional music from South Asia – Punjabi folk music, Rajasthani folk music, and Boro folk music (there known as the ''serja'') – in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. It is ...

=
Sarod The sarod is a stringed instrument, used in Hindustani music on the Indian subcontinent. Along with the sitar, it is among the most popular and prominent instruments. It is known for a deep, weighty, introspective sound, in contrast with the sweet ...

=
Sitar The sitar ( or ; ) is a plucked stringed instrument, originating from the Indian subcontinent, used in Hindustani classical music. The instrument was invented in medieval India, flourished in the 18th century, and arrived at its present form in ...

=
Surbahar ''Surbahar'' (; ) sometimes known as bass sitar, is a plucked string instrument used in the Hindustani classical music of the Indian subcontinent. It is closely related to the sitar, but has a lower pitch. Depending on the instrument's size, it ...

=
Tabla A tabla, bn, তবলা, prs, طبلا, gu, તબલા, hi, तबला, kn, ತಬಲಾ, ml, തബല, mr, तबला, ne, तबला, or, ତବଲା, ps, طبله, pa, ਤਬਲਾ, ta, தபலா, te, తబల� ...

=
Violin The violin, sometimes known as a ''fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone (string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in the family in regular ...

=
Flute The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...

=
Ghatam The ghaṭam ( sa, घटं ''ghaṭaṁ'', kan, ಘಟ ''ghaṭah'', ta, கடம் ''ghatam'', te, ఘటం ''ghatam'', ml, ഘടം, ''ghatam'') is a percussion instrument used in various repertoires across India. It's a variant ...

=
Gottuvadhyam The chitravina ( sa, चित्रवीणा) (also known as chitra veena, chitraveena, chitra vina, hanumad vina, or mahanataka vina) is a 20 or 21-string fretless lute-style veena in Carnatic music. Around the late 19th and early 20th ce ...

=
Mandolin A mandolin ( it, mandolino ; literally "small mandola") is a stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally plucked with a pick. It most commonly has four courses of doubled strings tuned in unison, thus giving a total of 8 ...

=
Mridangam The mridangam is a percussion instrument of ancient origin. It is the primary rhythmic accompaniment in a Carnatic music ensemble. In Dhrupad, a modified version, the pakhawaj, is the primary percussion instrument. A related instrument is the ...

=
Nagaswaram The Nagaswaram (nādḥasvaram) is a double reed wind instrument from South India. It is used as a traditional classical instrument in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala. This instrument is "among the world's loudes ...

=
Saxophone The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed on a mouthpiece vibrates to pr ...

=
Thavil A ''thavil'' (Tamil:தவில்) or ''tavil'' is a barrel-shaped percussion instrument from Tamil Nadu. It is also widely used in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu and Telangana States of South India. It is used in temple, folk ...

=
Veena The ''veena'', also spelled ''vina'' ( sa, वीणा IAST: vīṇā), comprises various chordophone instruments from the Indian subcontinent. Ancient musical instruments evolved into many variations, such as lutes, zithers and arched harps.< ...

=
Violin The violin, sometimes known as a ''fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone (string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in the family in regular ...

=
Bengali theatre Bengali theatre primarily refers to theatre performed in the Bengali language. Bengali theatre is produced mainly in West Bengal, and in Bangladesh. The term may also refer to some Hindi theatres which are accepted by the Bengali people. Ben ...

=
Gujarati theatre Gujarati theatre refers to theatre performed in the Gujarati language, including its dialects. Gujarati theatre is produced mainly in Gujarat and Maharashtra, in cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Baroda, Surat and else where Gujarati diaspora ex ...

=
Hindi theatre Hindi theatre is theatre performed in the Hindi language, including dialects such as Braj Bhasha, Khari Boli and Hindustani. Hindi theatre is produced mainly in North India, and some parts of West India and Central India, which include Mumbai and ...

=
Marathi theatre Marathi theatre is theatre in the Marathi language, mostly originating or based in the state of Maharashtra in India, and elsewhere with Marathi diaspora. Starting in the middle of the 19th century, it flourished in the 1950s and 1960s. Today, ...

=
Telugu theatre Telugu theatre is Indian theatre in the Telugu language, based in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Gurajada Apparao wrote the play, ''Kanyasulkam'' in 1892, which is often considered the greatest play in the Telugu language.20th Cent ...