Business Wire IndiaTo celebrate the creative spirit of its Founder President, Shri Aditya Vikram Birla and in his memory, the Sangit Kala Kendra has instituted Awards that recognise excellence in the performing arts. These awards - Aditya Vikram Birla Kalashikhar Puraskar and the Aditya Vikram Birla Kalakiran Puraskars are conferred annually – the former on an extraordinary artist in a specific field and the latter on younger artists who have the potential to make it to the top.
This November 19th marked a milestone in the annals of the Sangit Kala Kendra as it was the 20th Anniversary of the Aditya Vikram Sangit Kala Kendra Awards ceremony. Speaking on the occasion, Mrs. Rajashree Birla, President of the Sangit Kala Kendra said that, “the distinguished panel of judges comprised of leading theatre personalities – Directors, Actors, Sreenwriters viz. Ms. Usha Ganguly, Mr. Sunil Shanbag, Mr. Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha, Ms. Sanjna Kapoor and Mr. Atul Tiwari. The panel named Dr. Pratibha Agrawal, an Actor, Director and Founder of the Natya Shodh Sansthan, as the recipient of the Aditya Vikram Birla Kalashikhar Puraskar for her Life Time Achievement in Indian Theatre. Ms. Anurupa Roy, a Puppeteer and Puppet Theatre Director, along with Mr. Sankar Venkateswaran, a Theatre Director from Kerala have been chosen for the Aditya Vikram Birla Kalakiran Puraskars”.
His Excellency, Mr. Vidyasagar Rao, the Honourable Governor of Maharashtra was the Chief Guest. He applauded the Aditya Birla family for their ongoing encouragement, support and appreciation of the performing arts in its different forms.
As it was the 20th year, Mrs. Rajashree Birla dwelt on the Sangit Kala Kendra and the exemplary way in which it fosters performing arts and in doing so honours the memory of its Founder President, Mr. Aditya Vikram Birla in her words, “Music, dance, theatre, anything that had the creative zing – appealed to my husband Aditya ji. And he wanted its joys to be spread and to be shared beyond our family. The Sangit Kala Kendra, which he spawned is a glowing testament to his creative side. So in his day and time, along with other enthusiasts, he set up this institution. Aditya ji was the motive force behind the Sangit Kala Kendra’s upward climb. The Aditya Vikram Birla Kalashikhar Puraskar awardees are all iconic names such as Smt. Lata Mangeshkar, Shri M. F. Husain, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Pandit Ram Narayan, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Shri Habib Tanvir, Shri Sankho Choudhuri, Shri Somnath Hore, Dr. Teejan Bai, Dr. Gangubai Hangal, Ms. Mrinalini Sarabhai, Pandit Jasraj, Shri Purshottam Das Jalota, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, to name a few.”
The evening saw a musical extravaganza by Parthiv Gohil - Swar Sandhya.
Place: Mumbai
Date: November 19, 2016
Speech at the Aditya Vikram Birla Sangit Kala Kendra Awards on Saturday, the 19th of November 2016 at the Nehru Centre, Worli at 6:15 p.m.
His Excellency Governor Shri Vidyasagar Rao, Shri Lalit Daga, Kumar Mangalam, Neerja, the Awardees, Dr. Pratibha Agrawal, Ms. Anurupa Roy, Mr. Sankar Venkateswaran, ladies and gentlemen.
Good evening!
Today, we mark a milestone in the annals of the Sangit Kala Kendra. It is our 20th Aditya Vikram Sangit Kala Kendra Awards evening. It has been a fantastic journey for all of us as we scaled new peaks year after year. Many thanks to our distinguished members – several of whom are in this auditorium, for having walked the journey with us and for unflinchingly supporting us. A very, very warm welcome to all of you.
And a very special welcome to his Excellency Governor Shri Vidyasagar Rao, our esteemed Chief Guest. We are honoured your Excellency to have you with us at this premier programme of the Sangit Kala Kendra, for the third year in a row. We appreciate your patronage. And we know we can count on you to be with us each year on this august occasion.
Since this is our 20th year, I cannot help being a little nostalgic. Music, dance, theatre, anything that had the creative zing – appealed to my husband Aditya ji. And he wanted its joys to be spread and to be shared beyond our family. The Sangit Kala Kendra, which he spawned is a glowing testament to his creative side. So in his day and time, along with other enthusiasts, he set up this institution. Aditya ji was the motive force behind the Sangit Kala Kendra’s upward climb.
In memory of Aditya ji, its Founder President, the Sangit Kala Kendra Awards were instituted in 1995 to recognise perfection attained in the domain of performing arts. Aditya Vikram Birla Kalashikhar Puraskar is conferred on an exemplary artist in a specific creative field. Subsequently, we instituted the Aditya Vikram Birla Kalakiran Puraskars to honour young talent that has the making of a maestro. It is so heartening that in India, we have stalwarts who have attained perfection in whatever they render. I would like to acknowledge the Aditya Vikram Birla Kalashikhar Puraskar awardees. These are all iconic names such as Smt. Lata Mangeshkar, Shri M. F. Husain, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Pandit Ram Narayan, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Shri Habib Tanvir, Shri Sankho Choudhuri, Shri Somnath Hore, Dr. Teejan Bai , Dr. Gangubai Hangal, Ms. Mrinalini Sarabhai, Pandit Jasraj, Shri Purshottam Das Jalota, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, to name a few.
This year, we have chosen theatre as a theme of the Awards. The theatre in its different forms is a continuing passion with our Sangit Kala Kendraites. Over the years, we have had numerous theatrical performances.
We are extremely delighted that our panel of judges have named Dr. Pratibha Agrawal, an Actor, Director and Founder of the Natya Shodh Sansthan, as the recipient of the Aditya Vikram Birla Kalashikhar Puraskar for her Life Time Achievement in Indian Theatre. The two younger artists on whom the Aditya Vikram Birla Kalakiran Puraskars will be conferred are Ms. Anurupa Roy, for her excellent contribution as a Puppeteer and on Mr. Sankar Venkateswaran, a Theatre Director. On behalf of the Sangit Kala Kendra, let me congratulate Dr. Agrawal, Anurupa and Sankar. We owe much gratitude to our distinguished panel of judges who have named the awardees.
Thank you very much, Ms. Usha Ganguly, Mr. Sunil Shanbag, Mr. Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha, Ms. Sanjna Kapoor and Mr. Atul Tiwari.
Finally, if we in the Sangit Kala Kendra have been growing in stature, it is only due to the zeal and the enthusiasm of our members. I stand before you, because all of you stand behind me. As we go forward, I am sure we can count on your ongoing commitment to make Sangit Kala Kendra one of the greatest institutions in the domain of performing arts. Thank you so much and have a wonderful evening.
Photo Caption: L to R - Shri Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, Governor of Maharashtra, Dr. Pratibha Agrawal and Rajashree Birla, President of the Sangit Kala Kendra
