About Carnatic Music

:: List of Sangeetha Kalanidhis

"Sangeetha Kalanidhi" - The highest award in Carnatic Music

The Music Academy, which is one of the most prestigious institutions in the field of Carnatic Music, is located in Chennai, India.

Since Aug.18, 1928, the academy has endeavoured to provide various avenues to further the advancement of the science and art of Indian music.Annual music conferences are held every December to collect all information regarding music, maintain the library and publish a journal. The conferences at the academy draw many well known musicians, composers and musicologists from all over India and abroad. Thus the east and the west are able to appreciate and understand each other's music.

During the Annual conference, the academy awards a highly accomplished musician/musicologist, with the title "Sangeetha Kalanidhi", which is considered the "Nobel Prize" of Carnatic music.

For a full list of names and biographical information about awardees Click here.

 

List of Sangeetha Kalanidhis
YEAR	Sangeetha Kalanidhi	YEAR	Sangeetha Kalanidhi
1929	T. V. Subba Rao, T. S. Sabesha Iyer and M. S. Ramaswamy Iyer	1968	M. S. Subbulakshmi
1930	Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar	1969	Madurai Srirangam Iyer
1931	Pazhamaneri Swaminatha Iyer	1970	D. K. Pattammal
1932	Tiger Varadachariar	1971	Papanasam Sivan
1933	K. Ponnayya Pillai	1972	Professor P. Sambamoorthy
1934	T. S. Sabesha Iyer	1973	T. Balasaraswati
1935	Mysore K. Vasudevacharya	1974	R. Anantakrishna Sarma
1936	Umayalapuram Swaminatha Iyer	1975	No Award Given
1937	Chidambara Bhagavatar	1976	T. Brinda
1938	Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar	1977	M. L. Vasanthakumari
1939	Musiri Subramania Iyer	1978	M. Balamurali Krishna
1940	Kallidaikurichi Vedanta Bhagavatar	1979	K. S. Narayanaswamy
1941	Professor Venkataswami Naidu	1980	T. N. Krishnan
1942	Mazhavarayanendal Subbarama Bhagavatar	1981	T. M. Thiyagarajan
1943	Palladam Sanjiva Rao	1982	Embar S. Vijayaraghavachariar
1944	T. L. Venkatarama Iyer	1983	Dr. S. Pinakapani
1945	Maharajapuram Vishwanatha Iyer	1984	Mysore V. Doreswamy Iyengar
1946	No Award Given	1985	Dr. S. Ramanathan
1947	Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer	1986	Palghat K. V. Narayanaswamy
1948	Kumbakonam Rajamanickam Pillai	1987	B. Rajam Iyer
1949	Mudicondan Venkatrama Iyer	1988	Prof.T.Viswanathan
1950	Karur Chinnaswamy Iyer	1989	Maharajapuram V. Santhanam
1951	Chembai Vaidhyanatha Bhagavatar	1990	D. K. Jayaraman
1952	Karaikudi Sambasiva Iyer	1991	Nedunuri Krishnamurthy
1953	Tirupampuram N. Swaminatha Pillai	1992	Thanjai K. P. Sivanandam
1954	Chittur Subramanya Pillai	1993	Mani Krishnaswami
1955	Marungapuri Gopalakrishna Iyer	1994	T. K. Murthy
1956	Tiruvizhimizhalai Subramanya Pillai	1995	R. K. Srikantan
1957	Mysore T. Chowdiah	1996	Dr. N. Ramani
1958	G. N. Balasubramaniam	1997	M. S. Gopalakrishnan
1959	Madurai Mani Iyer	1998	Sheik Chinna Moulana
1960	T. K. Jayarama Iyer	1999	T.K.Govinda Rao
1961	Tiruvidamarudur Veerusami Pillai	2000	R.Vedavalli
1962	K. Papa Venkataramiah	2001	Umayalapuram K.Sivaraman
1963	Budulur Krishnamurthi Sastrigal	2002	Sikkil Sisters (Neela and Kunjumani)*
1964	Alathur Sivasubramanya Iyer	2003	T.V.Sankaranarayan
1965	Alathur Srinivasa Iyer	2004	Vellore G.Ramabhadran
1966	T. S. Mani Iyer	2005	M.Chandrasekaran
1967		2006	Madurai T. N. Seshagopalan
		2007	Palghat Raghu
* For the first time in the history of the Music Academy, 2 artistes have been awarded the title in the same year.