Aditya Vikram Sangit Kala Kendra Awards Ceremony

by Suman Gupta

To 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 Adityaji.  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.  Adityaji 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”.