The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
MUMBAI, NOV 25, 2023
Internationally renowned flautist and music director Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia has been conferred with the prestigious ‘Aditya Vikram Birla Kala Shikhar Puraskar’ for his contributions to music.
The Sangit Kala Kendra (SKK) President Rajashree Birla conferred the honour on Pandit Chaurasia at a glittering function late on Thursday, while describing him as the “doyen of the Bansuri (flute), whose status as a flautist is unmatchable”.
Two other promising young artists, tabla player Ojas Adhiya and sarangi player Sabir Khan were presented with the ‘Aditya Vikram Birla Mala Kiran Puraskar’ each.
Veteran playback singer Kavita Krishnamurthy was the chief guest of the event along with the panel of judges comprising Shekhar Sen, Rahul Sharma, Dr Suvarnalata Rao, Ronu Majumdar, all acclaimed names in the world of instrumental music, as per the theme of the awards this year.
Industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla and others were treated to an evening of music with Malevo from Argentina, actor-director Farhan Akhtar and singer Sunidhi Chauhan.
Rajashree Birla recalled her late husband Aditya Vikram Birla’s contributions to the nation, his love for music and patronage to the performing arts which saw the birth of the SKK 50 years ago, in 1973.
She said that the legendary American singer Harry Belafonte – who died this year in April aged 96 – was the idol of Birla, who also strummed the guitar for relaxation, so when he conceptualised the SKK, he was keen that instrumental music should be an integral part of it.
Some of the past recipients of the SKK top awards include legendary artists like actress and danseuse Dr. Vyjayanthimala Bali, Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, noted Santoor player Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, Pt. Vijay Raghav Rao and Pt. Ram Narayan, Pt. Birju Maharaj, Naseeruddin Shah, Dr. Kanak Rele, Pandit Jasraj, Lata Mangeshkar, MF Hussain, and others for their achievements in their respective fields.
