Renowned veena player Jayanthi Kumaresh has been selected for the prestigious Sangeetha Kalanidhi award by The Music Academy, Chennai.

This honor is considered the most prestigious award in the field of Carnatic music.

Born and brought up in a family of Carnatic musicians, Kumaresh (who is married to violinist Kumaresh Rajagopalan) began learning the regal 'Saraswati Veena' when her mother gifted her a small version (baby version) of it.

She convinced audiences that the veena, which was once declared an 'endangered instrument' by the Government of India, still has a lot of life left in it; its emotional range is very vast and its music, like any good music, can touch the hearts of today’s audience.

She is also the youngest veena player to be honored with an 'A Grade' by All India Radio.

The Music Academy is celebrating its 100th anniversary. It is also significant that after a gap of three decades, a veena player has been selected for this prestigious honor.

Other award winners of The Music Academy

Bharatanatyam legend Narendra Ji will receive the 'Nritya Kalanidhi' award.

Sugandha Kalamegham has been selected for the 'Sangeeta Kala Acharya' award.

Injikkudi Subramaniam and violinist T.K.V. Ramanujacharyulu have been selected for the 'TTK Award'.

The 'Musicologist Award' will be presented to Dr. B. Balasubramanyam.

The 'Nritya Kala Acharya' award will be given to A. Janardanan.

The 'Dance Musician Award' (vocal) will be given to S. Rajeshwari and the 'Dance Musician Award' (instrument) will be given to T.K. Padmanabhan.

Carnatic music

It is the classical music tradition of South India and is one of the two main systems of Indian classical music; the other system is 'Hindustani music'. It is mainly devotional in nature.

Instruments: Veena, violin, flute, nadaswaram, mridangam, ghatam, kanjira and morsing.

Compositions: Kriti, Keertanam, Varnam, Padam, Javali, etc.

Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri are known as the 'Trinity' of Carnatic music.

The Music Academy award ceremonies

The artist receiving the 'Sangeetha Kalanidhi' award will preside over the academic sessions of 'The Music Academy’s' 100th annual conference and music festivals to be held between 15 December, 2026 and 1 January, 2027.

The 'Nritya Kalanidhi' and other awardees in the field of dance will be honored at the ceremony of 'The Music Academy’s' 20th annual dance festival on 3 January, 2027.