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Vijayalakshmi Navaneethakrishnan is a Tamil folk singer and composer and a renowned exponent of Tamil folk art. She has recently been honored with fourth highest civilian award in India Padmashri by the Government of India. Together with her husband M. Navaneethakrishnan, she has conducted several years of research and study on Tamil folk music and dances and devoted a lifetime to research, collection, revival, and documentation of ancient Tamil folk songs and dances, many of which are fast becoming obsolete. The Government of India has announced Padma Shri, the nation's fourth highest civilian award, for the year 2018 to the singer for her extraordinary contribution in her field.

After retiring as professors in the Department of Folk Arts and Culture from the Madurai Kamaraj University, the couple continue their studies on folk art and culture. Along with their troupe, they conduct performances that are sought after by connoisseurs and lovers of Tamil folk music around the world. The couple have brought out several albums of authentic Tamil folk music. Having recorded more than 10,000 audio cassettes of authentic folk music, the couple are now working towards classifying this extensive collection to generate a Tamil folk music grammar and guide. They also plan to compile an encyclopedia of Tamil folk art.

Dr. Vijayalakshmi Navaneethakrishnan has published twenty three articles on folk art. She has given thirty talks over the radio on folk art and music. Dr. Vijayalakshmi Navaneethakrishnan and Dr. Navaneethakrishnan have co-authored eleven books on different subjects related to the field. She won several awards for folk songs

Dr. Vijayalakshmi Navaneethakrishnan has been awarded with the Padma Shri in 2018.

Recorded at Digital Sound Studio, Delhi, 2002

Music: Dr Saubhaguavardhan

Ghazal: Kantimohan 'Soz'

Recorded at Digital Sound Studio, Delhi, 2002

Music: Dr Saubhaguavardhan

Ghazal: Kantimohan 'Soz'

Recorded at Digital Sound Studio, Delhi, 2002

Music: Dr Saubhaguavardhan

Ghazal: Kantimohan 'Soz'

Recorded at Digital Sound Studio, Delhi, 2002

Music: Dr Saubhaguavardhan

Ghazal: Kantimohan 'Soz'

Ratan Thiyam (born 20 January 1948) is an Indian playwright and theatre director, and the winner of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987, one of leading figures of the "theatre of roots" movement in Indian theatre, which started in the 1970s. Also known as Thiyam Nemai, Ratan Thiyam is known for writing and staging plays that use ancient Indian theatre traditions and forms in a contemporary context. A former painter, and proficient in direction, design, script and music, Thiyam is often considered one of leading contemporary theatre gurus.

He worked as Chairperson of the prestigious National School of Drama from 2013-2017. He had also worked as Vice-Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi before joining NSD. He has also worked as Director of National School of Drama from 1987 to 1989. He is also the founder-director of Chorus Repertory Theatre, formed on the outskirts of Imphal, Manipur in 1976. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Direction in 1987, given by Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama, and the Padma Shri given by Government of India in 1989. He was awarded the 2012 Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the highest honour in the performing arts conferred by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama. In the year 2013, Ratan Thiyam receives honorary D.lit from Assam University, Silchar.

Recorded on 7 Jan 1982 by Pratibha Agrawal

Image courtesy: google

Recorded at Digital Sound Studio, Delhi, 2002

Music: Dr Saubhaguavardhan

Ghazal: Kantimohan 'Soz'

Recorded at Digital Sound Studio, Delhi, 2002

Music: Dr Saubhaguavardhan

Ghazal: Kantimohan 'Soz'

Recorded at Digital Sound Studio, Delhi, 2002

Music: Dr Saubhaguavardhan

Ghazal: Kantimohan 'Soz'

Recorded at Digital Sound Studio, Delhi, 2002

Music: Dr Saubhaguavardhan

Ghazal: Kantimohan 'Soz'

Image