Sumukhi Foundation achievement awards

Sri Sumukhi Rajasekharan Memorial Foundation celebrated the fourth year anniversary and the first year commemoration of 'Kala Poshakam', on Sunday, February 25, 2007, at Narada Gana Sabha (Mini Hall), Chennai.

The Mylapore Trio (S Amarnath, S Surendranath, S Aparna - Kalakshetra alumni) saluted the doyens of dance and music by conferring titles and awards.

Sarada Hoffman

The 'Aachaarya Devo Bhava' award (Lifetime Achievement Award) was presented to Sarada Hoffman, retired Prof and head, Department of Dance – Kalakshetra. The award for Bharatanatyam was given in recognition of her outstanding career and dedicated service, under the tutelage and inspiring guidance of the legend Rukmini Devi. Sarada began her career at the age of 12 at Kalakshetra, as the first and foremost disciple of Rukmini Devi, who entrusted her to Pandanallur Chokkalingam Pillai for formal training. She was fortunate to learn exclusive new items from Rukmini Devi, who had herself conducted her arangetram, which created history. 

Sarada underwent special training in Padams from Mylapore Gowri Ammal and also learnt Kathakali from Sri Ambu Panicker and Sri Chandu Panicker. Her splendid Bharatanatyam performances with graceful movements, together with finest nritta and impressive abhinaya, were well-acclaimed. Her innovative compositions include Varnams, Keertanams, Padams, Javalis, Thillanas, and a variety of group and folk dances. To top it all, her magnum opus productions 'Damayanti Swayamvaram' and 'Murugan Thiru Arul' bear testimony to her high degree of creativity and expertise. Her 50 years of association with Kalakshetra, as an exemplary student, teacher, performer and choreographer has been remarkable and exceptional. 

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The 'Sangeeta Aachaarya Siromani' award was presented to Nalini Ramprasad, musician and founder of Sri Matha Samarpanam. The lifetime achievement award was in recognition of her remarkable achievements and commendable talent as a renowned singer and a respected guru. Nalini was encouraged and initiated into Carnatic music by her mother Sivakamu at a very young age. She had her tutelage under the able guidance of Chingelput Ranganathan, of the Alathoor School, as well from distinguished musicians, Dr S Ramanathan and Muktha Amma. Her sister Nirmala Ramachandran, an illustrious Bharatanatyam dancer, also trained her in Padam singing. Being an eminent singer, Nalini Ramprasad had created waves with her soulful rendering of Padams for stalwarts of Bharatanatyam. 

As a secretary of the 'Children Academy', she had promoted many young talent, some of whom are leading performers today. As the founder of Sri Matha Samarpanam, she offers her services by teaching music, slokam and Gita chanting to women and children. As an active and dedicated member of the Vedanta Institute, Chennai, she gives training in bhajans and also offers her help towards the organisational works of the institute. The 'Laya Aachaarya Siromani' award was presented to mridanga vidwan and guru R Jayaraman. 

This lifetime achievement award was in recognition of his remarkable achievements and commendable talent. Jayaraman hails from a family of rich musical traditions from Sri Rangarajapuram and was initiated into music by his father Ramamoorty Iyer. Later, he learnt mridangam in the gurukula system, from the great stalwart Kumbakonam M Rajappa Iyer and became his prominent disciple. Jayaraman has been a leading accompanist vidwan, besides giving performances on AIR and television.

Sumukhi Foundation achievement awards

Since 1976, he has dedicated his entire life, along with his guru, in rendering service for the cause of music, by teaching and training students from Tamil Nadu and different parts of the world. 

The programme began with Veda chanting by students of the Veda Patashala, followed by Laya Vaadya Vrindha by R Jayaraman and his disciples and a music concert by Nalini Ramprasad who rendered a variety of songs which included a Padam, for which she is famous, for a Bharatanatyam recital by Radika, supported with a live orchestra led by her guru Ambika Buch, who dedicated this to her mentor and guru Sarada Hoffman. 

A galaxy of eminent personalities from various fields attended the function. They were Leela Shekar, C V Chandrasekhar, Dhananjayan, Sundari, Ambika Buch, Savithri Jagannadha Rao, Kala, Vasundra Thomas, Kalakshetrians, Theosophists, Nirmala Ramachandran, Chingelput Ranganathan, 'Vaanoli Anna' Koothabiran, astrologer Subramanyam and Bhootkalingam. 

Sri Sumukhi Rajasekharan Memorial Foundation, in association with Sri Matha Samarpanam, conducted for the first time a slokam and Gita recitation competition for children. The prize winners and participants received their prizes, certificates and medals from Sarada Hoffman.