Mysuru: ‘Natya Kalottunga’ award was conferred on Vidu. Radha Sridhar, internationally acclaimed Bharatanatyam virtuoso, during the inauguration of the three-day Kalabhivardhana-2017, organised by Kala Sandesha Prathishtana in association with Kannada and Culture Department, at Jaganmohan Palace last evening. The festival was inaugurated by Nadoja Dr. Mahesh Joshi, retired Additional Director General, Doordarshan.

Chennappa, Assistant Director, Dept. of Kannada and Culture, Mysuru, addressed the evening as the chief guest.

He said that the Department was supporting all art forms and called upon the artistes to make use of it. Stating that artistes approach the Department seeking a platform to perform during Dasara, Chennappa regretted that artistes hardly came forward to perform during other occasions.

Maintaining that no other State in the country had given as much grants as in Karnataka for the development of language and culture, he urged the artistes not to limit themselves only for Dasara events and to utilise the Department’s sponsorship on other occasions too.

Vidu. Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy presided over the event.

The members of Natya Kalottunga Award Committee and renowned Bharatanatyam exponents of Mysuru — Vid. Ramamurthy Rao, Vidu. Tulasi Ramachandra and Vidu. Kripa Phadke, Art patrons of Mysuru — T.R. Harish and Savitha Ramesh, Dr. Sheela Sridhar and Vid. R. Kannan were also present.

The evening witnessed Bharatanatyam recital by Vidu. Aishwarya Nithyananda and Vidu. Bianca Radhakrishna, the disciples of Vidu. Radha Sridhar.

Today at 5.30 pm, the Pratishtana will present ‘Sangeetha Kalottunga’ award to renowned violinist Vid. Dr. L. Subramaniam. At 7 pm, Padma Bhushan Dr. L. Subramaniam will present a violin recital.