Prez gives away Sangeet Natak Akademi awards

Noted flautist Rajendra Prasanna, Kathak dancer Shobha Koser, folk singer Anwar Khan Manganiyar, and Odissi dancer Sujata Mohapatra among others were conferred with Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards by President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday.
In a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President awarded a total of 42 artistes in five categories for the year 2017, including a joint award to Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha for their contribution in Hindustani vocal music.
Those awarded in the field of music include Hindustani vocalist Lalith J Rao, Tabla player Yogesh Samsi, flautist and shehnai player Rajendra Prasanna, Carnatic vocalist M S Sheela, Carnatic veena player Suma Sudhindra, Carnatic mridangam player Tiruvarur Vaidyanathan, Carnatic flautist Shashank Subramanyam, Madhurani and Haimanti Sukla for Sugam Sangeet, and Gurnam Singh for Gurbani. A total of nine artistes received awards for their contribution in the field of dance. (PTI)