Chennai-based senior dance guru and artiste Prof. C. V. Chandrasekar has been chosen to be decorated with the Padma Bhushan award, among the highest civilan awards given in India to people who have distinguished themselves in their own fields.
The awards were announced in January 2011.
Prof. S. R. Janakiraman is another personality from the field of Arts who has been chosen for such honours. He will be decorated with the Padma Shri award.
The 82-year-old Janakiraman is a music teacher, musicologist and musician. He said he would dedicate the award to his parents and his music teachers - Tiger Varadachariar, Musiri Subramania Iyer, Thirupampuram Swaminatha Pillai and T. Brinda, and P.K.Rajagopala Iyer, who trained him in the shastras.
Janakiraman continues to be an active participant in music debates and talks in Chennai.
Prof. Chandrasekar and his wife, Jaya are among India's best known couples in the field of dance. After retiring as Head of Performing Arts at M. S. University, Baroda, he made Chennai his base and has taught, composed, choreographed and performed around the world. He is also a Sangeeta Natak Akademi awardee and was decorated with the prestigious Kalidas Samaan award.
Dance guru M. K. Saroja who lives in Chennai and Kalamandalam Kshemavathy Pavitran, Mohiniattam dancer from Kerala have also been chosen for the Padma Shri award.
