=====================================================================================
16/02/2011
Yesudas receives Swathi Puraskaram
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 15 (PTI) ''Swathi Puraskaram'', the highest musical award of Kerala government, was presented to noted singer K J Yesudas at a function here today.
Speaking on the occasion, the 71-year-old announced that he is donating the award amount of Rs one lakh towards the fund set up by the government to help the aurally challenged children.
State Minister for Culture M A Baby presented the award to Yesudas in recognition of his outstanding contribution to music and culture.
Yesudas receives Swathi Puraskaram
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 15, (PTI):
'Swathi Puraskaram', the highest musical award of Kerala government, was presented to noted singer K J Yesudas at a function here today.
Speaking on the occasion, the 71-year-old announced that he is donating the award amount of Rs one lakh towards the fund set up by the government to help the aurally challenged children.
State Minister for Culture M A Baby presented the award to Yesudas in recognition of his outstanding contribution to music and culture.
Swati Sangeetha Puraskaram for Yesudas
Express News Service First Published : 16 Feb 2011 04:50:24 AM ISTLast Updated : 16 Feb 2011 11:36:57 AM IST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Singer K J Yesudas was on Tuesday presented the Swati Sangeetha Puraskaram for his invaluable contributions to music, but it was the repayment of a three-decade old debt that gave the occasion added sweetness.
The Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi handed the singer a cheque for Rs 6,000, a sum Yesudas had spent from his pocket for Akademi purposes during his brief stint as its chairman in the 1970s.
Although the project - ‘tiny’ gold medals for artistes, according to Yesudas, did not get off - he was not returned the money.
Yesudas had only a brief stint at the Akademi and successive administrations had conveniently forgotten the debt. But on Tuesday, Akademi chairman actor Mukesh and secretary C Ravunni returned the sum after Yesudas had been presented the Swati Sangeetha Puraskaram, also instituted by the Akademi, by Education Minister M A Baby.
Yesudas urged the present-day singers to come together to rectify the shortcomings in the classical music. He asked singers not to entertain pre-conceived notions about singing, though it was good that one should respect what is taught by his/her teacher.
He also contributed the cash prize of the Swathi Sangeetha Puraskaram - Rs 1 lakh - to a Rs 2 crore budget proposal for providing medical aid to the handicapped.
Education Minister M A Baby, referring to the ubiquitous music reality shows, said young singers were often being put under immense pressure by parents and well-wishers.
“I won’t say they are being led astray. But they are being put to difficulties by parents and well-wishers,” he said.