First Nishagandhi Sangeetha Puraskaram to Padma Shri Parassala Ponnamal and Padma Bhushan T V Gopalakrishnan

Photos - tvgopalakrishnan.com, Fb page Parassala Ponnammal

Eminent classical musicians Padma Shri Parassala B Ponnammal and Padma Bhushan Dr. T V. Gopalakrishnan will receive the first Nishagandhi Sangeetha Puraskaram on 24 Jul 2019, the  concluding day of Nishagandhi Monsoon Ragas, the five-day music festival organized by the Kerala Tourism Department. The Nishagandhi Sangeetha Puraskaram is initiated by Kerala Tourism to honor artists who have made outstanding contributions to music.

Nishagandhi Monsoon Ragas will be inaugurated by Hon'ble Governor of Kerala Rtd Justice Shri P. Sathasivam on July 20, at 6.15 PM at Kanakakunnu Palace, Thiruvananthapuram. Renowned musicians will take part in the five day festival. See Details


Padma Shri Parassala B. Ponnammal (95)  is the first female student of Swathi Thirunal Music Academy in Thiruvananthapuram and also the first woman singer to perform during the Navarathri Music Festival of the famed Sree Padamanabhaswamy Temple. She was also the first female faculty at the Swati Tirunal Music College. Ponnammal, the music scholar and eminent Carnatic vocalist, was the Principal of RLV Fine Arts College, Thrippuinithara and has associated with leading music institutions. Shri Parassala Ponnammal has been honored with several awards including  Guruvayurappan Chembai Puraskaram, Sangeetha Nataka Akademy award and Swathi Sangeetha Puraskaram.

Padma Bhushan Dr T V Gopalakrishnan (87) is a versatile artist who has excelled as a vocalist, mridangam player and violinist. He is also mastered in the Hindustani tradition. TVG has conducted several concerts in India and abroad.

The five-day Monsoon Ragaas Music Festival will feature both vocalists and instrumentalists of various streams.The festival commence on 20 Jul with Bamboo Symphony by Unnikrishna Pakkanar followed by a concert by Chitravina N Ravikiran. Leading singers including Ghazal Maestro Jaswinder Singh, violinist Krishnaa Ajith, Carnatic Vocalist Vidushi S.Sowmya, AnanthaSai A.S, Grammy Award Winner Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and Samrat Pandit Salil Bhatt will participate in the festival