Veenadhari Institute's debut award 'Kaladhari' goes to Ms Nanditha Kannan

Veenadhari has taken a lot of initiatives to promote the cause of Music & Dance across the world. Kaladhari Award is instituted with main intention of motivating & encouraging upcoming & promising artists among younger lot in the field of Music & Dance.  

Nanditha Kannan, a young & upcoming Carnatic Classical Vocalist from Chennai has been Chosen to receive the Kaladhari Award from Veenadhari for the year 2022. Thanks to Mrs.Anuradha Madhusudan.

Ms.Nanditha Kannan 

Nanditha Kannan is studying in her 12th grade at the Padma Seshadri Bhavan, but has come a long way in learning Carnatic classical music. Maybe, she is just in her teens from an age point of view. However, if, you happen to glance at her accomplishments so far perhaps you may have to rethink your opinion.

Learning begins at the age of four: Nanditha Kannan’s grooming into Carnatic classical vocal music began at the tender age of four years. In fact, her initial vocal training began with her mother Lakshmi Kannan. Later on, she spent her formative years of learning under the late Smt. Shankari Natarajan, who evinced a keen interest in imparting Nanditha the nuances of Bhava. She also imbibed in her focus on the emotional aspect apart from the technicalities.

Tutelage of Vidwan R.K Shriram Kumar: In a way, Nanditha Kannan is blessed to be under the tutelage of Vidwan R.K Shriram Kumar. It goes to the credit of RKSK, as he is popularly known for playing a pivotal role in sculpting Nanditha’s repertoire towards making her concert ready.

A family of musicians: Nanditha Kannan belongs to a family of musicians with a maternal lineage including Vidwan Pallavi Doraisami Iyer and Sangeet Kalanidhi Vidwan Sabesa Iyer.

Encouragement from school: Thanks to the patronage of Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan wherein Nanditha Kannan is currently studying her 12th grade. It is encouraging her in all possible ways and nourishing her inclination to arts and more so to the music. Such a boost to her interests augmented her to take to music with curiosity and fervor.

Awards galore all along: Probably, the number of many districts, state, national and international level competitions she has participated in and the awards she has won keep going unabated.

Some of these awards and notable achievements include the following:

• Awarded Extraordinary talent in Carnatic music award 2022 from IWA (International Women's Association).
• First place in the Tamiz music contest conducted by Gayatri Fine Arts Global
• Awarded Best Vocalist and Inducted into the Live4You Hall of Fame.
• HCL Rhapsody Carnatic Quest Junior – Winner 1 (Vocal) National level
• Hindu Marghazhi Classical Music Competition (2nd Prize at National level in Krithi Vocal)
• Times Tyagaraja Carnatic Music Awards – Finalist (National Level)
• Recipient of Vatsala Pasupathi Memorial Cup and Scholarship for music and academics.
• SAARANG (IIT) AROH 2022 – 1st Prize Vocal National level
• Guruguhamrutha – Tambura 1st Prize National level
• Sugam Karnatica (Malaysia) – 1st Prize International level in Manodharmam and Divine Classics
• Gaan Nipun Spardha 2022 (Pandit Jasraj Institute) – International 1st prize level in Classical and 2nd prize in bhajans.
• Iskcon Cultural Fest – 2nd prize National Level in classical music (Bhajans).
• Sudharnava Academy – 2nd prize in Annamachari Vocal Category.

In Carnatic concerts: She has been actively performing full-length Carnatic concerts since April 2021 in reputed sabhas including Raga Sudha, RR Sabha, Parthasarathy Swami Sabha, Narada Gana Sabha, Giri Fine Arts, The Chembur Fine Arts Society (Mumbai), Laya Madhuraa, Gayathri Fine Arts, Veenadhari Institute of Music and Fine arts, etc.

A voracious reader and a serious blogger: Apart from a keen interest in performing arts/music, Nanditha is a voracious reader and a serious blogger who loves sketching. She has contributed a lot to her school magazine, which in turn has been instrumental in developing her interest in writing. Her blog (www.nandithakannan.com) unravels her life experiences with the unique quirks of her being a teenager. She wants to continue developing her love for words.

Learning a new skill, a passion: Nanditha is also adept in sketching and creates her own visuals/sketches for her blogs. She developed her website from scratch and maintains/upgrades it on a periodic basis. Learning a new skill has been her passion over the years and she continues to yearn for her next.

-Manohar Yadavatti