— Photo: K.V. SRINIVASAN
MOMENT OF PRIDE: Violin maestro Lalgudi G. Jayaraman presenting ‘Vasantha Shresht’ award to harikatha artist Vishaka Hari in Chennai on Saturday. Managing trustee of Vasantha Memorial Trust Ramanathan Jayaraman is in the picture.
CHENNAI: Vasantha Memorial Trust, an organisation working in the area of cancer care and cure, honoured harikatha artist Vishaka Hari with the ‘Vasantha Shresht’ award here on Saturday.
Violin maestro Lalgudi.G.Jayaraman presented the award to Ms.Hari, who has been trained in Carnatic music under him. In his felicitations, he said Ms.Hari’s performances had a blend of story-telling and music, making it very effective. “I pray to the Almighty to bless her with success,” he said.
The Trust has been creating awareness about cancer and its cure. With branches in Coimbatore, Chennai and Mumbai, it has raised funds for its awareness projects through concerts and other programmes.
Managing trustee Ramanathan Jayaraman said Ms.Hari’s performance that was to follow the award presentation ceremony had raised nearly Rs.1 lakh through donor passes. The response was very heartening, he said. Ms.Hari, in her acceptance speech, said no award was greater than the one received from a guru. “I am indeed blessed to have received the award from Lalgudi sir,” she said. She thanked her other gurus, namely, father-in-law Krishnapremi Swamigal and husband Hariji for their guidance and support. Her performance titled ‘Subramanya Vaibhavan’ followed.
