Justice N. Anand Venkatesh (2nd left) conferring the title Isai Perarignar on Chitra Visweswaran and Pann Isai Perarignar on Kudanthai V. Lakshmanan in the city on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
Bharatanatyam dancer Chitra Visweswaran and Tamil music scholar Kudanthai V. Lakshmanan were honoured at the 83rd annual Tamil Isai Festival of the Tamil Isai Sangam in Chennai on Sunday.
The festival was inaugurated at Rajah Annamalai Mandram, with Justice N. Anand Venkatesh of the Madras High Court presiding over. Ms. Visweswaran was conferred the title Isai Perarignar, along with a gold medallion, a silver plaque and an endowment purse, in recognition of her distinguished contribution to Bharatanatyam and her engagement with Tamil music traditions. She described the day as unforgettable and said it would remain an important milestone in her life.
The title Pann Isai Perarignar (scholar of melodic Tamil music) was conferred on Kudanthai V. Lakshmanan, a veteran exponent and researcher of Tamil pann music. He said the Tamil Isai Sangam would continue for “thousands and thousands of years”, as Tamil music could never be erased. He added music vidwans would keep the tradition alive through their singing.
Justice Anand Venkatesh began his address by singing ‘Amuthe Thamizhe Azhagiya Mozhiye’. He said music, nature and God are one, and that music was not merely a sound to be heard, but an experience to be felt.
Published – December 22, 2025 12:48 am IST
