Speakers

PT. VENKATESH KUMAR

M. Venkatesh Kumar is a Hindustani vocalist. He is best known for his rendition of devotional songs composed by Swami Haridas and Kanakadasa. He belongs to the Kirana and Gwalior Gharana. He has also received an honorary Doctorate from Karnataka University, Dharwad in 2014. In devotional music, Kumar is most acclaimed for his Kannada vachana and dasara pada singing.

Kumar has received Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2012), Padma Shri Award by the Government of India (2016) and Kalidas Samman by Madhya Pradesh government. (for the year 2017. Awarded in 2021).