List of Sangeetha Kalanidhis
“Sangeetha Kalanidhi” – The highest award in Carnatic Music
The Madras Music Academy, which is one of the most prestigious institutions in the field of Carnatic Music, is located in Chennai, India.
Since Aug.18, 1928, the academy has endeavored to provide various avenues to further the advancement of the science and art of Indian music. Annual music conferences are held every December to collect all information regarding music, maintain the library and publish a journal.
At each annual conference, The Academy awards a highly accomplished musician/musicologist, with the title “Sangeetha Kalanidhi,” which is unarguably the most sought after and respected title of the Carnatic music universe.
For a full list of names and biographical information about awardees Click here.
List of Sangeetha Kalanidhis
| YEAR | Sangeetha Kalanidhi | YEAR | Sangeetha Kalanidhi |
| 2019 | S. Sowmya | ||
| 2018 | Aruna Sairam | 2017 | Chitravina N. Ravikiran |
| 2016 | A. Kanyakumari | 2015 | Sanjay Subrahmanyan |
| 2014 | T V Gopalakrishnan | 2013 | Sudha Ragunathan |
| 2012 | Trichur Ramachandran | 2011 | Trichy Sankaran |
| 2010 | Bombay Sisters (C. Saroja and C. Lalitha) | 2009 | Valayapatti A.R. Subramanyam |
| 2008 | A.K.C. Natarajan | 2007 | Palghat Raghu |
| 2006 | Madurai T. N. Seshagopalan | 2005 | M.Chandrasekaran |
| 2004 | Vellore G.Ramabhadran | 2003 | T.V.Sankaranarayan |
| 2002 | Sikkil Sisters (Neela and Kunjumani)* | 2001 | Umayalapuram K.Sivaraman |
| 2000 | R.Vedavalli | 1999 | T.K.Govinda Rao |
| 1998 | Sheik Chinna Moulana | 1997 | M. S. Gopalakrishnan |
| 1996 | Dr. N. Ramani | 1995 | R. K. Srikantan |
| 1994 | T. K. Murthy | 1993 | Mani Krishnaswami |
| 1992 | Thanjai K. P. Sivanandam | 1991 | Nedunuri Krishnamurthy |
| 1990 | D. K. Jayaraman | 1989 | Maharajapuram V. Santhanam |
| 1988 | Prof.T.Viswanathan | 1987 | B. Rajam Iyer |
| 1986 | Palghat K. V. Narayanaswamy | 1985 | Dr. S. Ramanathan |
| 1984 | Mysore V. Doreswamy Iyengar | 1983 | Dr. S. Pinakapani |
| 1982 | Embar S. Vijayaraghavachariar | 1981 | T. M. Thiyagarajan |
| 1980 | T. N. Krishnan | 1979 | K. S. Narayanaswamy |
| 1978 | M. Balamurali Krishna | 1977 | M. L. Vasanthakumari |
| 1976 | T. Brinda | 1975 | Not Awarded |
| 1974 | R. Anantakrishna Sarma | 1973 | T. Balasaraswati |
| 1972 | Professor P. Sambamoorthy | 1971 | Papanasam Sivan |
| 1970 | D. K. Pattammal | 1969 | Madurai Srirangam Iyer |
| 1968 | M. S. Subbulakshmi | 1967 | No Award Given |
| 1966 | T. S. Mani Iyer | 1965 | Alathur Srinivasa Iyer |
| 1964 | Alathur Sivasubramanya Iyer | 1963 | Budulur Krishnamurthi Sastrigal |
| 1962 | K. Papa Venkataramiah | 1961 | Tiruvidamarudur Veerusami Pillai |
| 1960 | T. K. Jayarama Iyer | 1959 | Madurai Mani Iyer |
| 1958 | G. N. Balasubramaniam | 1957 | Mysore T. Chowdiah |
| 1956 | Tiruvizhimizhalai Subramanya Pillai | 1955 | Marungapuri Gopalakrishna Iyer |
| 1954 | Chittur Subramanya Pillai | 1953 | Tirupampuram N. Swaminatha Pillai |
| 1952 | Karaikudi Sambasiva Iyer | 1951 | Chembai Vaidhyanatha Bhagavatar |
| 1950 | Karur Chinnaswamy Iyer | 1949 | Mudicondan Venkatrama Iyer |
| 1948 | Kumbakonam Rajamanickam Pillai | 1947 | Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer |
| 1946 | No Award Given | 1945 | Maharajapuram Vishwanatha Iyer |
| 1944 | T. L. Venkatarama Iyer | 1943 | Palladam Sanjiva Rao |
| 1942 | Mazhavarayanendal Subbarama Bhagavatar | 1941 | Professor Venkataswami Naidu |
| 1940 | Kallidaikurichi Vedanta Bhagavatar | 1939 | Musiri Subramania Iyer |
| 1938 | Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar | 1937 | Chidambara Bhagavatar |
| 1936 | Umayalapuram Swaminatha Iyer | 1935 | Mysore K. Vasudevacharya |
| 1934 | T. S. Sabesha Iyer | 1933 | K. Ponnayya Pillai |
| 1932 | Tiger Varadachariar | 1931 | Pazhamaneri Swaminatha Iyer |
| 1930 | Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar | 1929 | T. V. Subba Rao, T. S. Sabesha Iyer and M. S. Ramaswamy Iyer |
* For the first time in the history of the Music Academy, 2 artistes have been awarded the title in the same year.
