Legacy and Lore: Celebrating the Classical Artists in the 2026 Padma Honours List

The Government of India has announced this year's (2026) Padma Awards, which include many leading figures in Indian classical music and dance. The ceremony is expected in March or April. Here are some of the awardees. 

Padma Vibhushan 

Ms N. Rajam (Uttar Pradesh)

A renowned Carnatic classical violinist. N. Rajam has learned from her father, N. Narasimhan, a student of T. Chowdiah. She is known for playing the violin in the 'Gāyaki Ang' style, which mimics the human voice. She has performed in India and abroad, taught at Banaras Hindu University, and mentored many students. Ms N. Rajam has already received the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, and now the Padma Vibhushan. Her work has greatly influenced Indian classical music. 

Padma Bhushan 

Shri Shatavadhani R. Ganesh 

R. Ganesh, a respected scholar and expert in Avadhana, a distinctive intellectual and literary art form within the Sanskrit tradition, is from Karnataka. Avadhana requires great concentration, memory, creativity, and quick thinking, as the performer must remember, compose, calculate, and respond to several challenges posed by questioners called Pṛcchakas. R. Ganesh is known for his outstanding skill in Shatavadhana, where he manages one hundred tasks at once, a rare achievement worldwide. His performances show his talent in Sanskrit poetry, grammar, prosody, logic, mathematics, and improvisation, impressing both scholars and audiences. He has performed Avadhana at many events across India and introduced this art to new audiences. Through teaching and performing, he has helped sustain the tradition. 

Ms Alka Yagnik (Maharashtra)

Alka Yagnik is a popular playback singer in Hindi cinema. She began classical music training early and moved to Mumbai to pursue her singing career. Alka Yagnik became a leading Bollywood singer in the late 1980s and 1990s. She has sung in many films and languages, and her songs are known for their emotional depth, clarity, and versatility, spanning romantic, folk, classical, and popular film music. For her contributions to Indian music, she has received many awards, including several Filmfare Awards and the Padma Shri. Her lasting popularity and wide range of songs have made her one of the most successful female playback singers in Indian cinema. 

Padam Shri

Shri Pandit Kumar Bose (West Bengal)

Kumar Bose is a top tabla player from the Banaras Gharana. He trained with leading teachers and is known for his powerful playing and skill with complex rhythms. He has performed solo and with many leading Hindustani musicians. His style highlights the key features of the Banaras Gharana. Pandit Kumar Bose has played an important role as a teacher and mentor, helping to preserve and share the traditions of tabla playing for future generations. He also teaches and guides students, keeping the Banaras Gharana tradition alive. 

Shri Thiruvaarur Bakthavathsalam (Tamil Nadu)

Thiruvaarur Bakthavathsalam is respected for his sensitive accompaniment, particularly his ability to support kritis and manodharma passages without overshadowing the main artist. His playing demonstrates a deep understanding of rhythm and expression, making him a valued accompanist for vocalists and instrumentalists alike. Through his concerts and teaching, he has helped preserve traditional mridangam values. 

Shri Tarun Bhattacharya (West Bengal)

Tarun Bhattacharya is known for his innovative playing, especially for creating a three-octave santoor and a smooth, vocal-like glide. This brought a new style to an instrument usually known for its percussive sound. His music combines clarity, depth, and emotion, blending tradition with new ideas. Tarun Bhattacharya has performed in India and abroad, composed music, and collaborated with many musicians, helping to popularise the santoor across genres while preserving its classical roots. 

Ms Ranjani Balasubramanian & Ms Gayatri Balasubramanian (Tamil Nadu)

Ranjani and Gayatri are a well-known Carnatic vocal duo. They began learning from their mother and later trained with other leading teachers. They are known for their precise singing, creative style, and wide variety of compositions. Ranjani–Gayatri have performed at many major festivals and music gatherings in India and abroad. They have received several awards, including the Sangita Kalanidhi from the Music Academy in Chennai, for their contribution to Carnatic music. They also lead workshops, give lecture-demonstrations, and write about Carnatic music. 

Ms Tripti Mukherjee (West Bengal)

Tripti Mukherjee is a respected Hindustani classical vocalist from the Patiala gharana, known for her strong voice, emotional depth, and skill in both khayal and semi-classical styles. She trained under renowned teachers Pandit V. G. Jog and Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty, which shaped her expressive musical style. She is known for her strong taan patterns, clear swaras, and artistic presentation of ragas, blending Patiala traditions with sensitivity and restraint. In addition to classical concerts, she excels in thumri, dadra, and bhajan. 

Shri Othuvaar Thiruthani Swaminathan (Tamil Nadu)

Othuvaar Thiruthani Swaminathan performs traditional Shaivite temple music, especially Tevaram hymns. He trained in the Oduvar tradition and has worked to keep this practice alive in temples. Renowned for his deep devotion, precise adherence to pann (meloKnown for his deep devotion, precise use of pann (melodic modes), and clear Tamil diction, Thiruthani Swaminathan has upheld the spiritual and artistic values of Shaiva worship. His singing combines music, devotion, and temple tradition, highlighting the Oduvars' role as keepers of living heritage rather than concert performers. 

Classical Dance 

Ms Deepika Reddy (Telangana)

Deepika Reddy is a respected senior Kuchipudi dancer and teacher from Telangana. She is known for her strong stage presence, clear style, and dedication to the Kuchipudi tradition. Trained by leading gurus such as Padma Bhushan Dr Vempati Chinna Satyam, she embodies the refined Vempati style, known for strong technique, graceful movements, and expressive abhinaya. Deepika is known for performing mythological and devotional themes. She is known for performing mythological and devotional themes and has appeared at many festivals in India and abroad. 

Ms Kalamandalam Vimala Menon (Kerala)

Ms Vimala Menon is a Mohiniyattam dancer from Kerala. She trained at Kerala Kalamandalam and continues to follow its style. Her dancing is known for lasya bhava, emotional restraint, and a strong connection to tradition, showing the feminine grace and spiritual essence of Mohiniyattam. She has performed at many major festivals and cultural events, earning recognition for her authenticity and artistic sensitivity. Ms Menon is also respected as a teacher and mentor. She has helped preserve and pass on Mohiniyattam by training students with a focus on technique, expression, and cultural values. Her lifelong dedication has been important in sustaining Kerala’s classical dance heritage. 

Research & Scholarship 

Prof. (Dr.) Lars-Christian Koch (Germany) 

Prof. Koch is a respected ethnomusicologist known for his research on Indian classical music theory and comparative music studies. Trained in musicology and ethnomusicology, he combines Western analytical methods with Indian musical concepts, offering insights into raga, tala, modal systems, and oral traditions. 

He has done fieldwork, written about, and lectured on Indian classical music, helping to explain Indian music theory to audiences worldwide. He has worked to connect European and Indian music traditions and to improve international understanding of Indian classical music. 

These awardees highlight the ongoing contributions and influence of Indian classical arts. Congratulations to all from the IndianClassical.Net Team. ​