Hon’ble President of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam today presented the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards for the year 2003 to 33 outstanding artists in Music, Dance, Threatre, Traditional / Folk / Tribal Music, Dance, Theatre & Puppetry and for overall contribution in performing Arts. Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Information& Broadcasting and Culture, Shri S. Jaipal Reddy said that there was need to protect the artistes from exploitation. Efforts should be made to empower them so that this inherit strength is not exploited in the upcoming regime of intellectual property rights. He said the State has the responsibility to ensure that artists were able to pursue their creative inspirations and commitments with freedom.

He said that the growing threat to cultural diversity has already become a matter of concern. Even the knowledgeable people have no realistic feel of Indian cultural diversity where centuries old music and dance forms harmoniously co-exist with the latest fusion music and modern dances. Countless artistic expressions are nurtured with devotion by known and unknown artists, disregarding their personal deprivations and difficulties, he said.

The Akademi Awards are recognized as the highest national honour conferred on practicing artistes, gurus and scholars and carry purse money of Rs. 50,000/- in cash, a Tamrapatra and a shawl. The institution of Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards is now fifty-two years old and the large body of practitioners, gurus and scholars in the performing arts honoured by the Akademi represents the nation’s highest achievement in music, dance and drama.

The following artists received Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards for the year 2003: