"My father and my guide who stood by my side like a pillar ALWAYS" - who was responsibile for the success our Academy could achieve. Even at the age of 80, during our annual festivals he would run around like a 18 year old, full of eager and enthusiasm to take the event to its fullest success.
Sri Lalithakala Academy Foundation was established in the year 1976, an organization to serve the cause of Arts & as a bridge forming a triangle in culture with Artists, Spectators & the Organization as its three vertices. The legendary and benevolent Guru of Uma Rao, Padma Vibhushana Smt.Rukmini Devi, Founder Director of KALAKSHETRA Chennai, blessed her disciple by Inaugurating "SRI LALITHAKALA ACADEMY FOUNDATION" & in her distinguished presence the first "NATYANJALI FESTIVAL" which was dedicated to the memory of the immortal maestro of music Mysore Vasudevachariar. From then on under the able guidance & efforts of "Sabha Nayaka" Mr. B.S.S.Rao, Founder Secretary , the Academy has grown prosperously as a progeny of the great pioneer to carry forward the tradition of imparting the Kalakshetra style of Bharatha Natyam by Guru.Uma Rao in the region.
Some of the salient features of the Academy are Training the local & visiting students from overseas in Bharatha Natyam, Theory, Nattuvangam, Folk Dance forms, Teacher training in Dance, Annual productions of Dance-Drama ,Dance Features, conducting seminars, Lecture –Demonstrations at Universities, Educational Institutions & to the Dignitaries from India & overseas. In the long history of Sri Lalithakala Academy's 35 years of struggle & efforts We acknowledge with utmost gratitude the patronage given by- Sangeeth Natak Academy & Ministry of Culture - New Delhi, Department of Kannada & Culture - Karnataka Government, South Zone Cultural Centre - Thanjavur, several eminent persons & connoisseurs of Arts, Rotarians, Media friends, Various cultural organizations, Parents of our students & last but not the least the continued support of friends & Art loving public..
The Annual "NATYANJALI" & "GEETHANJALI" festival in memory of Padma Vibhushana Smt.Rukmini Devi and Bharatha Ratna. Smt. M.S.Subhalakshmi, respectively wherein eminent personalities in the field of Music, Dance, Art Critics, Cultural Organisations are Honoured for their yeomen services in the field
Natyanjali-1972, Kalakshetra Ramayana Dance-Dramas were presented for the first time at Mysore
Natyanjali 1996 - 2nd Decinial celebrations -Former President of India Sri.R.Venkataraman flagged off the 20th annual Natyanjali week long cultural programmes.
SILVER JUBILEE YEAR 2001-2002: To mark 25 years of Sri Lalithakala Academy d. foundation 25 programmers were planned in cultural centers of South India . The seminar on Mysore Vasudevacharya marked the inauguration of silver jubilee by Sangeetha Kalanidhi. R.K.Srikantan at Mysore Vasudevacharya Bhavana. Performances in Music, Dance, Dance-Drama, Quiz were held in various sabhas at Bangalore, Trichi, Chennai, Mysore, Hasana, Shimoga. Tiruvaiyaru ,Tanjore.
HMV Music Festival [1983],
KARFEST – Cultural Exchange programmes between SLA Mysore & Trichi R.R. Sabha[1995]
RTP [Raga-Tana-Pallavi ] Fest [1996]
150th Years of Saint Thyagaraja Aradhana Festival wherein 150 programmes in collaboration with RR Sabha was held .[ 1997]
Regional Unity Concerts were held by Sri Lalithakala Academy, Mysore in collobaration with Sri Krishna Gana Sabha,Sri Parthasarathy Sabha Chennai, to promote inter-state cultural exchange between artists & organizations.[2004 to 2011]
Sadhana Mahotsava Festival [2005] sponsored by SCZCC Nagpur, wherein artistes from Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka participated.
Community Service – projects were undertaken by contributing the Net proceeds of NATYANJALI festivals to "institute of mother & hearing impaired child" , "puteerama school" for the underprivileged rural girl children, Bharath Cancer Hospital, Mysore & others..
Inaugural Natyanjali festival – Padmavibhushana Smt. Rukmini Devi - Founder Director 'Kalakshetra' - Chennai.
Hon'ble. Sri.R.Venkataraman former president of India, [ Natyanjali-96.Decenial festival .Mysore]
Hon'ble. Sri.Narendra Modiji.Chief Minister of Gujarat. & Present Prime Minister of INDIA. [ Geethanjali- 2008 at SVYASA.Bangalore]
HH. Jagadguru .Sri.Sri. Shivaratri Deshikendra Mahaswamigalu of Suttur Mutt.
HH.Sri. Sri. Vishwesha Teertha Sripadangal of Pejawar Mutt.
HH Swamy Atma Vidananda, Sri Ramakrishna Mutt. Mysore
Hon'ble.Sri. T.N. Chaturvedi, Governor of Karnataka.
Hon'ble .Sri. P.S. Ramamohan Rao, Governor of Tamilnadu.
Hon'ble .Sri.ESL Narasimhan, Governor of Chattisgarh.
Hon'ble. Sri. M. Justice Rama Jois. Governor of Jarkhand.
Hon'ble. Mrs .Rani Satish. Minister for Kannada & culture, Govt of Karnataka.
Hon'ble. Justice Sri. N.Venkatachala, Chief of Lokayuktha
Gnanapeeta Awardee. Dr.Kota Shivaram Karanth .
Vidwan.Sri.Lalgudi G. Jayaraman.
Padmashri. Dr.Sri. Nalli Kuppaswamy Chettair .
Dr. S.N.Hegde. Vice Chancellor of Mysore University.
Mrs. Nagamma Keshavamurthy.Deputy Speaker of Legislative Assembly.
Dr. Smt. Vyjayanthimala Bali.
Padma Vibhushana.Dr.M.Balamurali Krishna.,
Sri. Agaram Rangaiah, Gandhian, Veteran Freedom Fighter,& Editor 'Sadvi'
Dr H.R.Nagendra. Vice Chancellor. SVYSA University. Bangalore.
Padma Bhushana Dr. Padma Subramaniam. Director 'Nrithyodaya'
Mr.Andrew T. Simkin, Consul General of USA .Chennai.
Sri.J .Shashidar Prasad. Vice Chancellor. University of Mysore.
Sri.S.Rajaram. Director "Kalakshetra" Chennai.
VYJAYANTHIMALA BALI.
K.MURALIDHAR RAO
S. SHARADA.[ PERIYA SHARADA]
SHARADHA HOFFMAN.
N.S.JAYALAKSHMI.
ANANDI RAMACHANDRAN.
Pt.THIRATH RAM AZAD. [Kathak ]
V.P.DHANANJAYAN& SHANTHA DHANANJAYAN.
SUDHARANI RAGHUPATHY.
CHITRA VISHVESHWARAN.
ANITHA GUHA.
KRISHNAVENI LAKSHMANAN.
A.JANARDHANAN.
C.K.BALAGOPALAN.
C.V.CHANDRASHEKAR.
ILLENA CITARISTI [ Odyssi ]
SHRUTHI BANDHOPADYAYA[ Manipuri ]
MADHAVI CHANDRASHEKAR.
KYOKO NOBI[ Contemporary ]
ANITA RATNAM.
“ Bharata Ratna’’ M.S.SUBBULAKSHMI.
Sangeeta Kalanidi R.K.SRIKANTAN.
SANTHA.BADRAGIRI ACHYUTHA DASARU [ Harikatha Keertanakara]
TITTE KRISHNA IYENGAR
Pt.SESHADRI GAVAI
R.SATYANARAYANA [MUSICOLOGIST ]
VIDYABHUSHANA Theerta
K.J.VENKATACHAR. [Violin]
Pt.R. VISHVESHWARAN [Santoor]
R.K.SURYANARAYANA.[ Veena]
M.K.Saraswathi [veena ]
R.K.PADMANABHA RAO
R.K.SURYANARAYANA
Pt.RAMA NAIK [ Hindustani Vocal]
S.KRISHNAMURTHY.[ Grand son of Sri.Vasudevacharya ]
RAJALAKSHMI KRISHNAN - U.S.A.
NALLI KUPPUSWAMY CHETTI [ Art Promoter & Org ]
R.YAGNARAMAN. Sri Krishanagana Sabha.Chennai [ORG ]
N .RAM. Editor In Chief ‘’THE HINDU’’
N.PATTABIRAMAN. Editor.SRUTHI
LEELA VENKATARAMAN [ Art Critic]
A. SAMBANDAM [ ORG]
K.B.GANAPATHY - Editor
“STAR OF MYSORE’’
A. NATARAJAN, CHENNAI
R.RAMACHANDRAN HAMSADWANI - Chennai [ORG]
VINCENT D’SOUZA – Editor
“ KUTCHERI BUZ ‘’
G.V.IYER [ Cine Director]
H.V.SHANKAR RAO & M.H.RAJA RAO. Nadabrahma Sangita Sabha.Mysore. [ORG ]
S.N.CHANDRASHEKAR.[ Art Critic]
H.S.K. IYENGAR [ Art Critic]
S.U.NARAYANASWAMY.Sri Ramaseva Mandali, BANGALORE [ ORG]
Mysore.V.SUBRAMANYA [Art Critic ]
H.KAMALANATH, Gayana Samaja.Bangalore [ ORG]
R.KRISHNASWAMY, Narada Gana Sabha.Chennai [ORG ]
CLEEVELAND V.V.SUNDARAM [ ORG ]
K. RAJAGOPAL.Kartik Fine Arts [ ORG ]
M.SURYA PRASAD, [Art Critic ]
M.BHARADWAJ, Shimoga [ ORG]
KRISHNA VATTAM [ Journalist]
