Karnataka Singer Mahalaxmi Shenoy Wins Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar

Bengaluru/Karkala: Hindustani classical vocalist Mahalaxmi Shenoy from Karnataka has been selected for the prestigious Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2024, bringing national recognition to a young artiste who has steadily built a reputation in India's classical music circuit.

The award, conferred by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the country's apex body for the performing arts under the Ministry of Culture, honours exceptional young talent in music, dance and drama. Shenoy was named among the awardees as part of the Akademi's announcement of its Fellowships, Akademi Awards and Yuva Puraskars for 2024 and 2025.

A native of Karkala in Karnataka's Udupi district, Shenoy holds postgraduate degrees in Social Work and Music, the latter from Mohanlal Sukhadia University in Udaipur, Rajasthan. Over the years, she has emerged as one of the promising voices in Hindustani classical music from southern India.

Trained under Grammy Award-winning maestro Pandit Vishwamohan Bhatt, Shenoy has remained rooted in the traditional guru-shishya parampara while developing a distinctive performance style that has earned appreciation from audiences and critics alike. She has performed at major music festivals and cultural events across the country.

Speaking after the announcement, her parents, Bharati Shenoy and Dr Prakash Shenoy, described the recognition as a proud moment for the family. They said she is the first member of the Gowd Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) community to receive the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar.

The Shenoy family is also closely associated with the promotion of classical music through the annual Shastriya Sangeet Sabha organised in Karkala. The festival has hosted leading Hindustani and Carnatic musicians from across India and has become an important cultural event in the region.

Named after Bharat Ratna awardee and legendary shehnai exponent Ustad Bismillah Khan, the Yuva Puraskar is regarded as one of India's highest honours for emerging performing artistes. The award is expected to be presented at a special ceremony organised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi later this year.

The announcement has been widely welcomed by musicians, cultural organisations and music lovers across Karnataka, particularly in the coastal districts, where Shenoy's achievement is being celebrated as a matter of regional pride.