Arya Nagarajan Claims Victory at Prestigious Music Awards
Traffic around The Music Academy in Chennai slowed to a crawl by early evening on January 17. Inside the venue, a noticeable shift occurred instantly. Footsteps softened into a respectful hush as audience members quietly slipped into their seats, some arriving even mid-performance.
Packed Auditorium Hosts Grand Finale
The packed auditorium hosted the grand 15th finale of the Times Thyagaraja Awards. The event featured intense competition rounds followed by a special concert performed by the renowned Sangita Kalanidhi Sanjay Subrahmanyan. After careful deliberation by the judges, Arya Nagarajan emerged as the clear winner, receiving the top honours for her outstanding vocal performance.
"I don't usually plan my weekends around concerts, but I'm truly glad I made the effort to come today," said Prasad, an attendee who came with his wife. He added with enthusiasm, "There were magical stretches during the performances where you simply forgot everything else happening around you."
Runners-Up Share Their Experiences
First runner-up Aathreyee Krishna described the event as absolutely crucial for her career. "Coming to Chennai from a much smaller town, recognitions like this represent a massive opportunity," she explained. She called performing on the historic stage of The Music Academy a long-held personal dream finally realized.
Second runner-up Ramakrishna, who entered the competition through the open audition process, offered his perspective. "It is a completely different setting here, given it is not the usual traditional sabha structure," he noted. He emphasized that the platform provided invaluable visibility to emerging artists like himself.
An Evening of Deepening Calm
As the evening progressed, a profound calm settled over the auditorium. "I've heard the maestro Sanjay Subrahmanyan perform many times before, but tonight felt especially serene and peaceful," shared Revathi Suresh, a homemaker and regular concert-goer. The atmosphere remained charged with appreciation long after the final notes faded.
