Mridangam maestro T.K. Murthy to receive Sree Guruvayurappan Chembai Award
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Renowned mridangam maestro and Sangeetha Kalanidhi T.K. Murthy has been selected for the Guruvayur Devaswom’s Sree Guruvayurappan Chembai Award for 2026 in recognition of his exceptional contribution to Carnatic music spanning nine decades.
A recipient of the Padma Shri, the 103-year-old maestro is among the country’s senior-most performing artistes and an eminent percussionist and guru in the Carnatic music tradition.
The award comprises a 10-gram gold medal bearing the image of Lord Guruvayurappan, a cash prize of ₹50,001, a citation, a plaque and a traditional shawl. It will be presented at the inaugural ceremony of the annual Chembai Sangeetholsavam, organised by the Devaswom as part of the Guruvayur Ekadasi celebrations, at 5 p.m. on November 6.
Dr. Murthy has accompanied several towering figures of Carnatic music on the mridangam, including Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, M. Balamuralikrishna, K.J. Yesudas and Lalgudi Jayaraman. He has also mentored several renowned mridangam artistes.
His numerous honours include the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship instituted by the Union government and the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi title conferred by the Music Academy, Madras.
Instituted in 2005, the Sree Guruvayurappan Chembai Award recognises outstanding contributions to Carnatic music. Vocalist T.V. Gopalakrishnan was its first recipient. Dr. Murthy is the 22nd recipient of the award.
Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan will inaugurate the Chembai Music Festival on November 6.
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