A.R. Rahman Launches Bharat Maestro Awards for Indian Classical Music (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Naman Ramachandran Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Grammy-winning composer A.R. Rahman (“Slumdog Millionaire”) and the KM Music Conservatory have unveiled the Bharat Maestro Awards, a new initiative celebrating Indian classical music and its practitioners.

The awards program features three distinct categories: four awards for promising young musicians, a lifetime achievement honor for educators, and a state medallion recognizing regional contributions to classical music preservation.

The mentor panel includes established musicians Asha Bhosle, Amjad Ali Khan, Bombay Jayashri and Ajoy Chakrabarty. The advisory board comprises Ila Paliwal, Sai Shravanam, Bharat Bala, Fathima Rafiq, Khatija Rahman, Adam Greig and Clint Valladares.

Recipients will receive cash prizes and opportunities to perform internationally, including collaborations with Rahman. The awards presentation will follow the Indian traditional guru (teacher)-shishya (disciple) format, with teachers presenting honors to their students. “The greatest joy of a guru is to witness the success and growth of their students, and it is this bond that the Bharat Maestro Awards seeks to celebrate.