Carnatic vocalist Aruna Sairam selected for French government's Chevalier Award

Carnatic vocalist, composer, collaborator, humanitarian, and speaker Aruna Sairam has been honoured with the French government's highest honour - the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des award.

Aruna Sairam has been selected for this award not just for her singing prowess but also for her contribution towards the development of the Indo-France relationship.

Announcing the award, Consul General of France in Chennai Lise Talbot Barré said that the Minister of Culture of the French Republic, Rima Abdul Malak appointed Aruna Sairam to the rank of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Lise said, "This award is the unequivocal token of my country’s appreciation for your brilliant career and of your numerous contributions to the French and international art scene."

"You have carried for over 30 years the marvelous beauty and subtility of Carnatic music in India and across the world. This award thus underlines the friendship that you have always carried with France.

Through your performance and your creation, you have revolutionised the world of Carnatic music. With your numerous joint programs with French artists and frequent performances in France, you have greatly contributed to bringing France and India closer together and developing cultural and artistic cooperation between our two countries," the Consul General said.

Expressing happiness on being selected for the honour, Aruna Sairam said, "I am very happy for getting such a prestigious award for just doing my duty as a musician and inheritor of the rich cultural heritage of our country. This also gives me additional responsibility to continue what I am doing. This award will help me to take my work to the next level. I thank the French government for their kind gesture."

Aruna Sairam began her classical training under her mother, Rajalakshmi Sethuraman. She then became a disciple of legendary vocalist, Sangita Kalanidhi T. Brinda, thereby continuing an illustrious line of women singers of the Tanjore tradition for more than 8 generations. Later, she was mentored by several other maestros of our country.

Her music erased geographical borders when she was the first to incorporate Abhang, a Western Indian musical form, into a traditional, South Indian concert. By interacting with national and international musicians, Aruna communicates beyond regional contexts, using melody as a language of human expression.

Not confining her body of work to performances, Aruna has contributed a great deal to the field of imparting her knowledge to students across the world. She founded the Nadayogam Trust.

Aruna Sairam is the recipient of several awards including the Padma Shri by the Government of India and the Sangita Kalanidhi by the Music Academy. She was also elected as the Vice-Chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi. Apart from this, she is also the recipient of the Tamil Nadu government's Kalaimamani Award and Kalidas Samman Award of Madhya Pradesh.

Aruna Sairam has also received the US Congressional Award of Excellence and was also conferred appreciation by the Mayor of the City of New York and the city of San Diego.