A finale defined by a stalwart, young talents and nuanced notes

By early evening on January 17, traffic around The Music Academy had slowed. Inside, the shift was instant — footsteps softened into a hush as people slipped into seats, some mid-performance.

The packed auditorium hosted the 15th finale of the Times Thyagaraja Awards, featuring competition rounds and a concert by Sangita Kalanidhi Sanjay Subrahmanyan. Arya Nagarajan emerged as the winner, receiving top honours for her performance. “I don’t usually plan weekends around concerts, but I’m glad I came,” said Prasad, who attended with his wife. “There were stretches when you forgot everything else,” he added.First runner-up Aathreyee Krishna described the event as crucial. “Coming to Chennai from a small town, recognitions like this are a big opportunity,” she said, calling performing at the Music Academy a long-held dream. Second runner-up Ramakrishna , who entered through the open audition, noted, “It is a different setting, given it is not the usual sabha structure,” adding the platform offered visibility. As the evening progressed, the calm deepened.

“I’ve heard Sanjay Subrahmanyan many times, but tonight felt especially calm,” said Revathi Suresh, a homemaker.Written By: Aashna Reddy