Smt. Kamala, recipient of the Music Academy’s first Lifetime Achievement Award, passed away peacefully in Millbrae, where she was living with her son and his family in California. She was 91.
Kamala Narayanan (b. June 16, 1934) was a phenomenon in the field of Bharatanatyam, a sparkling role model who inspired generations to take up Bharatanatyam with her enchanting brilliance in every aspect of the art form.
In 1948, Kamala was one of the youngest artists to be featured at the Music Academy, and she continued to perform annually until the 1970s. Her performances were a big draw at the Academy with long winding queues waiting to enter the performance hall. She set a benchmark for Bharatanatyam combining brilliance, grace and dignity.
For her stellar contributions to Bharatanatyam and her longstanding support for the Music Academy, the institution conferred on her the Music Academy’s first Platinum Jubilee Lifetime Achievement Award during the Sadas held on 1st January 2001.
Here is the text of the citation printed in the Souvenir of The Music Academy in 2001.
The Music Academy mourns the passing of Smt Kamala Narayanan at 1:25 pm PST on November 23, 2025 in CA, USA.
