MUMBAI: After lapping up the National Award earlier this week, music maestro Illayaraja has added another feather to his cap. He will be conferred with the prestigious Akshaya Samman this year for his outstanding contribution in the field of music.
The annual award carrying a cash prize of Rs one lakh and a letter of appreciation would be presented at a function to be held by the Akshaya Mohanty Foundation here next month.
Previous recipients of the Samman, instituted in 2007, were Manna De, Gulzar and Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, the foundation said.
Sixty-seven year old Illayaraja, is perhaps the only Indian music director to work with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, is one of the most respected music directors in the film industry in the south.
He has been the recipient of the National award four times in 1984, 1986, 1988 and 2009.
The Akshaya Samman has been instituted by the Akshaya Foundation in the memory of renowned singer Akshyay Mohanty who was an iconic figure in the Odia music world.