Mumbai based senior arts critic and Kuchipudi exponent Guru Vijay Shanker feels that the year 2025 was quite lucky for him, as he has already received three awards. Firstly the Nalanda Kanaka Nartana Puraskar presented to him by Dr Uma Rele, Rahul Rele and Guru Deepak Mazumdar on behalf of Nalanda Dance Research Centre (Mumbai) on the occasion of the Nalanda Nrityotsava which was conducted in January.
Besides several other honours as Chief Guest, Guest of Honour, Judge and Critic for various festivals across the country. In November Vijay was pleasantly surprised to receive the Kala Gaurav Award presented to him by Dr Rekha and Rohitashv Gour of All India Artists Association (Shimla) and Dr Lata Surendra of Bharata Natyam Research Trust(Mumbai) at the Mysore Association auditorium in Mumbai. On 28th December Guru Vijay was presented with the Naadam Viveka award presented on the occasion of the Naadam Nrityotsav, organised by Mohiniattam exponent Vineeta Srinandan and Kerala Nadanam exponent from Thiruvanthapuram Dr Joy Krishnan in presence of Dr Jayashree Rajagopalan and other dignitaries In Nerul, Navi Mumbai. Vijay was jury member for the inter University dance competition organised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) at the Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science in Chennai from 19th to 23rd December.
Besides Kuchipudi and Kathakali performances, Vijay is particularly credited for his lecture demonstrations on Indian Classical Dances for educational institutions all over India to promote National Integration and global peace through dance and his contribution as a critic spans for more than forty five years.
