DakshinaChitra Virudhu

DakshinaChitra Virudhu is an annual award instituted by The Friends of DakshinaChitra to honour the folk performing artists and groups in recognition for their outstanding and endearing contribution to the field of folk performing Arts. . The Virudhu recognizes both the artist's excellence in a folk performing art and his efforts in sustaining and promoting the art form.

2004 - Recipient Shri. Sambandam of the Purusai Therukoothu , Tamil Nadu.

2005 - Recipient Shri. Madhava Chakyar and Shri. G.Venu of Natana Kairali, Kerala.

2006 - Recipient Shri. Bhaskar Kogga Kamat of Yakshagana Gombeyata Mandali Puppet troupe, Karnataka

2007 - Recipient Shri Urumu Naganna for Urumu dance, Andhra Pradesh.

2008 - Recipient Shri.K.K. Ramachandra Pulavar for Tolpava Koothu (shadow puppetry), Kerala

2009 - Recipient Shri. Subbu Arumugam for Villupattu, Tamil Nadu. Special honour for Thiru. Kannan Kumar,Devarattam Artist , Tamil Nadu

2010 - Recipient Shri.P.Rajagopal of Kuthu Kalai Kudam,TamilNadu. Special honour for Thiru Selvaraja, Shadow Puppeteer,TamilNadu.

2011 - Recipient Thiru Ravi Gopalan Nair. of Paavi Kathakali, Kerala. Special honour for Thiru Thanjai G. Raju ,Grammiya Kalai Kuzhu, Chennai

2012 - Recipient Kalaimamani S.Muthukumar of SivaSakthi Kalai Kuzhu,Tamilnadu. Special honour for Dr. R.Bhanumathi - Pavai Centre for Puppetry , Chennai

2013 - Recipient Shri. Lakshmanan Peruvannan, Theyyam Artist, Kerala. Special honour for Shri M. Hari Krishnan, Salem District, Tamilnadu.

2014 - Recipient Shri. Veeranna Bellagallu, Puppeteer from Karnataka Special honour for Smt. Jeya Sellappan, Shadow puppeteer, Salem - Tamilnadu

2015 - Recipient Shri Karnati Lakshmi Narasaiah, Burrakatha performer, Andhra Pradesh. Special honour for Dr. R. Kaleeswaran for promotion of folk artists, TamilNadu.

2016 - Recipient Shri. Bharatham R. Mahalingam, Director & Actor, Melattur Bhagavata Mela Vidya Sangam ,Thanjavur

2017- Recipient Shri. Ankanahalli Pooje Shivanna, Pooja Kunitha Artist of Sri Maramma Janapada Trust, Karnataka.

2018- Recipient Smt. R.Muthu Kannamal, Sadhir Dancer from Viralimalai ,Trichy

2019- Recipient Shri K.S.Harimohanan,Mridangam Artiste,Kerala. Special honour for Thiru A.John Peter of Salangai Oli, Tamilnadu.