The Hindu announced the results of its annual Margazhi Music Competition 2025 on July 9, 2026. Held during the festive month of Margazhi (December‑January) in Chennai, the contest offers a prestigious platform for Hindustani and Carnatic musicians to showcase their talent. This year, a total of 1,063 video entries were received, spanning vocal, instrumental and compositional categories.

Scope of the Competition and Award Distribution

Judges reviewed the entries in March 2026, assessing each performance for raga fidelity, lyrical integrity and rhythmic precision. After a rigorous evaluation, 139 entries were honoured – 43 first‑place, 43 second‑place and 27 third‑place awards. Special mention certificates were also presented to children whose performances earned commendation from the panel of vidwans and vidushis.

Judges' Perspectives

Violin virtuosos and composers LN Sisters – M. Lalitha and M. Nandini – who adjudicated the instrumental segment, observed, “Over the years we have witnessed an increasing number of dedicated students. Their technical skill is matched by a deep theoretical understanding. This competition offers a unique stage for young musicians to display hard‑work and receive recognition from The Hindu.”

Vocalist Varalakshmi Anandkumar, senior disciple of the late vidwan D.K. Jayaraman, remarked, “Judging the Margazhi contests has been a privilege. The sheer depth of talent, especially from teenagers delivering intricate ragas like Dhanyasi and Thodi, is astounding. It demonstrates that rigorous training can produce mature musicians at a very young age.”

Hindustani guru and vocalist Lalita Sharma, a disciple of Pandit Jasraj, added, “The growing participation of singers and instrumentalists is encouraging. Over one‑third of contestants possess a solid musical foundation, indicating a promising future for the genre.”

New Judges and Future Outlook

This edition introduced two fresh faces to the panel: mridangam vidwan Sridharan Sankaran, trained in the Palani Subramanya Pillai lineage, and Carnatic vocalist Sajeev Chandramana, who began his training at age four. Both expressed delight in watching young participants, noting how patiently children mastered complex pieces before submitting their videos.

The Hindu’s continued commitment to fostering classical values through the Margazhi Competition not only celebrates existing talent but also cultivates the next generation of Indian classical musicians. The full winners list is available at newsth.live/winnerslist.