The Hindu Margazhi Competition 2025 wrapped up, announcing 139 winners in Hindustani and Carnatic music. On website,43 first prizes,43 second prizes,and 27 third prizes were listed,along with special mentions for standout kids .
This year saw 1,063 video entries flood in from music lovers,a testament to growing passion for Indian classical music . After the mid-January close,judges tackled submissions in March 2026,focusing on the core elements of Indian classical music: raga,krithi, and thala.
Violinists LN Sisters—M. Lalitha and M. Nandini—praised the dedication of participants. They noted, “Over years,we have been seeing more and more dedicated students participating in this competition. We are able to see that they are also very knowledgeable.” Clearly,this competition is a crucial stage for young musicians to shine.
Vocalist Varalakshmi Anandkumar shared her thoughts on the talent on display. “Judging these competitions is both an aural delight and an agonising dilemma,as each singer demonstrates their talent in different dimensions.” She highlighted the impressive skill levels of young contestants,some rivaling seasoned performers.
Hindustani vocalist Lalita Sharma,trained by Pandit Jasraj, also commended the event's growth. “I see that over one-third of the participants are good and have a sound base in music. It is very promising to see such youngsters,who are singing with so much awareness.” Her comments echo trend of rising skill and numbers among young musicians.
This year's panel included new faces: mridangam expert Sridharan Sankaran and Carnatic vocalist Sajeev Chandramana. Sankaran, steeped in the Palani Subramanya Pillai tradition,and Chandramana,who started singing at four, both relished evaluating entries and were struck by the young performers' dedication.
For many, this competition is a key chance to gain recognition and encouragement in their musical journey. The Hindu Margazhi Competition is now a flagship event in the Indian classical music scene, nurturing talent and celebrating rich traditions of Hindustani and Carnatic music. Full winner list is at newsth.live/winnerslist.
