The KIM–Raagalaya Excellence Awards 2026 was held on a grand scale at the Mysore Association Hall, Matunga,on 11th April, Saturday evening in the presence of a large gathering.
The programme began with a Mohiniattam performance by dancer Radhika Nair, followed by a musical tribute by young talented singers of Mumbai, Idea star singer runner up Preethi Warrier, Flowers music season 5 winner Shivshankar Krishna, Girija Vijaykumar, Amruta Nair, Aravind Poduval, Aswin Nambiar, Reshma Menon, Sidharth and Asha Puravankara with live orchestra led by Vichoo Iyer in honour of legendary music director late Salil Chowdhury. The Raagalaya Lifetime Achievement Award 2026 was posthumously presented to Salil Chowdhury, and the award was received by his son Sanjoy Chowdhury on behalf of his father from the noted musician and bollywood music arranger R. S. Mani.
The Kerala in Mumbai Excellence Awards 2026 were presented to businessman and social worker M. K. Navas, senior journalist and Bureau Chief of Mathrubhumi Mumbai N. Sreejith, businesswoman and poet Dr. Sashikala Panicker, young educationist Bijoy Oommen, social activist Rakhee Sunil, and popular dancer Nisha Gilbert. Sreekumar Mavelikara popular anchor of various events was also felicitated
The event featured a vibrant blend of classical dance, music and recognition of excellence, making it a memorable cultural evening for the Malayali community in Mumbai.