The Kesari Foundation, founded in 2003 to honour personalities and organisations who are devoted to social work, will on Saturday award five individuals for their significant accomplishments in the fields of music, art, economics, acting and social work.

The award includes Rs1 lakh and the Kesari Gaurav Sanman trophy. The five individuals who will be felicitated, at Dadoji Konddev stadium in Thane, include Nitin Desai, Shankar Mahadevan, Sudha Murty, Lalita Gupte and Darsheel Safary.

Nitin Desai is an internationally acclaimed art director who has been giving Hindi films an attractive look. Whether it is a serial or a film based on the historical story of Jodha Akbar, Desai is a wizard at creating the identical feel of that period.

A music personality, who has given delight to the ears of thousands with his music direction and melodious voice, is Shankar Mahadevan. His amazing experiments in music direction have given the Hindi film music a different dimension.

Sudha Murty has played a vital role in the foundation and success of Infosys Technology and is the president of the philanthropic organisation, Infosys Foundation.

Lalita Gupte is a personality who has been working since the past three decades in the financial field as joint executive director of a bank. Her role is vital in taking the ICICI bank technologically ahead and in creating a multi-faceted financial organisation. Darsheel Safary is the youngest recipient of the Kesari Gaurav award. The charming little actor from Taare Zameen Par is a favourite with lakhs of viewers.

Kesari Patil, president and founder of Kesari Foundation said, “We wish to express gratitude by honouring these creative and hardworking personalities.”