NEW DELHI: Eminent vocalist and actor Shekhar Sen, who had been named for Padma Shri on the eve of Republic Day earlier this week, has been appointed Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA).

Sen is also a theatre director, composer and lyricist.

The Culture Ministry appointed Sen as Chairman with immediate effect for five years.

Sen has done many research oriented musical programmes and has rendered many significant Bhajan Albums since 1983 as singer, lyricist and composer. He is famous for his mono act musical plays 'Tulsi', 'Kabeer', 'Vivekananda', 'Sanmanti', 'Saahab' and 'Soordas', which have been highly acclaimed.

Sen started his career as a music composer and subsequently shifted towards composing Bhajans. He has rendered many Bhajan Albums as singer, lyricist and composer. He has also undertaken research oriented musical programs like 'Dushyant Ne Kaha Tha', 'Madhya Yugeen Kaavya', 'Pakistan Ka Hindi Kavya' and 'Meera Se Mahadevi Tak'.

His performances have been acclaimed in India and in countries such as US, UK, Belgium, Surinam, Singapore, Jakarta, Hong Kong, South Africa, UAE, Mauritius and Trinidad where he has performed.

Sen has performed in many singing concerts and also performed his mono act musical play 'Kabeer' in the Lok Sabha. His Mono Act Musical Plays have received great acclaim in India as well as abroad.

Earlier, Sen was awarded with the Safdar Hashmi Puraskar in 2001 by the Sangeet Natak Academy of Uttar Pradesh for his contribution in the field of theatre and the V. Shantaram Samman by the Maharashtra Rajya Hindi Sahitya Academy in 2008.