Sangeet Natak Akademi Honors Elderly Artists with Special Awards
The Sangeet Natak Akademi, on September 15, announced special one-time awards to commemorate 75 years of India’s independence. These awards were given to 84 artists, aged above 75, who have not yet received any national honors in their careers. The Vice-President, Jagdeep Dhankhar, will present the ‘Amrit’ awards on Saturday, recognizing the remarkable contribution of these artists in the field of performing arts.
Recognition of Outstanding Artists
The Sangeet Natak Akademi Amrit Awards are a prestigious national honor bestowed by the country on performing artists, teachers, and scholars in the performing arts sector. According to Sandhya Purecha, the chairperson of the Akademi, these awards aim to acknowledge the brilliance and dedication of these artists throughout their careers.
Selection Process by the Akademi
The recipients of the Amrit Awards were chosen by the Akademi’s General Council, comprising esteemed musicians, dancers, theater artists, and scholars in these fields, as well as nominees from the Center, States, and Union Territories. This transparent selection process ensures that deserving artists are recognized for their exceptional contributions.
An Honor accompanied by Rewards
The Amrit Awards carry a significant purse amount of ₹1,00,000 and a citation. This financial reward, along with the citation, serves as a token of appreciation for the recipients’ dedication and remarkable achievements in the performing arts.
Award Categories
The awards have been presented in various categories, including Hindustani and Carnatic vocal and instrumental music, folk music, classical dance forms like Bharatnatyam and Kathak, and playwriting and direction. This comprehensive recognition covers different genres and aspects of the performing arts.
Noteworthy Awardees
Among the Hindustani vocal awardees, Raghubir Malik and Dina Nath Mishra have been acknowledged for their exceptional talent. For Carnatic vocal music, Gowri Kuppuswamy and Anasuya Kulkarni have received this prestigious recognition. In the domain of classical dance, Lalitha Srinivasan and Vilasini Devi Krishnapillai were honored for their excellence in Bharatnatyam. Similarly, Smita Shastri and Kumkum Lal were recognized for their noteworthy performances in Kuchipudi and Odishi, respectively.
The folk genre has also been duly acknowledged, with Mahabir Nayak from Jharkhand receiving recognition for his contributions to music, Harishchandra Prabhakar Borkar from Maharashtra being honored for his commendable work in theater, and Dharmeswar Nath of Assam being recognized for his remarkable achievements in dance.