Sangeet Natak Akademi introduces 'Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar

New Delhi, Feb 21 (UNI) In order to commemorate the memory of shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan, Sangeet Natak Akademi -- the National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama -- has launched 'Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar' for young artists from 2006.

''The award, carrying a purse money of Rs. 25,000, is being launched in the name of Bharat Ratna and Akademi Fellow Ustad Bismillah Khan, who passed away last year,'' said the Akademi, an autonomous body of the Central government and apex institution of performing arts in the country.

The objective behind introducing the new award is to identify and encourage outstanding young talents in diverse fields of performing arts and give them a national recognition early in life so that they may work with greater commitment and dedication in their chosen form of art.

''The Yuva Puraskar, it is hoped, would also support and sustain the work of the new generation in the multiple streams of regional art traditions that stand more threatened with the passage of time,'' it said.

The Yuva Puraskar will be given to artists below the age of 35 as on April one of the year and covers music, dance, theatre, puppetry and scholarship in performing arts.

The General Council of Sangeet Natak Akademi decided the names for 'Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar' for the year 2006, at its meeting held held last week. Accordingly, 33 young artists who have made a mark in their respective fields of performing arts were selected from all over the country.

In the field of music, eight awards, including one joint award, have been given for Hundustani and Carnatic music. In the category of dance, eight young artists have been selected for Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Manipuri, Odissi, Kuchipudi and Music for Dance.

Further eight artists have been selected in the field of theatre and another eight for Acting, Direction, Playwriting, Lighting and Stage-craft.

For their talents in different forms of traditional/folk/tribal arts and puppetry, seven artists from various parts of the country have been selected. One person has been selected to receive the Yuva Puraskar for scholarship in Performing arts.

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