The General Council of Sangeet Natak Akademi (NSA), the National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, New Delhi has declared its Sangeet Natak Akademi awards for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021. As many as 14 artistes from Manipur have been selected for the award.
Held for the first time after a gap of two years following the COVID-19 pandemic, 10 eminent personalities in the field of performing arts were elected as Akademi Fellows, including Darshana Jhaveri, who is a leading Indian exponent of Manipuri classical dance.
Of the 128 artists selected from the field of Music, Dance, Theatre, Traditional/Folk/Tribal Music/Dance/Theatre, Puppetry and Overall contribution/scholarship in the Performing Arts for the award, 14 are from the state of Manipur.
Y Jatra Singh (Nata Sankirtana Manipur), Ng Salmon (Tribal Music/ Dance Manipur), Hijam Tombi Singh (Manipuri Dance/ Overall contribution/scholarship in Performing Arts and H. Bishwaroop Singh (Thang- Ta Manipur Manipur) have been selected for Sangeet Natak Akademi Amrit Mahotsav while N. Irabot Singh (Other Major Traditions of Music – Nata Sankirtana), Sruti Bandopadhay (Manipuri Dance), Arambam Tombinou Devi (Music for Dance) and N Jadumani Singh (Allied Theatre Arts – Stage Design) were selected for Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards 2020.
For Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards 2021, Thokchom Ibemubi Devi (Manipuri Dance) and N Tiken Singh (Folk Music, Manipur) have been selected while for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2019, Okram Jelen Singh (Manipuri), Hajarimayum Roji Devi (Playwriting) and Shaikhom Surchandra Singh (Pung Making, Manipur) have been selected.
Khagembam Khoni (Manipuri) has been selected for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2020 award.
As for the awards, the honour of Akademi Fellow carries a cash reward of Rs 3,00,000 while the Akademi Award carries a purse money of Rs 1,00,000, besides a Tamrapatra and Angavastram.
The Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards will be conferred by the President of India in a special investiture ceremony.
