Bhubaneswar: Twelve eminent personalities from Odisha have been selected for the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards and the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for the years 2024 and 2025.
The national academy of music, dance, and drama announced the comprehensive list of awardees following a General Council meeting. Across India, the Akademi has selected 108 veteran artists for the main Akademi Puraskar and 106 young prodigies for Yuva Puraskar.
The selected senior Akademi awardees will receive a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, along with a Tamrapatra (copper plaque) and Angavastram (shawl), which will be conferred by the President in a special investiture ceremony. The youth icons will receive a purse money of Rs 25,000 in a dedicated ceremony chaired by the Akademi’s head.
For 2024, five master craftsmen and performers from Odisha will be conferred the Akademi Puraskar. They are Guru Bichitrananda Swain for his immense contribution to Odissi dance, Guru Ranjit Kumar Nag for elevating Western Odisha’s iconic Sambalpuri dance, Guru Pagulu Jena for his masterful execution of Mayurbhanj Chhau, Guru Sacchidananda Das for his mastery over the Mardala percussion instrument, and Subodh Pattnaik, acclaimed theatre director, for his contributions to drama.
For the 2025 cycle, two legendary figures are set to be honoured: Guru Illeana Citaristi, the renowned Italian-born exponent, for her lifelong dedication to Odissi dance and Guru Sushant Kumar Mahapatra for his contribution to Kandhei dance mask-making, a rare and vital heritage craft closely tied to Odisha’s folk roots.
For the 2024 cohort, three young technicians and performers have been chosen for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar. They are Matruprasad Das for Odissi music, Gaurishankar Das for dance, and Debi Prasad Mishra for theatre light designing.
Representing the youth icons for 2025 are Shubhashree Swain for her performances in Chhau dance and Namrata Mehta for her dedication to Odissi dance.
Expressing his immense joy over the announcement, Minister for Odia Language, Literature, and Culture, Suryabanshi Suraj, extended his heartiest congratulations to the winners. “This stellar national recognition reflects Odisha’s rich cultural legacy and the tireless dedication of our artistes in preserving and promoting traditional art forms,” Minister Suraj noted.
He further highlighted that the recognition spanning diverse disciplines, from classical Odissi and folk Chhau to traditional craftsmanship and technical theatre design, underscores Odisha’s enduring contribution to India’s cultural landscape. “The honour bestowed upon these artistes at the national level is a proud moment for Odisha. It will undoubtedly inspire future generations to pursue, cherish, and preserve our rich artistic traditions,” he added.