Zahoor Alam and Rakesh Bhatt felicitated with prestigious Sangeet Natak Academy awards by President Murmu
Two eminent personalities of Uttarakhand in the field of direction and folk dance were felicitated with prestigious Sangeet Natak Awards by President of India Draupadi Murmu in a glittering function at Vigyan Bhawan. The award carries a cash prize of Rs one lakh and a trophy. The awards were bestowed on Zahoor Alam of Uttarakhand in the field of outstanding direction and to Rakesh Bhatt for folk dance and music. These awards were delivered by President Draupadi Murmu in the presence of union ministers Arjun Meghwal, Mr. Reddy , Secretary Culture Govind Mohan and the chairperson of Sangeet Natak Academy Mrs Purecha. It may be recalled that Zuhoor Alam , a renowned name in Theatre has been active in this field for the last five decades. Credited for holding reputed positions and achieving several outstanding felicitations and honour Zahoor Alam had been the member of Uttarakhand Cultural and literally council, Vice president of Uttarakhand state anthem committee, National School of Drama, New Delhi and Committee of Uttarakhand government to financially help the senior artists of the state, including jury member of Central Communication Bureau.
Born in the Sarovar city of Nainital and a founding member of the city’s leading theater and cultural institution ‘Yugmanch’, he has been continuously associated with theater and theater direction for five decades and has been awarded about twenty-four honors at the regional and state level. Zahoor, a well-known theater artist and theater director, has earned tremendous popularity and recognition by acting in Andha Yug, Andher Nagari, India Plight, Procession, Ek Tha Donkey, Holi Theatre, Kabira Khada Bazaar Mein etc. as well as in tele films and serials. He not only made his name famous but also made a big contribution in enriching the theater and various cultural genres of the country including Uttarakhand. Similarly Rakesh Bhatt , a native of Mangoli village located in Ukhimath development block of Rudraprayag and currently professor of theater and arts at Doon University, has been continuously associated with theater for the last three decades and has performed the mythological Pandava dance, Chakravyu, Chakravyu of Uttarakhand through the theater organization ‘Utsav’. Kamalview has been famous for staging popular theatrical productions on Jeetu Baghwal and Nanda Devi.
Till now, he has achieved fame by doing impressive work in various genres of acting, direction, choreography, music production etc. in more than thirty plays. He is a source of inspiration for the local youth in the cultural field. The local youth of the region can be seen engaged in the preservation and propagation of mythological heritage.
Under the concluded Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards, 92 eminent artists from almost all the states of the country, who are doing excellent work in various genres of song, music, dance and theater arts, were honored by the President with Fellow Akademi Ratna Membership Award and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
It may be recalled that last year the legendary singer of Uttarakhand Narendra Singh Negi and Dr.Purohit, professor of English literature in Srinagar, Garhwal University and renowned cultural activist were honoured with prestigious Sangeet Natak Academy Awards.
