Sangeet Natak Akademi Award - 1952

Introduction

The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award is conferred on respectable individuals who have created a mark for themselves in the field of performing arts such as music, dance, theatre etc

The National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama organizes the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award ceremony each year and it is considered the highest Indian recognition is given to individuals in performing arts.

Earlier in 2003, the award money consisted of INR 50,000, a citation, an Angavastram, which is a shawl, and a Tamrapatra, which is a brass plaque. Since 2009 the cash award has been increased to INR 1,00,000.

The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award is conferred by the President of India in a special investiture ceremony.

The Three main categories of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award ceremony are: 

• Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship Awards
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Yuva Awards
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar

Table of Contents

• Details
• History
• Theme
• Award Specifications
• Eligibility
• Presentation of the Award
• Registration
• Celebrities
• Schedule 
• Conclusion

Details

History

The primary objective of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award is to recognize and honour artists.

It helps set standards for different forms of arts, recognizes the talent of artists, and encourages them to continue generating alluring forms of their specific talent in an independent India.

The founding of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award has now reached nearly 70 years.

These awards were introduced in the year 1951 and were known as the Presidential Awards.

Later this establishment was converted into the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and its awarding became the responsibility of the government-led Akademy.

The 1952 and 1953 Presidential Awards were subsequently added to the list of Sangeet Natak Akademy Awards.

These awards nationally symbolize the highest standards of excellence and achievements in the field of performing arts.

This prestigious recognition also encourages the award-winner to continue individual activity at the highest professional level and for their contributions to the practice and appreciation of art through scholarships and teachings

Theme

The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award is are presented to outstanding practitioners, music or art gurus, and scholars of music, dance, and drama.

These awards are given to individuals who have demonstrated sustained achievement at a high professional level. These awards are awarded annually.

The total number of awards was increased from 33 to 36 by the Board of Directors of Sangeet Natak Akademy at its meeting on 18th January 2011 and subsequently increased from 36 - 41 by the Board of Directors at a meeting on April 19, 2016.

Let us look at the common themes and areas in which the awards are conferred:

1. Music
2. Dance
3. Theatre
4. Other Traditional/Folk/Tribal/Dance/Music/Theatre and Puppetry
5. Overall contribution/ Scholarship to Performing Arts.

Field of Activity: Music – 11 Awards With the Following Categories:

• Hindustani Vocal
• Hindustani Instrumental
• Carnatic Vocal
• Carnatic Instrumental
• Contemporary Music
• Other Major Traditions of Music

Field of Activity: Dance  - 9 Awards With the Following Categories:

• Bharatanatyam
• Kathak
• Kathakali
• Manipuri
• Kuchipudi
• Odissi
• Sattriya
• Mohiniattam
• Chhau
• Contemporary
• Other Major Traditions of Dance and Dance
• Music for Dance

Field of Activity: Theatre 9 With the Following Categories:

• Playwriting
• Direction
• Acting
• Allied Theatre Arts including Lighting, Scenic Design, Costumes / Make-up, and Music for theatre.
• Major Traditions of Theatre

Field of Activity: Traditional/Folk/Tribal/Dance/Music/Theatre and Puppetry 10 with the following categories:

• 8 Awards in Other Traditional/Folk/Tribal/Music/Dance and Theatre
• 2 Awards in Puppetry / Mime / Allied arts of traditional forms e.g. Instrument making and Mask Making etc.

Award Specifications

The Award money has been enhanced to Rs 1 lakh by the Executive Board on 8 October 2009

Along with the recognition award, the winners also receive a citation, an Angavastram, and a Tamrapatra which is duly sealed and signed by the Chairman of the Akademi. The award-winners are also entitled to medical insurance cover up to INR 1 Lakh per annum.

Eligibility

• The minimum age of the candidate should be minimum 35 years old, regardless of nationality, race, caste, religion, creed, or gender
• Associations, institutions, and organizations are not eligible to participate
• Winners are not eligible to win in any category in the following years
• Two or more people can win an award together if they are collaborating in a particular artistic field. However, the award will be presented to them jointly
• The Sangeet Natak Akademy Award is considered a significant and enduring contribution over some time

Presentation of the Award

The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Award will be presented at an awards ceremony held in New Delhi or such other location as determined by the Chairman or the President of the Academy.

The President of India/Vice President of India/Prime Minister of India or any other eminent person in the field is invited to present the award.

Akademi Ratna and Akademi Puraskar winners will be invited to receive their prizes in person.

Whenever possible, all Akademi Ratna and winners are invited to perform publicly at a music, dance, and theater festival organized by the Akademy following the award ceremony.

Registrations

Play

To apply for the Akademi Ratna, you can register if you are:

• Ratna Sadasya (Akademi Fellows)
• Member of the General Council of the Akademi

For Akademi Awards, the following will be considered:

• Akademi Ratna Sadasya
• Chairman/Presidents of State Academies
• Heads of Universities/Deans of the Performing Arts
• Members of the General Council of the Akademi
• Secretaries in the States/Union Territories of the Department of Culture
• Eminent scholars or experts in the field of performing arts
• The names suggested by the Executive Board but not considered by the General Council in the previous 5 years shall be listed for fresh nominations

Process

1. The Akademi shall solicit nominations for the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by a specific date each year and nominations received under Section 6(i) shall be submitted to the Executive Council. The names shall be shortlisted by the General Council.
2. No new nominations will be considered by either the Executive Council or the General Council after the deadline. Only the Chairman, can propose new names for consideration by the Executive Board/General Board at the time of the meeting.
3. Unanimity is achieved in the Executive and General Council to make a list of the winders. If unanimity cannot be achieved, the Board of Directors may intervene and seek the opinion of 3/4 members.
4. Board decisions are final and cannot be appealed or protested.
5. Individuals nominated by the Board in the last five years but not selected by the General Council may be considered in the following year.
6. Members of the Akademi’s Board, General Council, and Officers may disclose or make public the General Council's debates, deliberations, and procedures relating to the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

Celebrities 

1. Anup Jalota

Noted ghazal singer Anup Jalota, popular as ‘Bhajan Samrat’, recently won the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2020.

2. Amrish Puri

Amrish Puri, an important figure in Indian theatre and cinema won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award at the age of 40, in 1979, while he was performing in the Prithvi Theater

3. Naseeruddin Shah

Naseeruddin Shah is an actor and director in the Indian film industry. He is notable in Indian parallel cinema and won numerous awards in his career. He got the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2000s

4. Lata Mangeshkar

Lata Mangeshkar, an icon singer, is also a recipient of honorary doctorates from Sangeet Natak Akademi (1989)

5. Bhupen Hazarika

Bhupen Hazarika, an Indian singer, poet, director, and composer won the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1987

Schedule

The ceremony will be held on 15 February 2023, under the category of "Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2019, 2020 and 2021" at 5.00 p.m at the Coperrnicus Marg, New Delhi. 

The last Sangeet Natak Akademi Award ceremony was held between 6-8 November 2022 at The Ashok, New Delhi wherein the General Council awarded 128 artists for their holistic contribution to the Performing Arts for the years 2019, 2020 & 2021.

The board unanimously elected 10 eminent personalities in the field of performing arts as Akademi Fellows.

Conclusion 

The Sangeet Natak Akademi aims to coordinate the activities of regional or State Academies of music, dance, and drama.

The primary objective is to promote research in the fields of Indian music, dance, and drama and to revive and preserve folk music, folk dance, and folk drama in different regions of the country.

The Government-led award structure awards prizes and distinctions and gives recognition to individual artistes for outstanding achievement in the field of music, dance, and drama