Assam Artistes Shine at National Performing Arts Awards
Celebrating Assam's Artistic Excellence
The Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards recognized Chetana Das, Mallika Kandali, and Bhaskarjyoti Ojah in 2025. (Photo: 'X'/ @himantabiswa)
Guwahati, June 11: Eleven talented artists from Assam have gained national acclaim through two of India's esteemed performing arts awards, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards and the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, for the years 2024 and 2025.
These awards, presented by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the national academy for performing arts in India, encompass various disciplines including Sattriya dance, Kathak, theatre, folk music, Khol percussion, and Tokari Geet.
This recognition highlights the richness of Assam's artistic heritage and its ongoing contribution to the cultural fabric of the nation.
Among the recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2025 are renowned theatre artist Chetana Das, Sattriya dancer Mallika Kandali, and Bhaskarjyoti Ojah.
For the year 2024, the award was given to Prem Oja Borbayan for Sattriya dance and Bipul Chandra Das for Kathak.
Chetana Das expressed that this recognition holds profound personal meaning for her. "The affection I received from the people of Assam might be the reason for this honour. My journey began in Tezpur, where I first won the Best Actress award. Back then, our teachers were like guardians, guiding us through our paths," she shared.
Prem Oja Borbayan's journey to national recognition began at the tender age of six when he joined the Kamalabari Satra in Majuli, a leading centre for Sattriya dance. His path was fraught with challenges.
"I had to wash dishes and maintain the premises, which was quite tough. I attempted to leave four times," he recounted.
His father consistently brought him back, emphasizing that the discipline was essential for his future. "Those challenging times shaped my life, and today I owe this award to them," Oja reflected.
In addition to the senior awardees, six young artists from Assam have been acknowledged with the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, which celebrates emerging talent in the performing arts.
For 2024, the awardees include Minakshi Medhi for Sattriya dance, Dilip Hira for folk music, and Bidyut Kumar Nath for theatre direction.
The 2025 honorees are Niranjan Saikia Borbayan for Sattriya dance, Devajit Saikia for Khol percussion, and Hirakjyoti Sharma for Tokari Geet.
The diversity of this list, which spans classical dance, folk traditions, percussion, and theatre, highlights the vibrant artistic practices flourishing across the state, from the Satras of Majuli to the folk music traditions of the Brahmaputra valley.