Celebrated Personas to be conferred with prestigious Pandit Lacchu Maharaj Award
Celebrated Personas to be conferred with prestigious Pandit Lacchu Maharaj Award
Noted Hindi film celebrities Hema Malini and Saira Banu, along with other prominent personalities from the fields of art and culture, will be conferred with the prestigious Pandit Lacchu Maharaj Award. on 31 August 2024 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
The Lacchu Maharaj Award, Instituted in memory of the famous kathak exponent Lacchu Maharaj, was not given after 2014. Thus, the Pandit Lacchu Maharaj Ballet Foundation has decided to honour 10 personalities this year. No award has been announced for the year 2020 due to COVID-19. The awardees are:
*Uma Sharma-Kathak(New Delhi)
*Rama Vaidyanathan-Kathak (New Delhi ).
*Uma Dogra 2017, Kathak,Jaipur
* Hema Malini Kathak, Mumbai
* Saira Banu, actress, Kathak Mumbai
*Sandhaya Puricha, Chairman Sangeet Natak Akademi Bharatanatyam Exponent Mumbai
*Dr. Malabika, Kathak, Kolkata
*Prachi Shah, actress, Kathak,.Mumbai Kathak,
*Ashim Bandhu Bhattacharya Kathak, Mumbai
*Pandit Rajendra Gangani Kathak,.Mumbai
Reviving a Celebrated Tradition
The decision to honor these esteemed individuals was taken during a meeting held at Bhatkhande Sanskriti University, Lucknow, presided over by the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mandavi Singh.
Notedly, the meeting was attended by the secretary of the Pt. Lachhu Maharaj Ballet Foundation and senior disciple of Pandit Lachhu Maharaj, Kumkum Adarsh.
Recognizing artistic brilliance
other notable awardees include Sandhaya Puricha, Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi, a Bharatanatyam exponent;
Dr. Malabika Mitra. a Kathak maestro; Prachi Shah (2022),
a Kathak dancer and film actress; and Ashim Bandhu Bhattacharya, a Kathak exponent.
The Pandit Lacchu Maharaj Award is named after the legendary Kathak exponent, Lacchu Maharaj, who was born Baij Nath Prasad in Lucknow. He is renowned for choreographing Kathak dance sequences in iconic films like Mahal, Mughal-e-Azam, and Pakeezah, as well as numerous ballets.
As these eminent personalities will be honoured with the Pandit Lacchu Maharaj Award, it serves as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of India and the enduring legacy of artistic excellence that continues to inspire generations.
News Edit K.V.Raman
