PM praises winners of Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar.

• Artists named by PM who were conferred with Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar include-
• Joydeep Mukherjee for Sursingar.
• Uppalpu Nagmani has been awarded for Carnatic Instrumental on the Mandolin.
• V Durga Devi ji has won this award for ‘Karakattam’, an ancient dance form.
• Sangram Singh Suhas Bhandare has been awarded for Warkari Kirtan.
• Saikhom Surchandra Singh for mastery in making Meitei Pung Instrument.
  • This instrument has connections with Manipur.
• Pooran Singh, a Divyang Artist, who popularized various Music Forms such as – Rajula-Malushahi, Nyuli, Hudka Bol, Jagar.

Related information

Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar:

• Sangeet Natak Akademi instituted “Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar” from the year 2006 to be awarded to artists who have shown / demonstrated conspicuous talent in the fields of music, dance and drama.
• Young artist upto the age of 40 years are eligible
  • It is not given posthumously.
• Yuva Puraskar will be given annually and the total number of Yuva Puraskar in a year is limited to 33.

Sursingar:

• Sursingar is a stringed instrument made of ivory and wood. This traditional instrument is found in various parts of North India.
• The strings of the instrument are usually four in number and made of brass or bronze, and are plucked with a metal pick.
• The Sursingar (along with the Rudra Veena and the Surbahar) usually accompanies Dhrupad, the genre of Hindustani vocal music which has a low, deep, and thoughtful pitch.

Karakattam:

• Karakattam is an ancient folk dance of Tamil Naduin which performers in colourful saris dance with a pot (karakam) on their head to invoke Mariamman, the goddess of rain.
• Traditionally, this dance is categorized into two types:
  • Aatta Karakam symbolizes joy and happiness. It is mainly performed as entertainment.
  • Sakthi Karakam is performed only in temples as a spiritual offering.
• It involves three tiers of flower arrangements of different colours sitting on top of a container filled to the brim with either water, rice, or soil.
• Other highlights include blowing fire, inserting needles into eyes, and keeping balance while holding a bottle parallel to the ground on the performer’s back.

Mandolin

• It is a stringed instrument, usually with eight strings that are plucked with a pick.
• The Mandolin is a moderately sized instrument, smaller than the Veena, Sitar, or guitar, and was developed in Europe in the 18th century as an evolution of the older Mandora (Mandola).
• The instrument’s modern form and proportions were strongly influenced by its maker Pasquale Vinaccia of Naples.
• The Mandolin has long been part of the Indian film music tradition, having been used by several great composers.