The Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi announced its annual awards for the years 2014 and 2015 here on Wednesday.
The Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Puraskar, the Akademi’s highest honour, would be conferred on eminent singer and music director Rakhal Chandra Mohanty for 2014 and drama and Jatra director Sachi Das for 2015. The award carries a cash award of `1 lakh, a citation and a memento.
Notably, the Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja Awards is given for lifetime contribution to various fields of art and culture.
It would also honour 30 artistes from the fields of music, dance, drama and acting for the year 2014 and 2015. Each awardee would receive a cash reward of `30, 000, a citation, and a memento.
In the Odishi classical music category, Purushottam Parida (2014) and lata Ghosh (2015) would receive the honours. In folk song, Motilal Dora (2014) and Hadibandhu Sahu (2015) would be the recipients of the award. Odishi dancers Aruna Mohanty and Nabakishore Mishra and actors Manideepa Mallick, Soudamini Pati, Jagadananda Chhuria and Sudam Bisoyi would also receive, among others.
The awards would be presented at a special ceremony to be held here on March 29, informed Akademi Secretary Dhira Mallick.