Noted Odishi dance guru Sudhakar Sahu has been selected for the prestigious Kendra Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2014 for his lifelong contribution to the classical dance form.
He will receive the award, consisting of Rs 1 lakh, a citation and a souvenir, from the President of India in October. “He (Sahu) is an expert in the Debprasad Gharana of the dance,” said Secretary of Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademy Dhirendra Nath Mallick.
The 81-year-old guru hails from Baidyakateni village of Dhenkanal district. His contribution towards popularising the Odishi dance in India and abroad has been widely appreciated.
He had earlier won the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi award. Even at the twilight of his life, he continues to play an active role to promote the dance and trains budding dancers.
Sahu is the only person from Odisha this year to win this award. Overall, 40 artists have been selected for the award from various fields of music and dance across India.