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New Delhi, Feb 23 (Ians) President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday presented the Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Fellowships (Akademi Ratna) and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Akademi Puruskar) for the year 2019, 2020 and 2021.

In her address on the occasion, the President said that the civilisation showcases the material achievements of a nation but intangible heritage is revealed through its culture.

“Culture is the real identity of a country. India’s unique performing arts have kept our incredible culture alive for centuries. Our arts and artists are the carriers of our rich cultural heritage. ‘Unity in diversity’ is the biggest feature of our cultural traditions,” she said.

The President said that in our tradition, art is a spiritual practice, a medium of the search for truth, a medium of prayer and worship, and a medium of public welfare. Collective exuberance and unity also find expression through dance and music. Art binds the linguistic diversity and regional characteristics in one thread.

Karachi, Nov 4 (Ians) A domestic cricketer in Pakistan, taking part in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

According to a report in ESPNcricinfo, Balochistan wicketkeeper-batsman Bismillah Khan had shown symptoms during the second round match against Southern Punjab in the tournament but wasn't tested until the fourth day, after which he was substituted on the field by Adnan Akmal.

The development has put the ongoing tournament under cloud as all six participating teams have been staying in the same hotel. All the players and the support staff will undergo tests.

Meanwhile, Abid Ali, Imam-ul-Haq and Haris Sohail have been released from the Pakistan national cricket team's squad following the completion of the three-match Odi series against Zimbabwe.

The Odi series - part of Icc World Cup Super League - concluded on Tuesday with Zimbabwe winning the last match in Super Over and Pakistan recording a 2-1 series win.

Interview"I have composed bhajans. Mixing is yet to be done. I need to plan how to release it," Kavita told Ians in a telephonic interview.IANSBollywood Hungama via wiki commonsPopular vocalist Kavita Krishnamurti, who has sung in multiple Indian languages over four decades, will soon make her debut as a composer. "I have composed bhajans. One day, I was sitting in a car and humming a tune. I was wondering what words to put since I don't write lyrics at all. Suddenly, the word of Meera bhajan fitted beautifully into it. "That inspired me to make more songs. My husband (violinist L. Subramaniam) said I should record them. We recorded 20 days ago. Mixing is yet to be done. I need to plan how to release it," Kavita told Ians in a telephonic interview. The "Hawa hawai" hitmaker feels "very nice" to have attempted "this as a composer". "It's something...

Using the 'shenai' for which music maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan was renowned for, Oscar winner A.R Rahman pays homage to the Bharat Ratna awarded musician, through the songs of Raanjhanaa produced by Eros International and directed by Aanand L RaiSince the film starring Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor is based in the heartland of Benaras, the music composer looked no further that his inspiration- shenai player Ustad Bismillah Khan who hailed from Benaras. Rahman who h...

New Delhi, Oct 7: Shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan had 'music on his face', remembers Britain-based filmmaker-writer Nasreen Munni Kabir, who struggled to bring out a documentary on the famous bard of Benaras until the intervention of composer A.R. Rehman.

The 50-minute documentary, 'Bismillah of Benaras', made by Kabir with support from the BBC will be distributed by Sony Music. Kabir collaborated with Rahman, a Bismillah fan, who helped her tie up with Sony for distribution. He also is the presenter of the movie.

'I conceived it.

Chicago – In between the second and third installments of his infamous “Apu Trilogy,” Bengali master of cinema Satyajit Ray made two films that were striking departures from his signature portrait of poverty-stricken youth. The first was 1958’s failed comedy “The Philosopher’s Stone” (sorry, Potterheads, no relation) and the second was 1959’s masterpiece, “The Music Room.”

This landmark classic is brought to electrifying life by Criterion’s magnificent digital restoration. The renewed picture quality allows Ray’s elegant visual poetry to be savored like never before. Without changing locations or resorting to heavy-handed symbolism, Ray is able to explore the decline of feudalism by depicting the life of a once-wealthy aristocrat whose bloodline is literally washed away by the ever-encroaching waters of the Ganges.

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

Unlike Indian filmmakers of the day, Ray sought to integrate action and music into his narrative rather than feature them as separate entities.

Dhaka, Sep 1 – Shehnai, a wind instrument, is on the verge of extinction in Bangladesh, laments a music exponent.

Shamsur Rahman, who partly learnt to play the shehnai by listening to records of India’s celebrated Ustad Bismillah Khan, has said it is ‘almost impossible’ to survive in Bangladesh as a shehnai player.

The tradition is almost becoming extinct in Bangladesh and it has compelled Rahman to concentrate more on flutes, though he says ‘my heart always seeks the soothing melodies of the shehnai’, the New Age newspaper reported Wednesday.

‘When students come to.

Juhi Babbar, who got the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Rashtriya Puraskar for her contribution to Indian arts and theatre work, says it is an encouragement for youngsters like herself. “I have been doing theatre only for 12 years, and this award is for people who have given their entire life to it. It is very encouraging as these professions are driven by passion,” Juhi said. ...

New Delhi, Aug 11 – Juhi Babbar, who has been awarded the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Rashtriya Puraskar of the Sangeet Natak Akademi for her contribution to Indian arts and theatre work, says it is an encouragement for the youngsters.

‘I have been doing theatre only for over 12 years and this award is for people who have given their entire life to theatre. Receiving it is very encouraging for the youth as these professions have no money but are passion driven,’ Juhi told Ians.

The award is meant for eminent artists under 35 years of age and the actress said she is eligible for the honour. However, she refused to reveal her age.

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Juhi Babbar has been awarded the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Rashtriya Puraskar for her contribution to Indian arts and theatre with the youth. This category of the Sangeet Natak Akademi National Awards is for those under 35 years of age. Juhi, whose mother, Nadira Babbar bagged the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2001, is ecstatic: “Earlier, you had to wait for years to be even considered. This new category is a real boost for young people. And what can be better than being honoured for your passion!” Mom’s the guruThe news was conveyed to her by her mother, who is also ...

Panaji, Nov 22 (Ians) Musical great like Ustad Bismillah Khan, K.L. Saigal, Mohammed Rafi will continue to enthrall the audiences at the 40th International Film Festival of India (Iffi), long after they passed into history.

A novel and new section called ‘Moments with the Maestros’ will present audio-visual documentaries on a cross section of musical greats, depicting their life and work.

The seven-day segment will be inaugurated by chief minister Digambar Kamat Tuesday and the inaugural documentary will be ‘Rafi - We Remember You’, directed by Kuldeep Sinha.

The documentary on Rafi is the latest.