From preserving classical dance for underprivileged children to carrying forward guru-shishya tradition in music and reinventing folk theatre for modern audiences, three artistes from Lucknow received Sangeet Natak Akademi honours for lifelong contribution to the performing arts. .Pandit Rammohan Maharaj: Taking Kathak beyond privilegeRecipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2025, Kathak guru Pandit Rammohan Maharaj of Lucknow gharana, son of Pandit Shambhu Maharaj and cousin of Padma Vibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj, represents Kalka-Bindadin gharana. He said, “The award is a recognition of my gurus and the art they taught me.”A former international Kathak teacher in US, UK and Russia, he trained actress Madhuri Dixit for ‘Devdas’ and was Manisha Koirala’s first dance guru.On Birju Maharaj’s wish that sound of ‘ghungroo’ should echo through Kalka-Bindadin Dyodhi in Lucknow, he returned from Mumbai and found talented children from economically weaker backgrounds lacking access to formal training.Over past one-and-a-half years, he taught Kathak free to children from low-income neighbourhoods .Yugantar Sindoor: Five decades of music, one lifelong debtHindustani classical and ghazal vocalist Yugantar Sindoor dedicated his Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2025 to the person who introduced him to music. “This win is for my mother,” Sindoor said.Son of litterateur Prof Ram Swaroop Gupta ‘Sindoor’, he was trained in Badaun under Padma Bhushan Ustad Nisar Hussain Khan and was also associated with late Ustad Rashid Khan.A postgraduate in sociology from Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur, Sindoor built a career blending khayal, thumri and ghazal. He has performed in Taj Mahotsav, Lucknow Mahotsav, National Ghazal Mahotsav, Ganga Mahotsav and Ramayan Mela, besides on international stages in South Africa, France, Mauritius, Kenya, Uganda, Russia, Zambia and the UAE.His music is aired on All India Radio as Top Grade Artist and Doordarshan. Over four decades, he mentored many, including playback singer Sachet Tandon.His honours include UP Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2002), Begum Akhtar Award (2018), UP Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (2020) and Bazm-e-Awadh Award.Atamjit Singh: Reimagining Nautanki for a new audienceTheatre director Aatamjit Singh, recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2024, spent five decades making folk theatre relevant.Along with his job in railways, Singh joined Meghdoot group in 1975 and developed a style that blended traditional forms with contemporary storytelling. His most celebrated experiment was adapting William Shakespeare’s ‘The Merchant of Venice’ into the Nautanki format.He produced acclaimed Nautanki adaptations on Bhagat Singh and the Munshiganj firing incident of Rae Bareli in Awadhi. He also revived traditional forms such as Lavani and Hargitika .“We are extremely proud to receive this recognition and will continue to serve the art,” said his son Sarbjeet Singh, who received the award on his behalf.
Rakesh Sinha
Rakesh Sinha: Four decades behind the lensLucknow: Cultural photographer Rakesh Sinha, who spent four decades documenting Indian classical music, dance and theatre, received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2025 for cultural photography.Sinha said, “In 74-years, I am second person to receive SNA award for cultural photography.”Sinha built a rare visual archive of some of India’s greatest musicians and dancers. His black-and-white photographs are exhibited at major music and dance festivals, cultural institutions and govt academies.His earlier honours include the Rashtriya Yuva Pratishthan Award, the UP SNA Award for Cultural Photography (2007), Sanskar Bharati Samman and Bharatyam Kala Award.
