Renowned Sattriya exponents Jagannath Bayan and Ramkrishna Talukdar and art director Nuruddin Ahmed have been selected for the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi award for 2017.
Jagannath Bayan, the borbayan of Barpeta Satra, was born in 1925, and used to sell articles in villages of Barpeta district to earn a living. Bayan has trained several people in playing the khol, and has taken part in several programmes under the aegis of the State Cultural department.
Ramkrishna Talukdar was born at Bamakhata in Barpeta district in 1963. Many students from Belarus, Japan, Kazakhstan, the US and France have received training from him.He has written books and performed in many places across India and several national and international events, like London and Kuwait. He has produced and directed more than 12 dance dramas and composed and choreographed around 30 dance numbers, reports The Assam Tribune.
Ahmed has worked as an art director in more than 60 films. He has for the past 37 years worked in the Assamese mobile theatre. Currently he is working at Rajdeep Art Studio in Guwahati, Ahmed has trained more than 40 youths who are now working in the industry.