MUMBAI: The Sangeet Natak Akademi has launched the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for young artistes.

The objective of the award is to identify and encourage young talent in diverse fields of performing arts and accord them national recognition early in life so that they may work with greater commitment in life long pursuits of their chosen form of art.
 
The Yuva Puraskar would also support and sustain the work of the new generation in the multiple streams of regional art traditions that stand threatened with the passage of time. The award will be given to artistes below the age of 35 as on 1 April every year, and will cover fields of music, dance, theatre, puppetry and scholarship in the performing arts.
 
The General Council of the Sangeet Natak Akademi has finalised the names of 33 artistes for the ‘Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar’ for 2006, at its meeting held on 15 February 2007 in New Delhi.
 
In the field of music, eight awards, including one joint award, have been given for Hundustani and Carnatic music. In the field of dance, eight young artistes have been selected for Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Manipuri, Odissi, Kuchipudi and music for dance; in the field of theatre, eight artistes have been selected for acting, direction, playwriting, lighting and stage-craft.
 
One person has been selected to receive the Yuva Puraskar for scholarship in performing arts. The Yuva Puraskar carries a prize money of Rs 25,000, says an official release.