Nepal Academy of Music and Drama (NAMUDA) on Friday felicitated six veteran artists with the Academy Award 2074 in different categories in the Capital.  

Vice President Nanda Bhadur Pun who was the chief guest at the programme and Saru Bhakta, chancellor of the Academy, handed each recipient a purse of Rs 100,001 along with a plaque.

The recipient of this year’s Academy awards were: Puspa Ratna Tuladhar in the classical music category, Laxmi Prasad Joshi in the folk music category,  Kiran Kharel in music composition, Ramavatar Yadav for his contribution in theatre, Subhadra Adhikary in the dance category,  and Madan Das Shrestha for theatre.

Addressing an assembly of renowned artists, musicians and academicians, chief guest Pun said it was his honour to award such great artists of the country. “We have a diverse culture and distinctive form of performance arts; if we could preserve it, we can preserve our identity.

So, in order to develop our music, dance and theatre, the Nepal government is ready to provide needed financial impetus,” said Pun.

The Academy has been providing the NAMUDA award for the past four years.

Speaking at the programme, Saru Bhakta gave the short history of NAMUDA and its contribution to the development of music and drama. “Late Amber Gurung was the

first chancellor of the academy; he has played a significant role in upgrading Nepali music, now, we have to carry his legacy forward,” said Saru Bhakta.

The NAMUDA has long been working towards the preservation of intangible cultural heritage of Nepal in the form of music and theatre.