New Delhi: Singer Anup Jalota was honored with the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by the President of India Draupadi Murmu in New Delhi on Thursday. Eleven years after the popular bhajan singer was honored with the Padma Shri award, Jalota was selected as the recipient of the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2020 for his contribution to music.
Also known as the Akademi Award, the award is presented by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India’s national academy of music, dance and drama. It is the highest Indian honor given to people in the field of performing arts.
The popular singer could not stop thanking the Government of India for honoring him. “It is indeed a special feeling. This award is very special as this award is given to artistes for their contribution in the field of dance, music, theater and other performing arts. I am very grateful to the Government of India for selecting me .. for the Academy Award,” Jalota said.
Born in Nainital in Uttarakhand in 1953, Jalota’s father, Purshottam Das Jalota, was also a renowned bhajan singer. Having started his musical career as a chorus singer in All India Radio, Jalota went on to sing some most memorable bhajans including `Aisi Lagi Lagan`, `Main Nahi Makhan Khayo`, `Rang De Chunariya`, `Jag Me Sundar Hai Do Naam` `, and `Chadariya Jhini Re Jhini`. Meanwhile, on Thursday, a total of 128 artistes from the fields of music, dance, theatre, traditional, folk, and puppetry were given the Awards in New Delhi.