NALBARI, Sept 4 - The Bhaben Baruah Award for 2017 was conferred on eminent playwright and theatre director Hemanta Dutta in a function held at Nalbari Natyamandir on Sunday evening.
The award, instituted by the Nalbari district committee of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) in 2009, is given to a known theatre personality for his contributions in the field. The award consists of a cash prize, a citation, sarai, phulam jaapi, seleng sador, among others.
Receiving the award, Dutta said that a playwright has no freedom in the realm of mobile theatre in the State. �We write our plays according to the wishes of the proprietor as finance plays a major role in mobile theatre,� Dutta said. He added that in mobile theatre, playwrights are compelled to compromise with their skills.
The senior playwright lamented the plight of Late Bhaben Baruah�s family and requested the State Government to extend a helping hand to his family members.
The function presided over by Mrinal Kumar Barman, president of Nalbari district unit of AJYCP was addressed by popular cine actor Dinesh Das, playwright Kumud Bhattacharya, Nalbari SP Hemanta Bhattacharya, social worker Nagen Deka and teacher Anukul Sarma, among others.
Earlier, Bhaben Baruah Award recipient Hemanta Dutta was brought to Nalbari Natyamandir from the premises of Sri Sri Hari Mandir in a colourful cultural procession.
The theatre artistes who have received the Bhaben Baruah Award since 2009 are � Dulal Roy (2009), Guruji Adya Sarma (2010), Biju Phukan (2011), Nilu Chakravarty (2012), Mahananda Sarma (2013), Jibeswar Deka (2014), Achyut Lahkar (2015) and Dharani Barman (2016).
