The newly introduced Shilpakala Padak was conferred on seven seasoned artistes in recognition of their significant roles in
respective fields of art and culture.
The winners of Shilpakala Padak 2013 are dancer Amanul Haque, classical musician Ustad Matiul Haque Khan, traditional singer Saidur Rahman Bayati, artist Samarjit Roy Chowdhury, Tagore singer Fahmida Khatun, filmmaker Manzare Hassin Murad and theatre activist Khaled Khan (posthumous).
President Abdul Hamid handed over the awards on Monday at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
Short biographies of the winners of the Shilpakala Padak 2013 are given below:
Amanul Haque
The seven recipients of Shilpakala Padak have played Born in 1938 in Sirajganj, the septuagenarian dancer Amanul Haque learnt dance at his adolescence. He took lessons on dance from the legendary dance artiste Bulbul Chowdhury and others. He received much recognition as the composer of the first dance drama on the war of independence titled the Battle of Bangladesh during the war. He also composed another dance drama on the war titled Bangladesh-er Muktijuddho, which was staged in 1972 and received great acclamation. He has been active in dance arena of the country for the last five decades.
Ustad Matiul Haque Khan
The septuagenarian sitar player Ustad Matiul Haque Khan was born in Brhmanbaria in 1933 in a culturally rich family. He developed a unique style of playing the instrument by taking lessons on sitar from his father-in-law Ustad Ayat Ali Khan and his brother-in-law. He has been performing and teaching sitar for over five decades.
Samarjit Roy Chowdhury
A former teacher of fine arts at Dhaka University, artist Samarjit Roy Chowdhury was born in 1937 in Comilla. As an artist, Samarjit Roy Chowdhury also played a significant role during the war of independence. He has earned much recognition as a revered artist in the country through his art works.
At present Roy is the principal of private Dhaka Art College, and super numeroury professor of faculty of fine arts of Dhaka University.
Fahmida Khatun
Seasoned Tagore singer Fahmida Khatun was born in 1942. She took lessons on music from Tagore exponents like Kalim Sharafi, Sanjida Khatun, and Abdul Ahad. As a singer, Fahmida Khatun played an active role in the country’s historic struggle for independence in 1971.
Saidur Rahman Boyati
Celebrated traditional singer Saidur Rahman Boyati was born in 1931 in Manikganj. He has earned name as the leading singer of different genres of mystic songs such as marfati, baul, jari and sari.
Khaled Khan
The recently demised actor-director Khaled Khan was born in 1957 in Tangail. A member of theatre troupe Nagarik Natya Sampraday Khaled, Khan has directed seven theatre productions. He has acted in all the major productions of his troupe. He was also popular as a teleplay actor.
Manzare Hassin Murad
Filmmaker Manzare Hassin Murad was born in 1954 in Rangpur. Murad has been active in the country’s film society movement for decades. He is credited for making documentaries on the war of independence and other social issues.
-With New Age input
