Assam: Silpi Award 2025 to Anima Choudhury and Mukul Rabha

Nat Surya Phani Sharma Award 2024, Sahityacharjya Atul Chandra Hazarika Award, and Bhimbor Deori Award announced

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: The state government today named the recipients of the Silpi Award 2025 and three other state awards, Nat Surya Phani Sharma Award 2024, Sahityacharjya Atul Chandra Hazarika Award, and Bhimbor Deori Award.

This was announced by state Cultural Affairs Minister Bimal Borah here on Sunday. He said that the state government has decided to confer this year’s Silpi Award on playback singer Anima Choudhury and folk singer Mukul Rabha. Bimal Borah further said that the Nat Surya Phani Sharma Award 2024 will be conferred on actress Reba Phukan, the Sahityacharjya Atul Chandra Hazarika Award on actress Hira Neog, and the Bhimbor Deori Award on renowned social worker Jaleswar Brahma.

The Minister stated that all four awards will be presented on January 17 during the Silpi Diwas celebration in Golaghat, commemorating the death of the doyen of Assamese films, Jyoti Prasad Agarwala.

Each of the recipients of the awards will be honoured with an amount of Rs 2 lakh, a citation, and Anga Bastra. Silpi Award 2025 recipient Anima Choudhury was born in Nalbari on February 28, 1953. She is a noted playback singer and has lent her voice to songs in Assamese films like Mukuta, Putala Ghar, Prem Janame Janame, Aranya, and Agnibristi, as well as the Bengali film Tridhara. Anima Choudhury is a Grade-A artiste in Doordarshan and Akashvani. Other than modern songs, she is renowned as a singer of Bihugeet, Bongeet, Tukarigeet, Biyanaam, Kamrupi, and Goalpariya Lokageet, etc.

Folk artiste Mukul Rabha, the second Silpi Award recipient, was born on December 1, 1955. He is known for albums that include Rabha modern song compilations. He has also penned several books on folk culture.

Actress Reba Phukan, named for the Nat Surya Phani Sharma Award 2024, was born on February 1, 1959. She has acted in several Assamese films like Antony Mur Naam, Railor Alir Dubori Bon, Jakham, Priya O Priya, Maghot Mamonir Biya, Ujanir Dujoni Gabhoru, etc. She is also noted for her acting in amateur theatre productions as well as in prominent mobile theatre groups.

Hira Neog, recipient of the Sahityasarjya Atul Chandra Hazarika Award, is famous for her acting roles in Srimati Mohimamoyee, Upapath, Sewali, Xekh Upahar, Ei Dex Mur Dex, Mon, Ujanir Dujoni Gabhoru, etc. Neog has also acted in plays of prominent mobile theatre groups.

Jaleswar Brahma, named for the Bhimbor Deori Award, was born on October 1, 1945. He played an active part in restoring peace and creating mutual understanding between different communities during the ethnic strife that took place in Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong, and BTR. Brahma is also noted for popularising the use of Devanagari script in the Bodo language. He is associated with organizations like Sadou Axom Brahma Dharma Xobha, Bodo Sahitya Sabha, Axom Kalyan Ashram, etc.

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