GUWAHATI: The Life in The Theatre Award was conferred to one of Assam’s most acclaimed and multifaceted drama persona, Abinash Sarma for his exceptional contribution to theatre over many decades during the Guwahati Theatre Festival 2023. The event came to an end on September 10 at Pragjyoti ITA Machkhowa in Guwahati with the final play ‘Blame It On Yashraj’, a Bollywood musical which entertained the audience and transported them to a world of what happens when weddings happen by Bollywood’s standards.
While accepting the award, Abinash Sharma said, "I want to express my sincere gratitude to G Plus for honouring me with the Life in Theatre Award. I have been actively involved in theatre for the longest period of time and have been a part of the Guwahati Theatre Festival for several editions.”
Born in 1952, Abinash Sarma developed a keen interest in traditional Assamese theatre forms like Jatra during his early years, sparking his passion for drama and performing arts. Despite lacking formal training, Shri Sarma's early exposure and his innovative spirit allowed him to excel in areas such as Dramatics, Writing, Scripting, and Contemporary Art, resulting in a significant and meaningful body of work in the performing arts. He produced memorable and groundbreaking productions including "Aditir Atma Katha" and "Momor Ghar" which continue to leave a lasting impression on theatre enthusiasts.
The earlier recipients of this recognition were Dulal Roy, the Late Nipon Goswami, the Late Surkracharjya Rabha, Kulada Kumar Bhattacharjee, and the Late Arun Sarma.
The Guwahati Theatre Festival generated significant excitement among the residents of Guwahati who experienced spectacular performances over the past three days. Each of the plays featured during the three-day festival garnered international acclaim and has been showcased to packed audiences in major global cities. Captivated by the emotions portrayed by the actors, the Guwahati audience expressed their deep appreciation by giving standing ovations at the conclusion of each play.
The festival drew almost 2,500 attendees over a period of three days, marking a significant success. Theatre enthusiasts from various parts of the city gathered to partake in the enchanting three-day event.
Prominent actors like Saurabh Shukla, Sunil Palwal, Ashwin Mushran, Suchitra Pillai, Anant Mahadevan, Bharat Dabholkar and Jayati Bhatia among others featured across all plays that were staged at the 6th Guwahati Theatre Festival.
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