Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: The UP Academy Awards 2024 celebrated the rich heritage of Indian arts and culture as Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak honoured 11 distinguished artists for their exceptional contributions to classical music, folk arts, theatre, dance, and cultural promotion.
The prestigious ceremony brought together eminent personalities from the cultural fraternity, recognizing artists who have dedicated their lives to preserving and promoting India’s diverse artistic traditions.
Pandit Ritesh-Rajnish Mishra Receive Classical Vocal Music Award
One of the highlights of the event was the felicitation of renowned Hindustani classical vocalists Pandit Ritesh-Rajnish Mishra, who received the Academy Award for Classical Vocal Music.
The celebrated duo, sons of Padma Bhushan late Pandit Rajan Mishra, dedicated the honour to their father and guru, stating that the recognition would inspire them to continue promoting the timeless legacy of the Banaras Gharana.
With nearly 35 years of musical excellence, the brothers have become leading exponents of Khayal singing and have represented Indian classical music on prestigious national and international platforms.
Complete List of UP Academy Awards 2024 Winners
The Academy Awards recognized outstanding contributions across multiple artistic disciplines:
- Pandit Ritesh-Rajnish Mishra – Classical Vocal Music
- Mukta Chatterjee (Lucknow) – Light Vocal Music
- Ramnath Pandey (Raebareli) – Folk Singing (Alha)
- Sugam Singh Shekhawat (Gorakhpur) – Folk Dance
- Mangal Prasad (Varanasi) – Dukkar Instrumental Performance
- Sukhdev Mishra – Violin
- Rajesh Shah – Sitar
- Sushma Sharma (Prayagraj) – Theatre Direction
- Ravikant Shukla ‘Shibbu’ (Lucknow) – Theatre Acting
- Rajesh Pandit (Agra) – Art Promotion
- Shashiprabha Tiwari (Deoria) – Art Criticism
Brajesh Pathak Emphasizes Cultural Preservation
Addressing the gathering, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said artists are the true custodians of India’s cultural identity and play a vital role in preserving the nation’s traditions.
He noted that such honours recognize years of dedication and artistic excellence while motivating young talent to actively participate in the preservation and promotion of Indian art and culture.
Strengthening India’s Cultural Legacy
Members of the art and cultural community congratulated all awardees, describing the honours as a significant step toward strengthening India’s artistic heritage.
The UP Academy Awards 2024 continue to be one of the state’s most prestigious recognitions, celebrating excellence in Indian classical music, folk arts, theatre, dance, and cultural promotion while inspiring future generations of artists.
