GANGTOK: Theatre artist and National School of Drama (NSD) alumnus Tila Rupa Sapkota from Sikkim has been awarded the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2024–25 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi for her work in theatre and acting, a press release said.
A national honour for a Sikkim practitioner
The award was presented on October 19 at the Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi by Union Minister for Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, according to the release. Instituted by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2006, the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar recognises outstanding young practitioners across music, dance, theatre and other performing arts.
Sapkota, born on 9 April 1993 in Gangtok, has been active in theatre for about 15 years and has performed in more than 40 major productions across India, the release said. Her repertoire spans classical, contemporary and musical theatre, and includes significant productions staged with the NSD Sikkim Repertory Company.
Training and career highlights
Sapkota trained professionally at the NSD, joining the institute in 2011. After graduating, she spent over a decade working with the NSD Sikkim Repertory Company, contributing to numerous stage productions. Her theatrical credits listed in the release include Black Orchid, The Cherry Orchard, Andha Yug, Aadhe Adhure and Pagla Ghoda.
- Born: 9 April 1993, Gangtok, Sikkim.
- Training: NSD graduate (joined in 2011).
- Experience: About 15 years in theatre; 40+ major productions.
- Notable plays: Black Orchid, The Cherry Orchard, Andha Yug, Aadhe Adhure, Pagla Ghoda.
Work beyond the stage
Beyond live theatre, Sapkota has worked in a music video and a short film, and is reportedly engaged on a feature film project, the release said. She also spent two years performing in Dubai in a Broadway-style musical titled Jaan-E-Jigar, an experience that exposed her to large-scale musical theatre production.
| Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Education | Samdong Senior Secondary School (schooling completed 2011); English Honours through IGNOU (2013–2015) |
| Professional training | National School of Drama (joined 2011) |
| Major associations | NSD Sikkim Repertory Company; international musical production in Dubai |
Significance for Sikkim's cultural scene
For Sikkim's arts community, Sapkota's award represents recognition from a central cultural authority and highlights the contribution of artists from the state to India’s performing arts landscape. The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar is intended to encourage emerging practitioners and to acknowledge their role in preserving and advancing performing-arts traditions, the Akademi says.
Local cultural practitioners and theatre groups have increasingly sought visibility on national platforms in recent years. Sapkota’s trajectory—from state training and repertory work to national recognition—mirrors a growing pipeline for artists from the Northeast to access larger stages and institutional support.
Background and education
According to the release, Sapkota completed her school education at Samdong Senior Secondary School in 2011 in the Humanities stream, and later pursued English Honours through Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) between 2013 and 2015. The release emphasises both her formal training and extensive stage experience as factors in the award.
What the award means
The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar has a history of recognising young talent across India since its institution in 2006. Recipients are selected for their artistic excellence and potential to contribute to the continuity and renewal of performing arts traditions.
Sapkota’s recognition places her among a list of young artists acknowledged by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and will likely raise the profile of Sikkimese theatre practitioners on national circuits.
Further details about the award citation and Sapkota’s future projects were not provided in the press release.
