On Friday, 22 November 2024, Presentation of USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN YUVA PURASKAR 2022 & 2023 Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, 15, Janpath, New Delhi, by Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi (National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, an Autonomous Body of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India). Shri Bendang Walling, founder of Hill Theatre and a renowned director, was also conferred with the prestigious USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN YUVA PURASKAR for the year 2023, amongst 39 other recipients across the country. Walling is the first artist from Nagaland to be conferred with this award in the field of direction.

The award was presented by the Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar. The award, constituted in 2006, is given annually to outstanding young artists under the age of 40 in the fields of music, dance, drama, folk and tribal arts, and puppetry to encourage and motivate artists across as many as 40 performing art forms of the country.

Bendang Walling received the award in the field of Direction. Walling is an artist, a performer himself, and someone who brings life to stories and folklores through his ingenious mind and passion in the art.

Walling states that the award he has received is not just for his personal glory, but it is a message for his fellow Nagas that there are prospects in this field of art. One can and should pursue a career in the field of theatrical and performing arts. It can also be an instrument to bring change in the society, added Walling.

Bendang Walling is an alumnus of the prestigious National School of Drama, New Delhi. Founder of Hill Theatre Nagaland. and has produced and directed numerous theatre plays and films over the past two decades.

Amongst Theatre plays he directed, here are some:

2012: Chimti “The Ant” & Marriage in the land of death

2013: The Wedding

2014: Charlie and the chocolate factory, Morusa & Don’t women, no cry:

2015: Wizard of Oz

2016: Jina & Etiben

2017: A man selling a basket

2018: Aro “Truth”

2019: Jallian Walla Bagh Massacre

2020: Walk of hope

2022: Oshi Yim & Beauty and the beast

2023: The case of Longti Village & Oliver Twist

Films Directed:

2017: Blissful (Selected as a film fellow at Dharamshala international Film Festival)

2018: Jarem

2020: Dreams & Chaos Season 1 (Winner of Kashi Indian International Film Festival best regional web series)

2021: Dreams and Chaos Season 2

2022: Senmang (Selected as an official entry for Nagaland Film Festival)

2023: Silent Screams

Bollywood Films Acted:

2015: Detective Byomkesh Bakshy

2024: Paatal Lok Season 2

Besides his works and achievements, Walling also has many awards, and the recent Ustaad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar is an added feather to his cap in his field of art.

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