Nashik, Mar 06: Famous drama writer S N Navre and Marathi stage actor Chitaranjan Kolhatkar have been selected for the Natya Lekhan (drama writer) and 'Rangkarmi' (stage actor) awards respectively for this year. Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Parishad, Nashik branch, president Datta Nadgouda and Natya Samiti chief Jayant Jategaonkar announced the names of the award winners at a press conference here yesterday.

Nadgouda said the awards had been instituted by Akhil Bharatiya Natya Parishad, Nashik branch. The Natya Lekhan award is given in memory of eminent Marathi drama and poetry writer late V V Shirwadkar alias 'Kusumagraj' while the 'Rangkarmi' award is given in memory of late Vasant Kanetkar. Both would be presented a cash prize of Rs 25,000 a memento and a shawl each on March 20 at Kavi Kalidas Kala Mandir. Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Parishad president and famous actor Mohan Joshi, Dr Girish Oak and Vandana Gupte will be chief guest at the function, it was informed.

P L Deshpande, Vasant Kanetkar, Vijay Tendulkar, Ratnakar Matkari were the previous Natya Lekhan award winners, while Dr Shriram Laagu, Mohan Wagh, Vijaya Mehta, Purushotam Barde and Sulbha Deshpande are the previous 'Rangkarmi' award winners.

Bureau Report