Noted Hindi film superstars Hema Malini and Saira Banu, along with other prominent personalities from the fields of art and culture, will be honoured with the prestigious Pandit Lacchu Maharaj Award. The award ceremony will take place on 31 August 2024 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
The Lacchu Maharaj Award, Instituted in memory of the famous kathak exponent Lacchu Maharaj, was not given after 2014. Thus, the Pandit Lacchu Maharaj Ballet Foundation has decided to honour 10 personalities this year. No award has been announced for the year 2020 due to COVID-19. The awardees are:
| Serial Number | Awardee | Award for Year | Belongs to Place | Exponent of Dance form |
| 1 | Uma Sharma | 2015 | New Delhi | Kathak |
| 2 | Rama Vaidyanathan | 2016 | New Delhi | Kathak |
| 3 | Uma Dogra | 2017 | Jaipur | Kathak |
| 4 | Hema Malini | 2018 | Mumbai | Kathak, Film actress |
| 5 | Saira Banu | 2019 | Mumbai | Kathak, Film actress |
| 6 | Sandhaya Puricha, Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi | 2018 | Mumbai | Bharatanatyam Exponent |
| 7 | Dr. Malabika Mitra | 2021 | Kolkata | Kathak |
| 8 | Prachi Shah | 2022 | Mumbai | Kathak, Film actress |
| 9 | Ashim Bandhu Bhattacharya | 2023 | Mumbai | Kathak |
| 10 | Pandit Rajendra Gangani | 2024 | Jaipur | Kathak |
The decision to honor these esteemed individuals was taken during a meeting held at Bhatkhande Sanskriti University, Lucknow, presided over by the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mandavi Singh. The meeting was attended by the secretary of the Pt. Lachhu Maharaj Ballet Foundation and senior disciple of Pandit Lachhu Maharaj, Kumkum Adarsh.
The Pandit Lacchu Maharaj Ballet Foundation has decided to honor ten personalities this year, as the award was not given after 2014. The esteemed awardees, spanning various years from 2015 to 2024, represent the pinnacle of artistic excellence in fields such as Kathak, Bharatanatyam, and cinema.
Among the awardees are renowned Kathak exponents like Uma Sharma (2015), Rama Vaidyanathan (2016), Uma Dogra (2017), and Pandit Rajendra Gangani (2024). Film actresses Hema Malini (2018) and Saira Banu (2019), both accomplished Kathak dancers, will also be honored for their remarkable contributions.
Other notable awardees include Sandhaya Puricha, Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi (2018), a Bharatanatyam exponent; Dr. Malabika Mitra (2021), a Kathak maestro; Prachi Shah (2022), a Kathak dancer and film actress; and Ashim Bandhu Bhattacharya (2023), a Kathak exponent.
The Pandit Lacchu Maharaj Award is named after the legendary Kathak exponent, Lacchu Maharaj (1907-1978), who was born Baij Nath Prasad in Lucknow. He is renowned for choreographing Kathak dance sequences in iconic films like Mahal, Mughal-e-Azam, and Pakeezah, as well as numerous ballets.
As these eminent personalities are honoured with the Pandit Lacchu Maharaj Award, it serves as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of India and the enduring legacy of artistic excellence that continues to inspire generations.
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