Bendang Walling, the founder of Hill Theatre and a renowned Director from Nagaland, was conferred with the prestigious Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for the year 2023 in the field of Theatre in a special ceremony at New Delhi on 22nd November 2024. Walling was among the 82 young artists who received the award for the years 2022 and 2023.
The Naga Director’s name is now etched in history as the second artist from the State to be conferred the prestigious award since its institution by Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2006. The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar is given annually to outstanding young artists in the fields of music, dance, drama, folk & tribal arts and puppetry in a special ceremony held in Delhi and also outside Delhi.
Upon receiving the Award, Bendang Walling said that the Award sends a strong message to 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 plays and films over the past two decades.
Some theatre plays Walling directed over the years are:
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
The award ceremony will be followed by the festival of performing arts featuring the recipient of Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar at three different venues Meghdoot Theatre Complex, Rabindra Bhawan, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi; Abhimanch Theatre, National School of Drama, Bhawalpur House, New Delhi and Vivekanand Auditorium, Kathak Kendra, Chanakyapuri from 22 to 26 November, 2024.
