Bollywood Dream Girl Hema Malini got Vitasta Award 2006, but this time for her Classical Dancer Incarnation.
Renowned Bollywood actress Hema Malini, Girija Devi, were facilitated with Vitasta Award 2006 by Sopori Acadamy of Music And Performing Arts, at a spectacular event Sa Ma Pa Sangeet Sammelan 2006 organized by Pt. Bhajan Sopori held at Kamani Auditorium. Girija Devi received this award for her vocal expertise. Hema Malini was facilitated for her best out put in Classical Dance 'Bharatnatyam. One more award is introduced this year to facilitate exponents exclusively in the field of Light Music and Folk. Sa Ma Pa Sher 'e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohd. Abdulla Award. Consisting of Rs.25, 000 reward. This award received by Singer Gulam Hassan Soofi.
Event was started with Saraswati Vandana by Ragini Ranjan. Chief Guests Mangat Ram (Labor Minister of J&K)Omar Abdullah (Hon'ble Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha) & Lt. Gen. (Retd.) S.K.Sinha( PVSM, Governor of J&K), Gulam Nabi Azad (Hon'ble Chief Minister J&K) along with his Singer wife Shameem Azad. Guest of Honour Jugal Kishore, (Hon'ble Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, J&K) A.R. Shaheen (Hon'ble Minister of Parliament, Lok Sabha) and R. C. Bhatt (Ex.DDP all India Radio),Dr.Farooq Abdullah (Hon'ble Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha)
At this event many exponents from Classical World Sunanda Sharma (Vocal), Rajendra Prasanna (Flute), Meeta Pandit (Vocal), Fahimuddin Dagar, Dr. Shanno Khurana , Sitar Mastro Prateek Choudhary, Punjabi Pop Singer Jassi, Aparna Sopori W/o Bhajan Sopori were made their presence to give more glitter to the evening. Awards were given by Shamboo Nath Sopori to Hema Malini and Girija Devi. Sa Ma Pa Vitasta Award consists of Rs.50, 000.
Audiences enjoyed the remarkable & melodious Performances of Abhay Sopori (Santoor), Bhajan Sopori (santoor) Rajan Sajan Mishra (Vocal), Srinivas Joshi (Vocal) S/o Pt.Bhimsen Joshi performed Raag Priya Darshini, Bhajan-Govardhan Giridhari Rakhna Laaj Hamari, along with their team mates Dalchan Sharma (Pakhavanj), Mehmood Dhaulpuri (Harmonium), Akram Khan (Tabla) Deepak, Harcharan (Tanpura). Under 'Tabla Ke Baaj' different Gharanas from (Benaras, Delhi, Lucknow, Ajarada, Farrukhabad, Punjab) gave their performances coordinated by Pt. Vijay Shankar Mishra. Girija Devi performed the Miya ke tode Payaliya more Baje, Paar Karo Re More Nayya, Thumri 'Aap to Videsh me Chaye Sajana, Bhajan- Hari tum Kahe Preet Lagayee. Shovna Narayan with Performed 'Shivardhanarishwar' Nritya Natika, Sakhire Bhojpuri Nritya Natika, Kavi Eaisa Geet Bana along with her team mates Mahaveer (Pakhavat), Vijay Sharma (Sitar), Shakeel Ahmad (Tabla).
Speaking to media Omar Abdullah Said that, Nowadays Youth is spending their time in other than Cultural & Classical activities; at this juncture Sopoti Academy is spreading the fragrance of Music by training the youth in classical music. Sopori Acadamy of Music and Performing Arts has celebrated this event much grandly than last year.
The evening also saw the eminent people from different fraternity at the event were Australian Ambassador Jutta Stephen with her husband Peter Stephen. This event was organized with the objective to promote and support talented and unknown musicians of all age groups across the Nation. It was a cultural evening to revive old and dying music forms & styles in India.