Sakha Awards 2012 Given Away

The much-awaited and prestigious SAKHA
AWARDS which are bestowed on individuals from different walks of life for
contribution of national importance, were given away on 6th May
2012 at New Delhi by PECOBA (Punjab Engineering College Chandigarh Old
Boys Association, New Delhi)
 in association with SAKHA Cultural
Society, New Delhi. At the glittering function organized by the two institutions
at Mavlankar Hall, Shri Amarjit Singh Kohli, Founder General Secretary, PECOBA
and Founder Chairman, SAKHA, announced the six personalities chosen for the
national SAKHA AWARDS 2012, while stating that ‘the PECOBA and SAKHA are
celebrating historic moment of the 100 years of Indian Cinema in a big way by
giving recognition to film artists, critics, writers, journalists, editors etc
who have done extraordinary contribution in the field.
Sakha awards L-R: HarMandir Singh Hamraaz Compiler of Hindi Film Geetkosh, Kumar Vikram Editor NBT , Nalin Shah film music historian, RP Sinha IAS musicologist creative writer, VSK Sood President Sangam Kala Group
The Sakha Awardees this year included 78 years
old Veteran Film Music Historian Nalin Shah of Mumbai, noted
film writer Har Mandir Singh Hamraaz of Kanpur (Compiler of
Hindi Film Geetkosh containing details of over 43,000 Hindi Film Songs from
5661 Hindi Films from 1931 to 1980), RP Sinha, IAS Retd (Musicologist,
creative writer- declared as the most versatile person), VSK Sood,
President Sangam Kala Group, which organizes world’s biggest singing
competition every year, the duo brothers Satish Popli and Jaswant Popli of
famous Doremi Orchestra who have now assumed the role of grooming young singers,
and Shri Kumar Vikram, EditorNational Book
Trust, India for his individual contribution for the documentation of
the Rights Catalogue of Books on Indian Cinema (Point of View) published
by National Book Trust, India to promote translations of books on Indian
cinema and for bringing together the book culture and mass media culture. Sakha
Awards were instituted in 1987 and some of its past winners in the film
category are producers BR Chopra, Ravi Chopra, music Directors Anil Biswas,
Ravinder Jain, Jaidev, Anu Malik, Ravi, Raj Kamal, playback singers Kumar Sanu,
Sapna Mukerji, Abhijit, Penaz Masani, Mohinder Kapoor, Usha Timothy.
Satish Jaswant Popli Duo brothers of Doremi Orchestra receiving Sakha Award from
Uma Vasudev & Amarjit Singh Kohli
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Uma Vasudev, the
eminent litterateur who gave away the awards, lauded the efforts of PECOBA and SAKHA
for giving recognition to the veterans like Nalin Shah and other young awardees
on the same platform. Ms. Aruna Vasudev veteran Film Journalist and Founder,
Asian Film Festival, who was the special speaker on the occasion, outlined the
history of Indian Cinema and how awards give encouragement to those who serve
the world of cinema through creative and other writings.
Veteran Film Music Historian Nalin Shah gave a very
interesting and absorbing account through a Lecdem (Lecture cum demonstration
of old film scenes)of the hundred years history of Indian Films from the beginning
of first silent movie “Raja Harishchandra” which was released on 3rd
May, 2012 till today when the song “Chikni Chameli” from film “Agnipath” is
generating waves.
Padmashree Vikramjit Singh Sahney
Chief Guest Padmashree Vikramjit Singh Sahney, founder President
of World Punjabi Organisation spoke in detail about the role and contribution
of Punjabis in the realm of Indian Cinema as actors, directors, music
directors, lyricsts etc starting from the launch of First Talkie Movie “Alam
Aara” in 1931 in which Prithviraj Kapoor had acted through the first singing
superstar of India legendary Kundan Lal Saigal, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand,
Dharmendra, lyricists Kedar Sharma, Sahir Ludhianvi, music directors Husan Lal
Bhagat Ram, OP Nayyar, directors BR Chopra, Yash Chopra.
Others who spoke at the Function included 97 year old Vidyanath
Seth, the renowned radio singer of yesteryears, 
Nirmala Hussan Lal, wife of late music director Husan Lal of Husan Lal
Bhagat Ram fame, Praminder Chopra, grandson of legendary first singing
superstar of Indian Films Kundan Lal Saigal, Shikha Vohra Biswas daughter of
late music director Anil Biswas and Dinesh Shailendra son of lyricist
Shailendra.
On this occasion the book “102, NOT OUT” written by 102 year
old IS Ahuja was released by veteran film journalist and founder Asian Film
Festival Aruna Vasudev in the presence of Mr Ahuja’s family members.