Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for Sikkim theatre artist Tila Rupa Sapkota

GANGTOK, : National School of Drama Graduate and Theatre artist from Sikkim, Tila Rupa Sapkota, has been conferred with the prestigious Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2024–25 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in recognition of her contribution to theatre and acting.

The award was presented on October 19 at Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi by Union Minister for Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, a press release informs.

Born on April 9, 1993, in Gangtok, Sikkim, Sapkota has around 15 years of experience in theatre and live performance. She has performed in more than 40 major theatre productions across India, alongside extensive work in solo performances. Her work spans classical, contemporary and musical theatre.

Sapkota received professional theatre training from the National School of Drama (NSD) in 2011, developing a strong foundation in acting, characterisation and stage performance. She subsequently worked with the NSD Sikkim Repertory Company for over a decade, contributing to numerous productions.

Her theatre credits include Black Orchid, The Cherry Orchard, Andha Yug, Aadhe Adhure and Pagla Ghoda. She also spent two years in Dubai performing in the Broadway-style musical production Jaan-E-Jigar, gaining experience in large-scale musical theatre.

Academically, Sapkota completed her schooling at Samdong Senior Secondary School in 2011 in the Humanities stream. She later pursued English Honours through Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) between 2013 and 2015.

Beyond theatre, Sapkota has worked in a music video and a short film and is currently working on a feature film, expanding her presence across different formats of performance and storytelling.

The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, instituted by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2006, recognises outstanding young practitioners in music, dance, theatre and other performing arts. The award encourages emerging talent and acknowledges contributions to preserving and strengthening India’s performing arts traditions.

Sapkota’s recognition brings national attention to Sikkim’s theatre fraternity and highlights the contribution of artists from the state to Indian theatre. Her journey from Gangtok to national and international performance platforms reflects her sustained commitment to acting and the performing arts, the release mentions.