Meghranjani Medhi
Meghranjani Medhi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Assam, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | Kathak dancer, actress |
| Spouse | Neil Das |
| Parents |
|
| Awards | Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar |
Meghranjani Medhi is an Indian Kathak dancer and actress from Assam. In 2024 she received the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar by Sangeet Natak Akademi for Kathak.
Biography
[edit]Meghranjani Medi was born in Assam to singer, composer, and music director Joy Prakash Medi and Kathak dancer Marama Medi.[1] She began learning Kathak dance from her mother at the age of three.[1] She later trained under the eminent Kathak dancers like Lucknow gharana guru Pandit Birju Maharaj and Jaipur gharana guru Pandit Rajendra Gangani.[2] After completing Nrtiya Nipun degree in Kathak from Bhatkhande Sangeet Vidyapith, Lucknow, she done her master's degree in Kathak dance from Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya under Khairagarh University.[2] In 2017, she completed Nrtiya Nipun degree in Sattriya dance from Sageet Satra Pariksha Parishad, Assam.[2]
Currently, Meghranjini lives in New Zealand with her husband, Neil Das, who is also an artist.[1]
Dance career
[edit]Meghranjani started learning Kathak dance from her mother at the age of three and completed her Nritya Nipun degree in Kathak dance from Bhatkhande Sangeet Vidyapeeth, Lucknow in 2009.[3] She has received scholarships from the Department of Culture, Government of India and the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) and was selected as an M Panel Artist for Kathak by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in 2012.[3]
Meghranjani, who performed with her mother all over India has also performed solo Kathak recitals at many prestigious events in India and abroad, including the Sadhana Festival of Dance in New Delhi, Kathak Mahotsav organized by National Institute of Kathak Dance, Pragjyoti International Dance Festival (in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014), Khajuraho Dance Festival (2014), Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (2015), Sarjaya Festival of Dance & Music (2013), Panch Tattva Festival, Mumbai, and World Dance Day in Chennai.[3] She toured Egypt, Israel, Palestine and the UAE under the ICCR and also performed at the Fleck Dance Theatre of the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto in June 2011.[3]
Together with her mother, Meghranjani run a dance school named Sur Sangam in Guwahati.[4]
Acting career
[edit]Meghranjani started her acting career with the video film Lakhimi and later acted in films like Abhimani Mon, Poornima, Janmoni (Volume-I & II), Rumal and Kasijun.[3] Her first full-length feature film was Anuradha, which released in 2015.[3] Apart from this, she acted in the television mega serial Tumi Dusokut Kajol Lole and several TV commercials.[3]
Awards and honors
[edit]Meghranjani has won the gold medal at the Guwahati University Inter-College Youth Festival for three consecutive years starting in 2007.[3] She received the Nebcus Media Award as the Best Actress for the video film Jaanmoni in 2010–2011.[3] She received the Nirod Chaudhary Award for Best Actress for her performance in her first full-length feature film, Anuradha.[3] In 2024 she received the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for Kathak for the year 2023.[5][6] In 2025 January, she received the Kala Sadhak - The One Devoted to Art award.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Meghranjani Medhi - Kathak Dancer Artistic Journey from Tradition to Global Stages - YetiNews". 9 November 2023.
- ^ a b c Medhi, Marami; Talukdar, Debasish (17 September 2022). Kathak Volume-1 A Theoretical & Practical Guide. anshika publication. ISBN 978-93-5780-420-2.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Meghranjani Medhi – Making Waves With Her Dance and Acting". Assam Online Portal. 22 April 2016.
- ^ "Dance chose me, says Kathak exponent Meghranjani Medhi". The Tribune. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ Tribune, The Assam (28 February 2024). "Meghranjani Medhi among 12 to receive Sangeet Natak Akademi Award". assamtribune.com. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ Time, Pratidin. "5 Assam Artists Among 82 Conferred with Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar". www.pratidintime.com. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ "Kathak dancer Meghranjani Medhi honoured with prestigious 'Kala Sadhak' award". India Today NE. 24 January 2025.