Kalinga Times Correspondent
Bhubaneswar, June 3: Prahlad Natak artist Pramod Kumar Nahak has been selected for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar by Sangeet Natak Akademi, the national academy for music, dance and drama, for year 2008.

Nahak is one of the 33 artists who were on Wednesday named by the Akademi for the award in various categories. The Puraskar carries purse money of Rs 25,000.

The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, given to artistes below the age of 35 years, was introduced in the year 2006 with the objective of identifying and encouraging outstanding young talents in diverse fields of performing arts and giving them national recognition early in their life, so that they may work with greater commitment and dedication in their chosen fields.

Prahlad Natak is an ancient folk theatre of south Odisha. It is performed in the open on a five or six- tiered stage, at the summit of which Hiranyakashipu's throne is placed. The play ends with the killing of Hiranyakashipu by L ord Narasimha.