Bhubaneswar:
Renowned
film
actress
and
Bharatanatyam
exponent
Hema
Malini
has
been
selected
for
the
prestigious
Bharat
Muni
Samman
this
year
for
outstanding
contribution
to
the
field
of
art
and
culture.
Named
after
the
author
of
Natyashastra
Bharat
Muni,
the
award
has
been
instituted
by
Bhubaneswar-based
organisation
Kalingayana
Touryatrikam.
The
award
is
to
be
presented
to
Hema
Malini
for
her
contribution
towards
promotion
of
Indian
arts
and
entertainment
on
December
18,
the
concluding
day
of
the
three-day
Bharat
Muni
Festival
scheduled
to
be
held
here,
said
a
release
from
Kalingayana
Touryatrikam.
Malini,
64,
will
be
the
fifth
recipient
of
the
award.
The
earlier
recipients
are
Thankamani
Kutty,
Pandit
Birju
Maharaj,
Pandit
Jasraj
and
Ratan
Thiyam.
A
host
of
distinguished
dancers,
singers
and
musicians
are
slated
to
perform
at
this
year's
Bharat
Muni
Festival
to
be
held
at
Rabindra
Mandap
from
December
16
to
18
to
enthral
the
art
lovers.