Shillong, Jan 8: AmritCem, the flagship cement brand of the Northeast under Amrit Cement Limited, on Thursday concluded the Live Grand Finale of the ‘Amrit Champion Hunt – Meghalaya’ at the State Convention Centre in Shillong, celebrating the state’s vibrant creative culture and emerging local talent.
Rooted in the spirit of Meghalaya, the initiative is part of AmritCem’s larger Champion campaign, launched in October 2025, which highlights values of strength, resilience, and performance—qualities deeply embedded in the land, culture, and people of the region. Through the programme, AmritCem aims to strengthen its connection with Meghalaya by recognising everyday champions, nurturing youth aspirations, and supporting community-led progress.
The grand finale was graced by Brenda Pakyntein, Director of Tourism, Meghalaya, who lauded the initiative for creating a credible platform for young talent. Addressing the audience, she said initiatives like the Amrit Champion Hunt play a vital role in empowering youth and showcasing the state’s creative potential.
“Meghalaya has immense talent across music, dance, art, and creative expression. Platforms like this help recognise that talent and give our youth the confidence to dream bigger,” Pakyntein said.
Pradeep Bagla, Managing Director, Amrit Cement Limited, said the state possesses exceptional creative depth.
“Through the Amrit Champion Hunt, we aim to build a platform that not only recognises talent but actively supports its growth. For us, being a Champion of Progress means standing with communities, nurturing aspirations, and enabling young people to move forward with confidence,” he said.
Adding strong regional relevance, the judges’ panel comprised Meghalaya-based experts Arki Nongrum (Sports), Jessie Lyngdoh (Music), Dapalei Warjiri (Dance), and Joshua Rayner (Art and Craft), ensuring domain expertise and authentic local insight throughout the competition.
Designed as a digital-first talent hunt culminating in a live on-ground finale, the contest offered young creators a credible platform to gain visibility, recognition, and professional encouragement.
Open exclusively to participants from Meghalaya, entries were invited across four creative categories—Music and Dance, Art and Craft, Sports, and Miscellaneous Creators—allowing both traditional and contemporary forms of expression to thrive.
Participants submitted 60-second performance reels on Instagram and Facebook, ensuring accessibility for talent from both urban centres and remote parts of the state. The initiative received over 200 entries, spanning music, dance, rap, art and craft, makeup artistry, and other creative forms.
A structured, multi-stage evaluation process ensured transparency, with 40 participants shortlisted initially, followed by the Top 20 finalists selected by the judges. These finalists competed at the Live Grand Finale in Shillong before a live audience.
The initiative was executed in collaboration with Series X, a Meghalaya-based event management agency that handled contest operations, judge coordination, and on-ground execution.
The winners of the Amrit Champion Hunt – Meghalaya were LDA Dance Group (Dance), Kitkupar Nongsiej (Singing), Sana Eliza Shympliang (Dance), and Franky Nongbri (Singing). Each winner received prizes worth ₹50,000 to support professional training, skill enhancement, and continued creative growth.
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