- Mohan Upreti
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Mohan Upreti Born 1928
Almora, UttarakhandDied 1997
DelhiOccupation playwright, music composer, folk artist Mohan Upreti (1925–1997) was an Indian theatre director, playwright and a music composer, considered one of the pioneers in Indian theatre music.[1]
A popular figure in Kumaon,[2] Mohan Upreti is remembered for his immense contribution towards the revitalization of the Kumaoni folk music; and for his efforts towards preserving old Kumaoni ballads, songs and folk traditions. Upreti is known for his song “Bedu Pako, Bara Masa”.
Contents
Biography
Early life and education
Mohan Upreti was born in 1928 in Almora, where he also received his early education. Almora was then a quaint little town, still untouched by rapid development that the British brought to other hill stations like Nainital and Shimla. It was this environment that drew, dancer Uday Shankar to create his institute at Almora in 1937.
He was deeply influenced by trade union leaders like P. C. Joshi, who later became a prominent leaders of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and also Upreti's mentor.
In the 40s, Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and the Progressive Writer's Association were formed, as a response to the Indian freedom struggle by the artistic community, Mohan Upreti couldn't remained untouched by this burgeoning movement, and while still at Allahabad University he formed his theatre group, 'Lok Kalakar Sangh'.[3]
Career
As a young man in the 1940s and 50's, Mohan Upreti travelled across Uttarakhand, along with B.L. Sah, and collected the fast vanishing folk songs, tunes, and traditions of the region to preserve them for posterity.
Mohan Upreti was instrumental in bringing the Kumaoni culture and music into national focus by establishing institutions like the Parvatiya Kala Kendra (Center for Arts of the Hills), which he constituted in Delhi, in 1968. The institution produces plays and ballads strongly rooted in the Kumaoni culture.[4] In fact, B.M. Shah and Mohan Upreti together, are credited with the revival of the theatre in the Uttarakhand [5] He remained in the faculty of National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, for many years, and also directed plays for NSD Repertory Company, where his most known work was the play, 'Indra Sabha'.[6]
His most important work is the epic ballad 'Rajula Malushahi', published in 1980, offers never before insights into the Kumaoni folk culture. His other important plays are 'Nanda Devi Jagar',[7] upon which he made a film as well, 'Seeta Svyamvar', and 'Haru Heet'. Apart from that he also gave music for many theatre productions, including 'Ghasiram Kotwal', his music for Hindustani version of Brecht's Three Penny Opera was vastly appreciated and still remembered as his finest.[8]
He worked for many years to revive traditional Ram-Lila plays and bring them to urban audiences.
He also gave music for a number of television productions in the 80's including in a series based on Ruskin Bond's stories, 'Ek Tha Rusty',[9] where again his compositions were noticeable for the distinct Kumaoni folk touch.
He died in 1997, in New Delhi.
Family
Mohan Upreti was married to Naima (Khan) Upreti, a graduate of National School of Drama in 1969.[10]
Legacy
Each year on his birth anniversary, 'Parvatiya Kala Kendra', an institution set up by him, presents a new play.[11]
In the 2004, "Bedu Pako, Bara Masa" - a creation of Mohan Upreti, was used in Coca Cola commercial "Thanda Matlab Coca Cola", by Prasoon Joshi, himself from Kumaon. In the ad a "Pahaari Guide" is shown humming the tune. The song is still played at Kumaoni weddings, celebrations and cultural functions and has now even become a popular mobile ringtone. It is also the marching song of the Kumaon Regiment.
In 2006, National School of Drama published his biography, titled, Mohan Upreti — The Man and His Art, written by theatre critic, Diwan Singh Bajeli.
Bibliography
- Malushahi: The Ballad of Kumaon. New Delhi, Sangeet Natak Akademi (1980).
Further reading
- Diwan Singh Bajeli, Mohan Upreti: The Man and His Art, 2006, New Delhi, National School of Drama, ISBN 8181970160.
- Vidya Sagar Nautiyal, Mohan Gata Jayega.
- "How Mohan Upreti Found His Guru:Joshi, P.C, The Rithagarh Episode." 2000, Sangeet Natak 135/136: 27-46.
See also
- Kumauni People
- Music of Uttarakhand
- Theatre in India
References
- ^ The Hindu, Jan 28, 2005
- ^ Personalities of Kumaon
- ^ The Hindu, Nov 21, 2006
- ^ Parvatiya Kala Kendra at Bharat Rang Mahotsav, 2005
- ^ Indian Express, 6 June, 1998
- ^ NSD plays
- ^ FILMS of Janapada Sampada, ignca
- ^ The Indian Express, March 11, 1999
- ^ Ek Tha Rusty
- ^ NSD Graduates
- ^ The Hindu, Feb 23, 2007
External links
- a newspaper article on Mohan Upreti
- Mohan Upreti's Seeta Svyamvar, staged by 'Parvatiya Kala Kendra', 2007
Categories: People from Almora | Indian dramatists and playwrights | Indian theatre directors | 1925 births | 1997 deaths | Allahabad University alumni | Culture of Uttarakhand | Literature of Uttarakhand | Literature of Kumaon | National School of Drama faculty | Hindi dramatists and playwrights | Hindi theatre
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