- Manohar Singh
-
Manohar Singh 
Born 1938
Kwara, Shimla, Himachal PradeshDied November 2002 (aged 63–64)
New DelhiYears active 1971 - 2002 Awards 1982 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Manohar Singh (1938 - 14 November 2002) was a distinguished[1][2] Indian theatre actor-director and a character actor in Hindi films. He is best known for his performances in films such as Party (1984) and Daddy (1989). Starting his acting career from theatre, he went on to become a theatre director and later the chief of National School of Drama Repertory Company, 1976 to 1988, before switching to cinema.[3] As a theatre actor his most know performances were in Tughlaq directed by Ebrahim Alkazi, Himmat Mai and Begum Barve by Nissar and Amal Allana.[4]
He was awarded the 1982 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Acting (Hindi theatre) by Sangeet Natak Akademi. In 2003, a photo exhibition on his work in theatre was organized at the Art Heritage gallery, Delhi chronicling his journey in theatre starting from his first play Caucasian Chalk Circle (1968) as a student at the National School of Drama to plays like, Tughlaq, King Lear, Kaho Katha Khajuraho Ki, Himmat Mai (Mother Courage) and Three Penny Opera.[5]
Contents
Biography
Born in 1938 in a small village called Kwara near Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, Manohar Singh got his first job in the state govt-run Drama Division. He graduated from National School of Drama (NSD) in 1971, and soon after started directing plays with NSD Repertory Company, starting with Qatl Ki Hawas in 1971.[6] Later in 1976 he became the second chief of the NSD Repertory Company and remained so until 1988. He was awarded the 1982 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, dance and Drama.[7]
He is best known for his spectacular performance in and as Tughlaq directed by his mentor Ebrahim Alkazi, the founder of NSD. After quitting NSD in the late 80s, he got active on the Delhi theater scene, doing some memorable plays like Pagla Raja (King Lear), Himmat Mai (Brecht's Mother Courage), Begum Barve and Nagamandalam (Girish Karnad) with well known theater personalities, Amal and Nissar Allana.[4]
He had a long film and television career that started with the controversial film based on emergency, Kissa Kursi Ka, that also starred Shabana Azmi. He did Govind Nihalani's Party, Mrinal Sen's Ek Din Achanak, Yeh Woh Manzil to Nahin, Rudali, Daddy and went to play many powerful roles in over 27 films, including some mainstream films like Chandni and Lamhe with Yash Chopra. His last film was Everybody Says I'm Fine! in 2001.
He appeared in many successful serials on television including Neena Gupta's Dard and Pal Chhin.
He died of lung cancer on 14 November 2002, in New Delhi.[8][9]
Filmography
Films
- Kissa Kursi Ka (1977)
- Party (1984)
- Damul (1985)
- Tamas (1986)
- New Delhi Times (1986)
- Yeh Woh Manzil To Nahin (1987)
- Main Azaad Hoon (1989)
- Daddy (1989)
- Ek Din Achanak (1989)
- Chandni (1989)
- Lekin (1990)
- Patthar Ke Phool (1991)
- Kasba (1991)
- Diksha (1991)
- Lamhe (1991)
- Sadak (1991)
- Tirangaa (1992)
- Karm Yodha (1992)
- Rudaali (1993)
- Gunaah (1993)
- Divya Shakti (1993)
- Aaja Meri Jaan (1993)
- 1942: A Love Story (1993)
- Tarpan (1994)
- Dushmani: A Violent Love Story (1995)
- Bhairavi (1996)
- Everybody Says I'm Fine! (2001)
Television
- Raag Durbari (TV series)
- Mullah Nasiruddin (TV series)
- Raj Se Swaraj (TV series)
- Dard (TV series) (1993)
- Gumraah (TV series) (1995)
- Khamosh (TV series) (1996)
- Mahayagya (TV series) (1997)
- Tere Mere Sapne (TV series) (1998)
- Pal Chinn (TV series) (1999)
Theatrography
- Caucasian Chalk Circle (1968)
- Antigone (1975)
- Tughlaq (1975)
- Look Back in Anger
- Othello
- Danton's Death
- King Lear
- Three Penny Opera
- Nagamandal
- Kaho Katha Khajuraho Ki
- Himmat Mai
- Begum Barve
Legacy
In 2003, NSD instituted an award in his memory titled Manohar Singh Smriti Puruskar to be awarded to a young graduate (up to the age of 50) of the school.[10][11]
See also
References
- ^ Smt Swaraj condoles Manohar Singh's death Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, 14th November, 2002.
- ^ Shanta Kumar Condoles the death of Manohar Singh PIB, Ministry of Rural Development, 15th November, 2002.
- ^ Previous Chiefs of Repertory Company National School of Drama website.
- ^ a b "Stage artiste with a perfect entry who made a premature exit". The Tribune. May 11, 2003. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030511/spectrum/main4.htm.
- ^ "Manohar Lives On". Indian Express. March 30, 2003. http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=47835.
- ^ "Alumni List For The Year 1971". National School of Drama Official website. http://www.nsd.gov.in/alumni2.asp?id=1971.
- ^ Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar (Akademi Awards): Theatre Acting: Hindi Sangeet Natak Akademi website.
- ^ Manohar Singh, one of Indian TV's original patriarchs
- ^ Manohar Singh passes away
- ^ NSD Annual Report 2006-06
- ^ Capital Fest, Manipuri Taste
Further reading
- Manohar Singh (Monograph on his life), Jaidev Taneja, NSD PUBLICATIONS, 2002.
External links
Categories:- Indian theatre directors
- Indian stage actors
- Indian film actors
- Indian actors
- 1938 births
- 2002 deaths
- People from Himachal Pradesh
- National School of Drama alumni
- Hindi film actors
- Deaths from lung cancer
- Indian television actors
- Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
- Hindi theatre
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