Kolkata:
Eminent theatre personality BadalSircar, who introduced a non-conventional type of theatre andthereby rewrote the history of contemporary Indian theatre,died here on Friday after a prolonged illness. He was 86.
Sircar was a familiar name along with celebratedplaywrights of Bengal Utpal Dutta, Ajitsh Bandopadhayay andRudra Prasad Sengupta.
Some of his prominent works include Basi Khabar, SaariRaat, Pagla Ghoda, Juloos, Baaki Itihaas, Pralap, SheshNaai, Sagina Mahato and Michil.
Sircar won the coveted Sangeet Natak Academy award andwas also a recipient of Padmasree. Last year, he had declinedthe Padma Bhusan award, stating he was already a SahityaAkademi fellow.
A documentary on Sircar was made by Sudeb Sinha titledA face in the Procession.
Family sources said Sircar donated his body to ahospital.
His death has created a big void in the 'alternatetheatre' movement which Sircar had heralded with his theatregroup Shatabdi in 1976.
In Sircar's plays, no makeup and costumes were used andaudience also participated in the act.
Taking the medium out of the proscenium, he introducedAanganmanch (courtyard stage) performances, where his workswere staged in parks, courtyards, terraces and other suchplaces.
Originally named Sudhir Chandra, Sircar, a trained civilengineer, entered the world of theatre after working as a townplanner in India, England and Nigeria.
His new innings began as an actor in theatre, but hesoon moved to direction and then writing plays.
Having penned over 50 plays, Sircar is revered forhis anti-establishment work during the Naxalite movement ofthe early 1970s.
Sircar was a familiar name along with celebratedplaywrights of Bengal Utpal Dutta, Ajitsh Bandopadhayay andRudra Prasad Sengupta.
Some of his prominent works include Basi Khabar, SaariRaat, Pagla Ghoda, Juloos, Baaki Itihaas, Pralap, SheshNaai, Sagina Mahato and Michil.
Sircar won the coveted Sangeet Natak Academy award andwas also a recipient of Padmasree. Last year, he had declinedthe Padma Bhusan award, stating he was already a SahityaAkademi fellow.
A documentary on Sircar was made by Sudeb Sinha titledA face in the Procession.
Family sources said Sircar donated his body to ahospital.
His death has created a big void in the 'alternatetheatre' movement which Sircar had heralded with his theatregroup Shatabdi in 1976.
In Sircar's plays, no makeup and costumes were used andaudience also participated in the act.
Taking the medium out of the proscenium, he introducedAanganmanch (courtyard stage) performances, where his workswere staged in parks, courtyards, terraces and other suchplaces.
Originally named Sudhir Chandra, Sircar, a trained civilengineer, entered the world of theatre after working as a townplanner in India, England and Nigeria.
His new innings began as an actor in theatre, but hesoon moved to direction and then writing plays.
Having penned over 50 plays, Sircar is revered forhis anti-establishment work during the Naxalite movement ofthe early 1970s.
