Habib Tanvir (September 1, 1923–June 8, 2009) is to be the last of the great actor-managers of Indian theatre. He wrote, adapted, and translated plays; and directed and acted in them. He also wrote songs in Hindi, Urdu, and Chhattisgarhi.
He also composed music and sang his songs. He established Naya Theatre in 1959 and performed without a break till 2009. Naya Theatre was one of the longest-running professional theatre companies in the country. He acted in a few films, including Footpath (1953, starring Dilip Kumar and Meena Kumari). He is also also known for taking theatre to rural areas. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including the the Padma Bhushan in 2002. He was a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 1972 to 1978.
In this session, Sudhanva Deshpande remembers Habib Tanvir and explains his role in promoting Indian theatre. Mr. Deshpande is a theatre director, film and theatre actor. She is the author of Halla Bol: The Death and Life of Safdar Hashmi. He joined the Delhi-based group Jana Natya Manch in 1987 and has acted in over 4,000 performances of over 80 plays. He has co-directed two films on the theatre legend Habib Tanvir and his company Naya Theatre. He has held teaching positions at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, and AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
To find out more about the The Hindu Litfest 2024 visit: https://www.thehindu.com/litfest/
Watch the event live, click here.
