Habib Tanvir passed away on 8th June 2009 in Bhopal. He was in his mid-eighties. Founder of Naya Theatre, Tanvir’s unique contribution to theatre was his ability to create a modern theatre steeped in a folk idiom. His take on Nacha, a popular folk form of Chattisgarh brought him and his esteemed company of actors the wide recognition that they deserved.

His productions like AGRA BAZAAR, CHARANDAS CHOR, PONGA PUNDIT and others stand amongst some of the most important contributions to Indian Theatre. Recipient of prestigious awards like the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Padma Shri, Tanvir was also regarded as a true citizen of the world and a living theatre legend. His is survived by his daughter Nageen Tanvir.

IPTA Mumbai will hold a condolence meeting on Friday 12 June 2009 at 6pm at Prithvi Theatre, Juhu, Mumbai

Amongst Tanvir’s recent productions was RAJ-RAKT, which was also perhaps the last of his plays to be staged in Mumbai. The production was showcased at the Nehru as well as the Prithvi Theatre festivals in 2006. Tanvir had spoken at length about the making of this production in an interview that this site had then conducted.


Click here to read the Interview

read / post your comments

More on Theatre Update

- Sharon Prabhakar in LIFE, LOVE AND OTHER MADNESS, directed by Alyque Padamsee... (new) - Screen Actors Poonam Dasgupta and Rahul Roy in BEGUM SAHIBA... - New Age Theatre Presents Hindi Play ROSHNI... - Partner Programmes at Prithvi Theatre...Dramatized Readings and More - Prithvi Theatre Festival 2009...Theatres of India... - Akvarious Productions' ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER... Premiering 31st October 2009... - Yashpal Sharma, Lubna Salim in Gulzar's ATTHANNIYAAN OF MUMBAI MAHANAGAR... - The Hindu MetroPlus Playwright Award 2010... Calling Playwrights... - GANDHI NE KAHA THA...A play intended to fight Terrorism... - 25th show of EK RIKAAMI BAJU... - Ekjute @ Prithvi.... - India Foundation for the Arts and Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan, Bangalore Present Arts Education Conference... - India Hosts 8th International Women Playwrights' Conference... Registrations Open - OUT OF BOUNDS...A One-Person Show on Indians in South Africa... Written and Performed by Johannesburg Actor Rajesh Gopie... - Charles Wallace India Trust...Call for Applications...Practitioners from the Performing Arts Invited...

Theatre Update Archives Select Month November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003

Discussion Board