Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Mar 28: The Artists Association of Punjab, honoured Natrang Director Padamshree Balwant Thakur on the occasion of World Theatre Day for his life-time contribution to the enrichment of Indian Theatre, particularly the theatre of North-India at Abhinaya Kala Mandir, Pathankot. The award carried a citation, Shawl and a cash of Rupees Twenty Five Thousand Rupees.
Earlier a grand public reception was accorded to Balwant Thakur. He was taken to the venue of the Award presentation in a procession accompanied by the artists drawing from all major cities of Punjab.
Special papers we read on the occasion glorifying the contribution of Balwant Thakur, particularly his new innovations which he brought through his new experiments in theatre. Describing him as the ambassador of Indian Theatre, his taking of theatre to global acclaim was critically analysed.
Born in 1960 in a hilly village of Tehsil Reasi, district Reasi (J&K). A Law Graduate (Professional) of University of Jammu is also a Post Graduate in Mass Communication. In the cultural field he has completed three years research on the performing arts heritage of Jammu under a National senior Fellowship Award of Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India, which has won in 1990 After starting theatre during his early school days, he continued doing theatre, acting and direction during College and University days and finally took up theater as a full time profession with the formation of ‘Natrang’ in the year 1983. While in the University he brought best production awards for the University of Jammu and started a serious theatre movement in the Campus.
His early productions like ‘Neeli Jheel’, ‘Nanhen Kandhey Nanhen Pair’, ‘Chouraha’, ‘Singhasan Khali Hai’, Kaun Nachaye Naach’, and ‘Rang Nagri’, established him as on of the most creative directors of the times and he made history by winning State Academy Awards for best productions for the years 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986.
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