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Mitra, Shambhu (1915-1997) theatre personality,
was born on 22 August 1915 in Kolkata. He started his theatre career in
1939 at Rangamahal Theatre in Kolkata. In 1943, inspired by the leftist
movement, he joined the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA). In
IPTA he got a chance to establish the form of theatre he envisioned. In
Navanna, written by bijan
bhattacharya, Shambhu Mitra broke old conventions of theatrical
presentations. In 1948, Shambhu Mitra established his own theatre group
named bahurupi,
which is regarded as a pioneer of the neo-theatrical movement of Bengal.
Shambhu Mitra propagated a disciplined, intelligent, and vibrant
theatre. He had achieved great success with movie directing and
acting earlier in life, but left the glittering world of films
for the uncertain world of the theatre. Mitra directed successful
productions of rabindranath
tagore's Rakta Karabi, Raja and Char
Adhyay, tulsi
lahiri's Chheda Tar, Henrik Ibsen's Putul
Khela (Doll's House) and Dash Chakra (An Enemy of the
People), Sophocles' Raja Oedipus (King Oedipus).
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Shambhu Mitra |
He evolved a new form of acting and play-production,
which was both classical in nature and oriental in character. It is often
said that Rabindranath Tagore's play had to wait for Shambhu Mitra to
experience true success.
Shambhu Mitra received many national and international
awards, including a DLitt from Rabindra Bharati University, the Magsaysay
Award, and the Padmabhushan. He was a fellow of Sangeet Natak Academy.
For his work in the movies, he won the Grand-Prix Award at the Karlovivari
International Film Festival. Shambhu Mitra's wife, Tripti Mitra, was an
equally celebrated personality in the Indian theatre world. Their daughter,
Shawli Mitra, has also earned fame as an actress, director and playwright.
Shambhu Mitra died at the age of 82 on 18 May 1997 in Kolkata.
[Ataur Rahman]
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