Manohar Singh
Born	1938
Years active	1971 - 2002

Manohar Singh (1938 -2002)^[1] was distinguished Indian theatre actor-director and a character actor in Hindi films. Most known for his performances in films such as Party (1984) and Daddy (1989)

Contents 1 Biography 2 Filmography 3 Legacy 3.1 Books 4 References 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] Biography

Born in 1938 in a small village called Kwara near Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, Manohar Singh got his first job in the State Govt.run Drama Division. He graduated from National School of Drama (NSD) in 1971, and soon after started directing plays with NSD Repertory Company, starting with 'Qatl Ki Hawas' in 1971. Later in 1976 he became the second chief of the NSD Repertory Company and remained so until 1988. He was awarded the 1982 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

He is best known for his spectacular performance in and as 'Tughlaq' directed by his mentor Ebrahim Alkazi, the founder of NSD. After quitting NSD in the late 80s, he got active on the Delhi theater scene outside NSD. He did some memorable plays like Pagla Raja (King Lear), Himmat Mai ( Mother Courage), Begum Barve and Nagamandalam with well known theater personalities, Amal and Nissar Allana.

He had a long film and television career that started with the controversial film based on emergency called Kissa Kursi Ka that also starred Shabana Azmi. He did Govind Nihalani's Party, Mrinal Sen Ek Din Achanak, Yeh Woh Manzil to Nahin, Rudali, Daddy and went to play many powerful roles in over 27 film, including some mainstream films like Chandni and Lamhe with Yashraj. His last film was Everybody Says I'm Fine! in 2001.

He appeared in many successful serials on television including Neena Gupta's Dard and Pal Chhin.

He died of lung cancer on 14 November 2002, in New Delhi.

[edit] Filmography

Films

• Kissa Kursi Ka (1977)
• Party (1984)
• Damul (1985)
• Tamas (1986)
• New Delhi Times (1986)
• Yeh Woh Manzil To Nahin (1987)
• Main Azaad Hoon (1989)
• Daddy (1989)
• Ek Din Achanak (1989)
• Chandni (1989)
• Lekin (1990)
• Patthar Ke Phool (1991)
• Kasba (1991)
• Diksha (1991)
• Lamhe (1991)
• Sadak (1991)
• Tirangaa (1992)
• Karm Yodha (1992)
• Rudaali (1993)
• Gunaah (1993)
• Divya Shakti (1993)
• Aaja Meri Jaan (1993)
• 1942: A Love Story (1993)
• Tarpan (1994)
• Dushmani: A Violent Love Story (1995)
• Bhairavi (1996)
• Everybody Says I'm Fine! (2001)

Television

• Raag Durbari (TV series)
• Mullah Nasiruddin (TV series)
• Raj Se Swaraj (TV series)
• Dard (TV series) (1993)
• Gumraah (TV series) (1995)
• Khamosh (TV series) (1996)
• Mahayagya (TV series) (1997)
• Tere Mere Sapne (TV series) (1998)
• Palchhin (TV series) (1999)

[edit] Legacy

In 2003, NSD has instituted an award in his memory titled, Manohar Singh Smriti Puruskar, it is awarded to an alumnus of the School for outstanding contribution to the theatre. ^[2]

[edit] Books

• Manohar Singh (Monograph on his life), Jaidev Taneja, NSD PUBLICATIONS, 2002.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Theatre in India
• Bhartendu Academy of Dramatic Arts

[edit] External links

• Manohar Singh at the Internet Movie Database