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Arvind Gaur

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Arvind Gaur

Arvind Gaur is an Indian theatre director known for innovative, socially and politically relevant plays in India.[1][2] Gaur's plays are contemporary and thought-provoking, connecting intimate personal spheres of existence to larger social political issues.[3][4] His work deals with Internet censorship, communalism, caste issues, feudalism, domestic violence, crimes of state, politics of power, violence, injustice, social discrimination, marginalisation, and racism. Arvind is the leader of Asmita, Delhi's "most prolific theatre group",[5] and is an actor trainer, social activist, street theatre worker and story teller.[6]

Gaur was the recipient of a research fellowship awarded by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (India) (1997–98). He was on the guest faculty of Delhi University for Theatre in education program for three years. He has conducted many theatre workshops and performed in colleges, institutions, universities and schools in India and abroad.[7]

He organizes theatre workshops for children[8] in schools and slums as well as street theatre performances on socio-political issues.[9][10][11] He has directed more than hundreds stage and street plays over 25 years.[12][13][14]

Personal life

He was born on 2 February 1963 in Delhi. Arvind's father Late. Shri Shiva Nandan Sharma was a Mathematics scholar and his mother Late. Saraswati Devi was a housewife. His father died on 16 April 2009 and his mother died on 19 September 2019. He has one brother Anil Gaur and three sisters: Shashi Prabha, late Mithlesh and Dr. Anita Gaur. He is married to Dr. Sangeeta Gaur. He has twins daughters Kakoli Gaur Nagpal and Saveree Gaur.[15] Prince Nagpal is his son-in-law. He married his daughter Kakoli Gaur.

Theatre career

After completing his schooling from Model School, Vivek Vihar in Delhi, he decided to study engineering in Electronic Communication. Later, he joined the Delhi Public Library drama group.[13][16] In DPL He acted in and directed plays. Then he worked with slum kids and industrial labourers for some time and conducted workshops for them. His first street play was with Zakir Hussein College, called Videshi Aya. It became very popular and he staged it around 200 schools. After this, his desire to express led him to journalism. He worked with the Navbharat Times newspaper as culture columnist for about four years.[13]

Watching plays, reading about them and writing about them is how his training in theatre started. He then shifted to Press Trust of India (PTI-TV). He was associated with TV serial Tana-Bana. He was in charge of the research and programming there. All through his years with street theatre, print and television, Gaur had developed keen interest in direction. Finally, after devoting two years to PTI-TV, he felt the urge to switch to theatre completely.[17]

Arvind's debut play was Bhisham Sahni's Hanoosh (February, 1993). He started his theatre journey with classics like Tughlaq, Andha Yug, Caligula, Julius Caesar, etc.

He performed Girish Karnad's Tughlaq in a small basement theatre (SRC). It was a huge success. His Tughlaq was selected as "the best play of the year 1994" by Sahitya Kala Parishad. He achieved greater heights during a decade in theatre. He trained actors in his own style. He trained them as a complete theatre person. Arvind Gaur also collaborated with theatre artists and groups specially in exploring a new language for solo performances.[18]

Major directions

Solo play direction

Street plays

Gaur directed more than 40 street theatre performances on socio-political issues. He has always raised voice against any socio-political issue that effects the common public. He directed street plays like Corruption, Garbage, Road Rage, and Dastak which is against the issue of eve teasing. His street plays are always thought-provoking and leave a huge mark on the mindset. He and his team performs socio-political street plays all across Delhi/NCR and the country. He is regarded as a man with a message who believes that change can start from society, if we wish to start the change.[60] [61][62]

Awards

  • Special Honour Award by Delhi International Film festival 2015[63]

films/visual media

Translation and Scripting

Translation

  • He translated Rabindranath Tagore's Visarjan (Sacrifice), performed by the Darpana Theatre Group directed by Ujjwal Dave
  • Arvind Gaur translated Unsuni in Hindi; script and direction by Mallika Sarabhai

Scripts

He scripted plays like Untitled, Gandhari...in search of light, I will not Cry, Bitter Chocolate (based on Pinki Virani's book), Madhavi solo play (based on Bhisham Sahni's play) and many street plays for Asmita Theatre.

Design

Arvind Gaur designs lights for Naya Theatre group's major productions under the direction of Padma Shri Habib Tanvir. Gaur also assisted Shri Habib Tanvir during the Prithvi Theatre Festival. He designs lights for Agra Bazar Nazeer Akbarabadi 's poetry), Charandas Chor (his masterpiece play, Edinburgh Fringe Award), Asghar Wajahat's Jis Lahore Nai Dekhya, Kamdeo ka Apna Basant Ritu ka Sapna (Habib Tanvir's adaptation of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream), Canadian-Indian playwright Rahul Varma's Zahreeli Hawa and Gaon ke naon Sasural, mor naon Damand.

Major Actors

Major cinema and theatre actors who trained under Arvind Gaur are Kangana Ranaut,[65] Deepak Dobriyal, Manu Rishi, Shilpa Shukla, Rashi Bunny, Aishveryaa Nidhi, Tillotama Shome, Imran Zahid, Sheena Chohan, Seema Azmi, Ishwak Singh and Suraj Singh of Veere Di Wedding fame. Sonam Kapoor attended Gaur's acting workshop to learn the nuances of street theatre for her film Raanjhanaa. Other prominent theatre actors who worked with him are Mallika Sarabhai, Piyush Mishra, Lushin Dubey, Bubbles Sabharwal, Ruth Sheard, Jaimini Kumar, etc.[66]

Further reading

  1. "Arvind Gaur-A Decade in Theatre" by J.N. Kaushal (ex-Acting Chief, National School of Drama, Repertory Company), published by ITI (International Theatre Institute), UNESCO, Indian Chapter
  2. "Raising the curtain on theatre": Director Arvind Gaur reflects on why India needs a cultural policy by Seema Sindhu (Life Fires, September, 2007)
  3. His Voice-"Ace Act", essay by Shekhar Chandran (New Women, Jan. 2008)
  4. "The World of Theatre" by Ian Herbert, Nicole Leclercq (P-126) published by International Theatre Institute

References

  1. ^ Nandini Nair (3 May 2008). "Walking the causeway". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 6 May 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  2. ^ Sonal Jaitly (10 June 2012). "Theatre is calling for change in India". Washington Times. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  3. ^ Vatsala Shrivastava (7 May 2010). "Livewire, uninterrupted". The Asian Age. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  4. ^ "Brechtfast in Ballimaran". Time Out Delhi. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  5. ^ Trisha Gupta. "Super trouper". Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  6. ^ Neelima Menon (27 April 2008). "Staging Narratives-Storytelling session for visually impaired children". The Indian Express. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  7. ^ Stony Brook University (14 October 2004). "Untitled: A Solo Theatrical Performance by Lushin Dubey". Charles B.Wang Center. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  8. ^ Ishita Agarwal (24 June 2008). "Theatre tactics". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  9. ^ Kinni Chowdhry (30 August 2010). "It is not just a play". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  10. ^ Esha Vaish (7 July 2012). "Dialogue and debate from street plays inspire change". Tehelka. Archived from the original on 14 May 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  11. ^ "Teach India strikes the right chord". The Times of India. 14 July 2008. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  12. ^ Malini Nair (1 July 2017). "Such a drama queen". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  13. ^ a b c "A treat for the senses". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 5 July 2007. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  14. ^ Jahnvi Sreedhar (23 February 2012). "A Toast to Twenty". The Indian Express. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  15. ^ Borah, Prabalika M. (22 February 2021). "Actor Saveree Sri Gaur reflects on the realism of 'Bhor'". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  16. ^ सत्यसिंधु (2 March 2012). "जीवन का हर रंग है दिल्ली में-संस्कृति और तहजीब से लबरेज:अरविंद गौड़". [livehindustan.com]. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  17. ^ Theatre Pasta (8 October 2007). "Nalina Mittra catches up with Arvind Gaur to find out more about his journey". Theatre Magazine. Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  18. ^ Sites.google.com. "About Director-Arvind Gaur". Retrieved 30 December 2008. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  19. ^ Deepa Punjani. "In Retrospect: Select plays of the 9th National Theatre Festival at Nehru Centre, Mumbai". mumbaitheatreguide.com. Archived from the original on 24 April 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
  20. ^ Sudhanva Deshpande (9 July 2005). "When Plays Cop it". Tehelka. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
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  23. ^ Baishali Adak (4 March 2012). "Ek mamooli aadmi on stage". DECCAN HERALD. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
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  25. ^ Romesh Chander (18 February 2005). "Drama and mythology". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
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  29. ^ PHEROZE L. VINCENT (1 February 2013). "Hard-hitting drama". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
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  32. ^ P.ANIMA (16 September 2010). "The road to goodness". The Hindu. Delhi, India. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  33. ^ PHEROZE L.VINCENT (31 August 2012). "A journey of questions". The Hindu. Delhi, India. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  34. ^ Neha Sen (30 June 2011). "Play-shoe-throwing incident comes to life again". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  35. ^ Uday Bhatia (19 January 2012). "A footwear-flinging Iraqi journalist inspires a new play, says Time Out". Time Out. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
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  37. ^ Rana Siddiqui Zaman (3 June 2011). "Shoe act hits the stage". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  38. ^ Katyayini Singh (27 May 2013). "Scene in Summer". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 13 July 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  39. ^ Iknoor Kaur (4 June 2013). "CONSUMER CONFIDENTIAL:Dario Fo's satire". The Pioneer. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  40. ^ Mita Kapur. "Madhavi solo by Rashi Bunny:The story of every woman". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  41. ^ Drama Critics. "Bhisham Sahni's Madhavi by Rashi Bunny at British Council". Anand Foundation. Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2008.
  42. ^ Chitra Parayath (6 April 2003). "Untitled solo at Marlboro, New England". lokvani(Public Voice). Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  43. ^ Saumya Ancheri (16 April 2010). "A woman scorned". Time Out Mumbai. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  44. ^ Ankur Kalita (29 July 2004). "Solo for Peace". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 15 August 2004. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  45. ^ Pronoti Datta. (15 April 2006). "Riot act". Time Out. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  46. ^ "Mahabharata, through the 'eyes' of Gandhari". The Times of India. Ipshita Mishra. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  47. ^ "A Woman of Many Shades". DNA syndication. After Hrs Correspondent. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
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  50. ^ "TRANSCENDING TIME Bringing Gandhari alive as a rebel". Tribune India. Neha Saini.
  51. ^ Sumati Mehrishi Sharma (31 December 2005). "Mind Games". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 17 February 2009. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  52. ^ Mala Kumar (12 May 2003). "Missing the rainbow". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 April 2004. Retrieved 9 October 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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  54. ^ "World Classic for all ages, THE LITTLE PRINCE, Solo Performance by Rashi Bunny in Hindi". Mumbai, India. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  55. ^ Drama critic (11 April 2005). "An unspoken bitter truth". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  56. ^ SHALINI UMACHANDRAN (12 September 2004). "It happens here too". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 30 September 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  57. ^ Shailaja Tripathi (23 November 2011). "The play's the thing". The Hindu. Delhi, India. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  58. ^ Pratyush Patra. "Aruna Shanbaug's story retold on stage". The Times of India. Delhi, India. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  59. ^ Shikha Jain (21 October 2018). "Aruna's Story: She was no less a martyr who sparked progressive change". Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  60. ^ Sashikala VP and Mihir Srivastava. "Delhi, a Natak hub". News Laundry. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  61. ^ Sukant Deepak. "Arvind Gaur explains how Asmita checks the system by not becoming a part of it". India Today. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  62. ^ Dipanita Nath. "Road Shows page-2". The Indian Express. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
  63. ^ "Special Honour Award". WithOutBox. Delhi International Film festival. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  64. ^ "Arvind Gaur IMDB". IMDB. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  65. ^ "Kangana Ranaut and her gift to Indian theatre". IWMBuzz.
  66. ^ Sites.google.com. "Prominent Actor's who worked with Arvind Gaur". Archived from the original on 12 March 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2009. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  1. The good man of Delhi stage by Archana (2008-09-26) Mail-Today.
  2. Founder of Asmita Group, by Rohit Malik, Delhi Events (2008.12.30)
  3. Gandhari, solo-act by Aishveryaa Nidhi
  4. "All The World’s A Platform" by Shailaja Tripathi. Expressindia ,( 2003.09.17)[permanent dead link‍]
  5. "Heal the wounds" by Rohini Ramakrishan,(2004/12/11), The Hindu
  6. Dramatics Society of Lady Shri Ram College
  7. "A plethora of problems afflicts Hindi theatre" Rana A Siddiqui, The Tribune.(2001.12.28)
  8. "Mahesh Dattani's Final Solutions"Oneness Peace Festival, Hindu College, University of Delhi (2005.09.16)
  9. "Play of rules-Arvind Gaur's street theatre-Hatke Bachke"Nandini Nair, The Hindu (2009.01.12)
  10. "Nobody’s Child-Bitter Chocolate" Express Features Service, The Indian Express (2004.01.08)
  11. "The Park’s The Other Festival"Onassis Awardee Manjula Padmanabhan's "Hidden fires"-The Museum Theatre, Chennai (2005.12.07)
  12. Asmita Theatre Group
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