Manohar Singh (12 April 1938 – 14 November 2002) was an Indian theatre actor-director and

character actor A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to b ...

Hindi film Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (fo ...

s. He is best known for his performances in films such as ''

Party A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, recreation, or as part of a festival or other commemoration or celebration of a special occasion. A party will often feature f ...

'' (1984) and ''

Daddy A father is the male parent of a child. Besides the paternal bonds of a father to his children, the father may have a parental, legal, and social relationship with the child that carries with it certain rights and obligations. An adoptive fathe ...

'' (1989). Starting his acting career from theatre, he went on to become a theatre director and later the chief of

National School of Drama National School of Drama (NSD) is a theatre training institute situated at New Delhi, India. It is an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It was set up in 1959 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi and became an indepe ...

Repertory Company, 1976 to 1988, before switching to cinema. As a theatre actor his best known performances were in ''Tughlaq'', directed by

Ebrahim Alkazi Ebrahim Alkazi (18 October 1925 – 4 August 2020) was an Indian theatre director and drama teacher. A rigid disciplinarian, he instilled in his acting students an awe and reverence that they still carry with them, with several of them havin ...

; ''Himmat Mai'' and ''Begum Barve'' by Nissar and

Amal Allana Amal Allana (born 14 September 1947) is an Indian theatre director, scenic designer and costume designer and presently she is in her second consecutive term as the Chairperson of National School of Drama, India's premier institute of Theatre tra ...

. He was awarded the 1982

Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (IPA: Saṅgīta Nāṭaka Akādamī Puraskāra), also known as the Akademi Puraskar, is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi Sangeet Natak Akademi (The National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama in Englis ...

for Acting (Hindi theatre) by

Sangeet Natak Akademi Sangeet Natak Akademi (The National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama in English) is the national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India. History It was set up by the Indian education ministry on 31 May 1952 and be ...

. In 2003, a photo exhibition on his work in theatre was organized at the Art Heritage gallery, Delhi chronicling his journey in theatre starting from his first play ''

The Caucasian Chalk Circle ''The Caucasian Chalk Circle'' (german: Der kaukasische Kreidekreis) is a play by the German modernist playwright Bertolt Brecht. An example of Brecht's epic theatre, the play is a parable about a peasant girl who rescues a baby and becomes a ...

'' (1968), as a student at the

, to plays such as ''Tughlaq'', ''

King Lear ''King Lear'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his power and land between two of his daughters. He becomes destitute and insane an ...

'', ''Kaho Katha Khajuraho Ki'', ''Himmat Mai'' (''

Mother Courage Mother Courage (German ''Mutter Courage'') is a character from a Grimmelshausen novel ''Lebensbeschreibung der Ertzbetrügerin und Landstörtzerin Courasche'' (''The Runagate Courage'') dating from around 1670. The character had played a cameo r ...

'') and ''

The Threepenny Opera ''The Threepenny Opera'' ( ) is a "play with music" by Bertolt Brecht, adapted from a translation by Elisabeth Hauptmann of John Gay's 18th-century English ballad opera, ''The Beggar's Opera'', and four ballads by François Villon, with music ...

''. He provides the voice-over in the annual Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra production "Ram". The audience can hear the commentary in his voice, providing structure and continuity to the narrative.

Biography

Born in 1938 in a very small village called Kwara near

Shimla Shimla (; ; also known as Simla, List of renamed Indian cities and states#Himachal Pradesh, the official name until 1972) is the capital and the largest city of the States and union territories of India, northern Indian state of Himachal Prade ...

Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh (; ; "Snow-laden Mountain Province") is a state in the northern part of India. Situated in the Western Himalayas, it is one of the thirteen mountain states and is characterized by an extreme landscape featuring several peaks ...

, Manohar Singh got his first job in the state government-run Drama Division. He graduated from

(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

, India's National Academy of Music, dance and Drama. He is best known for his spectacular performance in the title role of ''

Tughlaq The Tughlaq dynasty ( fa, ), also referred to as Tughluq or Tughluk dynasty, was a Muslim dynasty of Indo- Turkic origin which ruled over the Delhi sultanate in medieval India. Its reign started in 1320 in Delhi when Ghazi Malik assumed the ...

'', directed by his mentor

, the founder of NSD. After quitting NSD in the late 80s, he got active in the Delhi theatre scene, doing some memorable plays such as ''Pagla Raja'' (

), ''Himmat Mai'' (

Brecht Eugen Berthold Friedrich Brecht (10 February 1898 – 14 August 1956), known professionally as Bertolt Brecht, was a German theatre practitioner, playwright, and poet. Coming of age during the Weimar Republic, he had his first successes as a p ...

), ''Begum Barve'' and ''Nagamandalam'' (

Girish Karnad Girish Karnad (19 May 1938 – 10 June 2019) was an Indian actor, film director, Kannada writer, playwright and a Jnanpith awardee, who predominantly worked in South Indian cinema and Bollywood. His rise as a playwright in the 1960s marked the ...

), with well-known theatre personalities, Amal and Nissar Allana. He had a long film and television career that started with the controversial film based on an emergency, ''

Kissa Kursi Ka ''Kissa Kursi Ka'' () is a 1977 Indian Hindi-language political satire film directed by Amrit Nahata, who was a member of Indian parliament and produced by Badri Prasad Joshi. The film was a satire on the politics of Indira Gandhi and her son ...

'', that also starred

Shabana Azmi Shabana Azmi (born 18 September 1950) is an Indian actress of Hindi film, television and theatre. One of India's most acclaimed actresses, Azmi is known for her portrayals of distinctive, often unconventional female characters across several ge ...

. He did Govind Nihalani's ''

'', Mrinal Sen's ''

Ek Din Achanak ''Ek Din Achanak'' (Hindi: एक दिन अचानक, English: ''Suddenly, One Day'') is a 1989 art film directed by Mrinal Sen, based on a Bengali novel, ''Beej'' by Ramapada Chowdhury. Synopsis One evening, in the midst of torrential ...

'', ''

Yeh Woh Manzil To Nahin Yeh Woh Manzil To Nahin (English: This Is Not Our Destination) is a 1987 Hindi drama film written and directed by Sudhir Mishra, in a directorial debut. It starred Manohar Singh, Habib Tanvir, B. M. Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Sushmita Mukherjee and Nas ...

'', ''

Rudaali ''Rudaali'' (pronounced "roo-dah-lee"; ) is a 1993 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Kalpana Lajmi, written by Lajmi and Gulzar and based on a 1979 short story of the same name by Bengali author Mahasweta Devi. Set in a small villag ...

'', ''

'' and went to play many powerful roles in over 27 films, including some mainstream films such as '' Chandni'' and ''

Lamhe ''Lamhe'' (lit. ''Moments'') is a 1991 Indian musical romantic drama film directed by Yash Chopra and written by Honey Irani and Rahi Masoom Raza. The film stars Sridevi and Anil Kapoor in lead roles, along with Waheeda Rehman and Anupam Kher ...

'' with

Yash Chopra Yash Raj Chopra (27 September 1932 21 October 2012) was an Indian people, Indian film director and film producer who worked in Bollywood, Hindi cinema. The founding chairman of the film production and distribution company Yash Raj Films, Chop ...

. His last film was ''

Everybody Says I'm Fine! ''Everybody Says I'm Fine!'' is an Indian English language drama film, released on 12 September 2001 at the Toronto Film Festival. It marks the directorial debut of Indian actor Rahul Bose and the screen debut for actor Boman Irani. For his work ...

'' in 2001. He appeared in many successful serials on television including

Neena Gupta Neena Gupta (born 4 June 1959) is an Indian actress and television director who works in Hindi films and television. Known for her work in both art-house and commercial films, she won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for pl ...

's ''Dard'' and ''Pal Chhin''. He died of lung cancer on 14 November 2002, in New Delhi.Manohar Singh, one of Indian TV's original patriarchs
/ref>

Filmography

Films

* ''

'' (1977) * ''

'' (1984) * ''

Damul Damul ( en, italic=yes, Bonded until Death) is a 1985 Hindi film directed by Prakash Jha, based on the story ''Kaalsootra'', by Shaiwal, a native of Gaya district of Bihar., starring Annu Kapoor, Sreela Majumdar, Manohar Singh, Deepti Naval ...

'' (1985) * '' Tamas'' (1986) * '' New Delhi Times'' (1986) * ''

'' (1987) * ''

Main Azaad Hoon ''Main Azaad Hoon'' () is a 1989 Indian Hindi-language vigilante film adapted from the 1941 Frank Capra film, ''Meet John Doe'', by Javed Akhtar, about an opportunistic journalist who concocts a fictitious man in a fictitious article to boost ne ...

'' (1989) * ''

'' (1989) * '' Chandni'' (1989) *''

Hamari Shaadi Julia Hamari (born 21 November 1942) is a Hungarian mezzo-soprano and alto singer in opera and concert, appearing internationally. She is an academic voice teacher in Stuttgart. Professional career Julia Hamari was born in Budapest where she ...

'' (1990) * '' Lekin...'' (1990) * ''

Patthar Ke Phool ''Patthar Ke Phool'' () is an Indian 1991 Hindi-language action film directed by Anant Balani, produced by G. P. Sippy, written by Salim Khan, and edited by Deepak Sehgal. It stars Salman Khan as a police officer opposite debutant Raveena Tandon ...

'' (1991) * '' Kasba'' (1991) * ''

Diksha Diksha (Sanskrit: दीक्षा) also spelled diksa, deeksha or deeksa in common usage, translated as a "preparation or consecration for a religious ceremony", is giving of a mantra or an initiation by the guru (in Guru–shishya tradition) ...

'' (1991) * ''

Sadak ''Sadak'' () is a 1991 Indian Hindi-language romantic thriller film directed by Mahesh Bhatt. It stars Sanjay Dutt and Pooja Bhatt. The film is one of the highest-grossing movies of the year 1991. The film is also fondly remembered for the lat ...

'' (1991) * '' Tirangaa'' (1992) * ''

Karm Yodha ''Karmyoddha'' is a 1992 Bollywood action film. It stars Raj Babbar, Dimple Kapadia in lead roles. Music Nadira Babbar wrote all the songs. #Haye Ye Ladhkiya - Amit Kumar #Jhumpak Jhumpak Tara Ra Ram - Suresh Wadkar, Alka Yagnik #Uff Ye Ky ...

'' (1992) * ''

'' (1993) * '' Gunaah'' (1993) * '' Divya Shakti'' (1993) * ''

Aaja Meri Jaan ''Aaja Meri Jaan'' () is a 1993 Hindi-language romantic thriller film, written by Pawan Sethi and directed by Ketan Anand. It stars Krishan Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, Pran, Prem Chopra, and Deven Verma. Plot In the opening scene, a priest is sta ...

'' (1993) * '' 1942: A Love Story'' (1993) * ''

Tarpan The term tarpan (''Equus ferus ferus'') refers to free-ranging horses of the Russian steppe from the 18th to the 20th century. It is generally unknown whether those horses represented genuine wild horses, feral domestic horses or hybrids. The las ...

'' (1994) * '' Dushmani: A Violent Love Story'' (1995) * ''

Bhairavi Bhairavi ( sa, भैरवी) is a Hindu goddess, described as one of the Mahāvidyas, the ten avatars of the mother goddess. She is the consort of Bhairava. Etymology The name ''Bhairavi'' means "terror" or "awe-inspiring". She is the ...

'' (1996) * ''

'' (2001)

Television

* ''

Raag Durbari (TV series) Raag may refer to * Rāga, a melodic framework in Indian classical music * ''Raag'' (film), a 2014 Assamese language drama film * Raag (surname) * Radio Amateur Association of Greece * Right-angled Artin groups, a class of groups studied in geometr ...

'' * '' Mulla Nasiruddin'' (TV series) (1990) * '' Raj Se Swaraj (TV series)'' * '' Dard (TV series)'' (1993) * '' Gumraah (TV series)'' (1995) * ''

Khamosh (TV series) () is 1985 Indian Hindi-language thriller film directed and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The film starred Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Amol Palekar, Soni Razdan and Pankaj Kapoor. The film became notable for actors Palekar, Razdan an ...

'' (1996) * ''

Mahayagya ''Mahaygya'' is an Indian television show broadcast on Sony TV in 1997–1998. Written, produced and directed by Anil Chaudhary, the political drama starred Manohar Singh, Rohini Hattangadi, Goving Namdeo, supported by Ananya Khare, Murali Sharm ...

'' (1997) * ''Tere Mere Sapne'' (1998) * ''

Pal Chhin ''Pal Chhin'' (translation: Moment) is an Indian television drama series which ran on Star Plus from 1999. It was directed by Neena Gupta, and veteran actor Manohar Singh played the protagonist of the show. The title song of the show Koi atka ...

'' (TV series) (1999)

Theatrography

* ''Caucasian Chalk Circle'' (1968) * ''Antigone'' (1975) * ''Tughlaq'' (1975) * ''Look Back in Anger'' * ''

Othello ''Othello'' (full title: ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'') is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, probably in 1603, set in the contemporary Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–1573) fought for the control of the Island of Cypru ...

'' * ''Danton's Death'' * ''King Lear'' * ''Three Penny Opera'' * ''Mahabhoj'' * ''Nagamandal'' * ''Kaho Katha Khajuraho Ki'' * ''Himmat Mai'' * ''Begum Barve''

Legacy

In 2003, NSD instituted an award in his memory, titled Manohar Singh Smriti Puruskar, to be awarded to a young graduate (up to the age of 50) of the school.Capital Fest, Manipuri Taste
/ref>

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Manohar Indian theatre directors Indian male stage actors Indian male film actors 1938 births 2002 deaths Male actors from Himachal Pradesh National School of Drama alumni Male actors in Hindi cinema Deaths from lung cancer Indian male television actors Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Hindi theatre 20th-century Indian male actors People from Shimla district Male actors in Hindi television

Biography

Filmography

Films

Television

Theatrography

Legacy

See also

References

Further reading

External links