Sunil Pokharel ( ne, सुनील पोखरेल; born on 16 June 1963) is a Nepali theatre artist and director. He is considered one of the pioneers of modern Nepali theatre. He is a graduate 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 ...

, India (1987).He is also the brother of popular Nepalese singar

Sugam Pokharel Sugam Pokharel (Nepali:सुगम पाेखरेल) is a Nepalese singer, music composer, songwriter, and radio jockey known for his contribution towards Nepali pop music. His first solo recording, ''Mero Sansaar'' (2001), became a top sell ...

He has directed more than four dozens of varied Nepali, Indian and European plays. Sunil pokharel with students

Early life

Sunil Pokharel was born in Noula village, in

Khotang District Khotang District ( ne, खोटाङ जिल्ला) is one of 14 districts of Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. The district, with Diktel as its district headquarters, covers an area of and has a population (2021) of 206,312.Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...

on 16 June 1963 as the first child of his parents. When he was an adolescent, his family moved to Mangalbare in

Morang Morang District ( ne, मोरङ जिल्ला ) is located in Province No. 1 in eastern Nepal. It is an Outer Terai district. It borders with Bihar, India to the South, Jhapa to the East, Dhankuta and Panchthar to the North, and Sunsar ...

district, near

Biratnagar Biratnagar () is a metropolitan city in Nepal, which serves as the capital of Province No. 1. With a population of 242,548 as per the 2011 census, it is the largest city in the province and also the headquarters of Morang district. As per the p ...

. He completed his school education from Gograha Higher Secondary School in Biratnagar.

Education

Pokhrel got a scholarship to study at

(NSD) in

New Delhi New Delhi (, , ''Naī Dillī'') is the capital of India and a part of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

in 1984. He earned his diploma indrama from this Indian government owned institution.

Career

Sunil Pokharel started his career as a theatre artist at the age of thirteen, when he was in School. In initial days, he worked with artist and director Badri Adhikari and Ramesh Budhathoki in Biratnagar. Later, he moved to Kathmandu and worked in guidance of veteran Nepali theater artist Harihar Sharma. While working in Kathmandu, Pokharel got a scholarship to study at

(NSD) in

., After returning from his study in NSD, Pokharel established Aarohan Gurukul, the first drama school in the country. He is the artistic director of

Aarohan Theatre Group Aarohan Theatre Group (Nepali:आरोहण नाटक समूह) (commonly known as Aarohan Gurukul and also known as Aarohan Theatre, and Gurukul Theatre) is a theatre group in Nepal. It produces shows incorporating various cultures, reli ...

and Principle of Gurukul: school of theatre.

Family

Sunil Pokhrel is the elder brother of Nepalese pop singer Sugam Pokhrel.

Major works

As a director

* Agniko Katha - by

Abhi Subedi Abhi Subedi ( ne, अभि सुवेदी) is a Nepali poet, playwright, linguist, columnist, translator and critic, who writes in Nepali and English. Biography Abhi Subedi was born in Sabla village of Tehrathum district in eastern Nepal ...

* Yajnaseni - by

Suman Pokhrel Suman Pokhrel ( ne, सुमन पोखरेल; born on September 21, 1967) is a Nepali poet, lyricist, playwright, translator and artist. Universities in Nepal and India have included his poetry in their syllabus. Suman Pokhrel is the s ...

* ''Mayadeviko Sapana'' - by

* ''Putaliko Ghar'' - (Nepali translation of

Henrik Ibsen Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. As one of the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred to as "the father of realism" and one of the most influential playw ...

's Dolls House) * ''Nyayapremi'' - (Nepali translation of

Albert Camus Albert Camus ( , ; ; 7 November 1913 – 4 January 1960) was a French philosopher, author, dramatist, and journalist. He was awarded the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the second-youngest recipient in history. His work ...

's Les Justes) * ''Midnait Samar Sapana'' - (Nepali translation of

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

A Midsummer Night's Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a comedy written by William Shakespeare 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict amon ...

) * ''Jayamaya Aaphu Matra Lekhapani Aaipugi'' (Based on a story of same title by Indra Bahadur Rai) * ''Hariyo Dhunga '' (Based on a story of same title by

Upendra Subba Upendra Bahadur Angdembe who is known as Upendra Subba ( ne, उपेन्द्र सुब्बा) is a Nepali poet, lyricist, writer, and film director. He is one of the initiators of the movement called '' Srijanshil Arajakta'' (Creative ...

) * ''Arko Artha Nagalema (Based on newspaper articles written by Sharat Chandra Wasti and published in Kantipur Daily)

As an actor

* ''Putaliko Ghar'' - (Nepali translation of

's Dolls House) * ''Jaat Sodhnu Jogiko'' - (Nepali translation of

Vijay Tendulkar Vijay Dhondopant Tendulkar (6 January 1928 – 19 May 2008) was a leading Indian playwright, movie and television writer, literary essayist, political journalist, and social commentator primarily in Marāthi. His Marathi plays established him as ...

's Jāt Hi Poochho Sādhu Ki) * ''Nyayapremi'' - (Nepali translation of

's Les Justes) * ''Khariko Ghero'' - (Nepali translation of

Bertolt 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 pl ...

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 b ...

) * ''Idamitham'' - by Sarubhakta

As a translator

* Translation of the play Dolls House by

in Nepali as ''Putaliko Ghar''

Awards

* National Talent Award conferred by

Government of Nepal The Government of Nepal ( ne, नेपाल सरकार) is the federal executive authority of Nepal. Prior to the abolition of the Nepali monarchy in 2006 (became republic in 2008), it was officially known as His Majesty's Government. T ...