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Hari Madhab Mukhopadhyay | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1941-04-03)3 April 1941 |
| Died | 17 March 2025(2025-03-17) (aged 83) |
| Occupations |
|
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2007) Padma Shri (2026; posthumous) |
Hari Madhab Mukhopadhyay (3 April 1941 – 17 March 2025)[1][2] was a distinguished theatre personality fromBalurghat,West Bengal, India. He was an actor, playwright, theatre director, organiser, and by profession a professor. He was the founder of the Balurghat-based theatre groupTritirtha.[3]
In addition to receiving the Best Actor and Best Producer awards from theWest Bengal Natya Akademi, he was awarded theSangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2007 for his work as a theatre director.[4] In 2026, he was posthumously honoured with thePadma Shri.[5]
Hari Madhab Mukhopadhyay was born inBalurghat, in present-daySouth Dinajpur district ofWest Bengal, then part ofBritish India. His father was Nilkantha Mukhopadhyay. From an early age, he developed a deep attraction towards theatre. In 1956, he formed a theatre group namedTaruntirtha in Balurghat.
After completing school, he moved to Kolkata for college education and regularly attended theatre performances across the city during his student years. He received training in theatre under directors Jagmohan Majumdar andAjitesh Bandopadhyay, among others.[4] He remained associated with the Howrah-based theatre group 'Natnatyam' for three years.[3]
During this period, he earned a postgraduate degree in commerce from theUniversity of Calcutta. Drawn back by his commitment to theatre, he returned to Balurghat and joinedBalurghat College as a professor in 1967.
Due to his deep love for theatre, he remained actively involved in both professional and amateur theatre alongside his academic career. In 1969, he founded the theatre groupTritirtha in Balurghat. Up to 2008, a total of 58 plays were staged under his production and direction, includingTin Bigyani,Jal,Galileo andDebangshi.
As a fully dedicated theatre practitioner, he worked not only as an actor and director, but also took on responsibilities such as narrator, composer, lighting designer, costume designer, and set designer. He is regarded as the guiding force behind the “theatre movement” of Balurghat.[3]
Altogether, he wrote nearly sixty plays, including short plays, one-act plays, and full-length productions. His last acting performance was in 2017 in theRajbanshi-language production ofRaktakarabi. His final directorial work wasBanduk in 2018. Although his thoughts on theatre remained vibrant, declining health prevented further active involvement. He spent his retirement maintaining close contact with his colleagues fromTritirtha.[6]
Among several others, these are the plays he wrote.
| Title | Notes |
|---|---|
| Dosh Putul | one of his first two plays; based on a story byAgatha Christie |
| Bahvarambha | one of his first two plays; based on a story byAnton Chekhov |
| Shishupal | |
| Aniket | |
| Bichhan | |
| Kharij | |
| Matritantrik | |
| Nikat Ganga | |
| Debangshi | 1983 |
| Khīrer Putul | |
| Chouryagatha |
Among several others, these are the plays directed and performed by him.
| Title | Notes |
|---|---|
| Pap o Papi | |
| Akkel Selami | |
| Bondi Bir | |
| Chhera Kagojer Jhuri | |
| Pakhir Basa | |
| Natyakarer Sandhane Chhoti Charitra | |
| Rajanigandha | |
| Char Prahar | |
| Chhayanayika | |
| Putul Khela | |
| Brishti Brishti | |
| Bishay June | |
| Chhutir Khela | |
| Tin Bigyani | |
| Jal | 1980 |
| Bichhan | 1985 (Hindi play) |
| Chirakumar Sabha | |
| Debigirjan | |
| Mantrashakti |