Naresh Chander Lal is an Indian film director and producer. He was awardedPadma Shri for his contribution in films and theater in 2016. He is the second person to receive the Padma Shri award fromAndaman and Nicobar Islands.[1]
Lal graduated fromNational School of Drama,New Delhi in 1990. He is the founder ofAndaman People Theatre Association (APTA), and credited with bringingdrama to remote areas of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In 1998, he organizedStreet theater (Nukkad natak) centering around various social concerns such asalcoholism,pulse polio immunization programme,AIDS,family planning,women empowerment,sanitation, etc. He has directed twofeature films, oneshort film and onedocumentary film.[2] His documentary filmRunway on the Sea was premiered in theIsland Tourism Festival in 2012.[3] In 2013, he was awardedBharat Jyoti Award by theIndia International Friendship Society,[4] andMahatma Gandhi Seva Medal by Gandhi Global Family, both for his film Gandhi The Mahatma.