WEB DESK
President, Vice President and Prime Minister have expressed grief on the demise of theatre maestro Ebrahim Alkazi. In a tweet, President Ram Nath Kovind said, Ebrahim Alkazi, doyen of Indian theatre, mentored and inspired generations of artists.
Indian theatre doyen, director and legendary drama teacher Ebrahim Alkazi, who has been synonymous with Delhi’s National School of Drama, died on Tuesday afternoon after suffering a heart attack, his son said. He was 94.
Alkazi, who took charge of the National School of Drama in 1962 and was its longest serving director, produced plays such as Girish Karnad’s Tughlaq and Dharamvir Bharati’s Andha Yug, as well as many Greek and Shakespearean plays. He mentored generations of actors, including Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri.
The President said, his death leaves a void in the world of performing arts.
He said, a Padma Vibhushan recipient, his legacy will live on. He conveyed condolences to his family, students and art lovers.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said, Ebrahim Alkazi is credited with reinventing and revolutionising Indian theatre.
He said, as director of National School of Drama, he helped set a new course for theatre in India.
Mr Naidu said, his passing is a great loss to the art and theatre fraternity of India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, Ebrahim Alkazi will be remembered for his efforts to make theatre more popular and accessible across India.
The Prime Minister said, his contributions to the world of art and culture are noteworthy too.
Mr Modi said his thoughts are with the family and friends of Ebrahim Alkazi.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said, Ebrahim Alkazi’s work in revolutionising theatre art in India and making National School of Drama a great learning center for artists will always be remembered.