Usha Ganguly

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Usha Ganguly
Born1945 (1945)
Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Died23 April 2020
Kolkata
Occupation(s)theatre director, actor, activist
Years active1970–2020
Known forFounder-director Rangakarmee theatre group (1976)

Usha Ganguli (1945 – 23 April 2020) was an Indian theatre director-actor and activist, most known for her work in

Padatik (established 1972), she was the only other theatre director to practise Hindi theatre in Kolkata, which is largely Bengali speaking.[4][5]

She was awarded the

West Bengal Government as the best actress for the play Gudia Ghar.[1]

Early life and education

Born in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, into a family from the village of Nerva in Uttar Pradesh, Usha Ganguly learnt Bharatanatyam dance and later moved to Kolkata, where she studied at Shri Shikshayatan College, Kolkata and did her master's degree in Hindi literature.[7]

Career

Ganguly began her career as a teacher at Bhowanipur Education Society College, Calcutta, an undergraduate college affiliated with the

Shudrak) (1970), where she played the role of Vasantsena.[8] She continued teaching as a Hindi Lecturer at Bhowanipur Education Society College, until her retirement in 2008 and practised theatre all the while.[9]

She formed a theatre group, Rangakarmee, in January 1976.

Ibsen's A Doll's House
, besides Rudra Prasad Sengupta and Bibhash Chakravorty, before she started directing herself, having trained under Tripti Mitra and Mrinal Sen.

Ganguly started directing in the 1980s and soon her energetic style and disciplined ensemble work with young, large casts brought a resurgence of Hindi theatre in the city. Her important productions included Mahabhoj (Great Feast) in 1984, based on

Brecht's Mother Courage and notably Court Martial written by playwright Swadesh Deepak.[9] She wrote a play Kashinama (2003), based on a story, Kaane Kaun Kumati Lagi from the Kashinath Singh
's classic work, Kashi Ka Assi and an original play Khoj.

She also worked on the script of

O Henry's The Gift of the Magi, directed by Rituparno Ghosh
.

In the coming years, she also translated and adapted plays into Hindi. Rangakarmee started its education wing in the 1990s, today it regularly takes its repertoire on tours across India and undertakes education extension activities in theatre with underprivileged people.[10]

In 2005, Rangkarmee was the only Indian theatre group to perform at the Theatre der Welt Festival in

Stuttgart, Germany.[8] It staged the play Rudali at "Punj Pani festival" at Lahore in 2006.[11] The group staged its first multilingual production, Bhor about the minds of inmates of a drug rehab centre in August 2010.[12]

Plays

[13]

Works

  • Rudali (play based on Mahashweta Devi's story), Radhakrishna Prakashan, 2004.
    ISBN 81-7119-767-1
    .

Works

  • antarmahal,

Further reading

References

  1. ^
    The Tribune
    . 20 September 2004.
  2. ^ "Calcutta, home to Hindi Theatre". The Hindu. 29 October 1997. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  3. ^ "Panelist: Usha Ganguly – South Asian Theater Festival, 2009". South Asian Theater Festival. 2009. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011.
  4. ^ Dharwadker, p. 440
  5. ^ Borah, Prabalika M. (1 March 2011). "The language of expression". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
  6. ^ "SNA: List of Akademi Awardees". Sangeet Natak Akademi Official website. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  7. The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. 22 April 2006. Archived from the original
    on 24 May 2006.
  8. ^ a b c "Everyone is not going to sit silent...?". The Telegraph (Kolkata). Calcutta, India. 23 July 2005. Archived from the original on 10 September 2006.
  9. ^ a b "Usha Ganguly:Profile and Interview at Prithivi Theatre Festival 2006" (PDF). mumbaitheatreguide.com. November 2006. Archived from the original on 21 February 2007.
  10. ^ "Theatre adapts to changes". Deccan Chronicle. 26 February 2011.
  11. ^ "Samaaj, Rudali and Sassi Punnoo at Punj Pani festival". Daily Times. 6 April 2006.
  12. Indian Express
    . 6 August 2010.
  13. ^ "Drama: March 12". The Telegraph (Kolkata). Calcutta, India. 10 March 2011. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011.

External links
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