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Mohan Upreti

Mohan Upreti (1928–1997) was an Indian theatre director, playwright and a music composer, considered one of the pioneers in Indian theatre music.[1]

Mohan Upreti
Born1928 (1928)
Died1997(1997-00-00) (aged 68–69)
NationalityIndian
Alma materUniversity of Allahabad, National School of Drama
Occupation(s)Playwright, music composer, folk artist
Known forBedu Pako Baro Masa
SpouseNaima Khan Upreti

A popular figure in Kumaon, Mohan Upreti is remembered for his immense contribution towards the revitalisation of the Kumaoni folk music; and for his efforts towards preserving old Kumaoni ballads, songs and folk traditions.[2] Upreti is best known for his song "Bedu Pako Baro Masa".

Biography

Early life and education

Mohan Upreti was born in 1928 in Almora, where he also received his early education. Almora was then a quaint little town, still untouched by rapid development that the British brought to other hill stations like Nainital and Shimla. It was this environment that drew, dancer Uday Shankar to create his institute at Almora in 1937.

He was deeply influenced by trade union leaders like P. C. Joshi, who later became a prominent leader of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and also Upreti's mentor.

In the 40s, Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and the Progressive Writer's Association were formed, as a response to the Indian freedom struggle by the artistic community, Mohan Upreti couldn't remain untouched by this burgeoning movement, and while still at Allahabad University he formed his theatre group, 'Lok Kalakar Sangh'.[3]

Career

As a young man in the 1940s and 50's, Mohan Upreti travelled across Uttarakhand, along with B. M. Shah, and collected the fast vanishing folk songs, tunes, and traditions of the region to preserve them for posterity.

Upreti was instrumental in bringing the Kumaoni culture and music into national focus by establishing institutions like the Parvatiya Kala Kendra (Center for Arts of the Hills), which he constituted in Delhi, in 1968. The institution produces plays and ballads strongly rooted in the Kumaoni culture.[4] In fact, B. M. Shah and Mohan Upreti together, are credited with the revival of the theatre in the Uttarakhand[5] He remained in the faculty of National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, for many years, and also directed plays for NSD Repertory Company, where his most known work was the play, 'Indra Sabha'.[6]

His most important work is the epic ballad 'Rajula Malushahi', published in 1980, offers never before insights into the Kumaoni folk culture. His other important plays are 'Nanda Devi Jagar',[7] upon which he made a film as well, 'Sita Svayamvar', and 'Haru Heet'. Apart from that he also gave music for many theatre productions, including 'Ghasiram Kotwal', his music for Hindustani version of Brecht's Three Penny Opera was vastly appreciated and still remembered as his finest.[8]

He worked for many years to revive traditional Ramlila plays and bring them to urban audiences.

He also gave music for a number of television productions in the 80's including in a series based on Ruskin Bond's stories, 'Ek Tha Rusty',[9] where again his compositions were noticeable for the distinct Kumaoni folk touch.

He died in 1997, in New Delhi.

Family

He married Naima Khan Upreti, a graduate of National School of Drama, in 1969.[10]

Legacy

Each year on his birth anniversary, 'Parvatiya Kala Kendra', an institution set up by him, presents a new play.[11]

In the 2004, "Bedu Pako Baro Masa" – a creation of Mohan Upreti, was used in Coca-Cola commercial "Thanda Matlab Coca Cola", by Prasoon Joshi, himself from Kumaon. In the ad a "Pahari Guide" is shown humming the tune. The song is still played at Kumaoni weddings, celebrations and cultural functions and has now even become a popular mobile ringtone. It is also the marching song of the Kumaon Regiment.

In 2006, National School of Drama published his biography, titled, Mohan Upreti – The Man and His Art, written by theatre critic, Diwan Singh Bajeli.

Bibliography

Further reading

  • Diwan Singh Bajeli, Mohan Upreti: The Man and His Art, 2006, New Delhi, National School of Drama, ISBN 81-8197-016-0.
  • Vidya Sagar Nautiyal, Mohan Gata Jayega.
  • "How Mohan Upreti Found His Guru:Joshi, P.C, The Rithagarh Episode." 2000, Sangeet Natak 135/136: 27–46.
  • UTTARAKHAND KE KALA PRADETA MOHAN UPRETI KA SANGEETIK YOGDAN (Ph.D. Indira kala sangit vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh) – DR. DEEPA JOSHI
  • Dr. Deepa Joshi, *SMRITYON MEIN MOHAN UPRETI* mohan upreti lok sanskriti kala aiwam vigyan sodh samiti Almora ISBN 978-93-5267-271-4

See also

References

  1. ^ The Hindu, Jan 28, 2005
  2. ^ Personalities of Kumaon
  3. ^ The Hindu, Nov 21, 2006
  4. ^ Parvatiya Kala Kendra at Bharat Rang Mahotsav, 2005
  5. ^ Indian Express, 6 June, 1998
  6. ^ NSD plays 18 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ FILMS of Janapada Sampada, ignca
  8. ^ The Indian Express, March 11, 1999
  9. ^ Ek Tha Rusty
  10. ^ NSD Graduates 18 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ [Usurped!]

External links

  • [Usurped!]
  • Mohan Upreti's Seeta Svyamvar, staged by 'Parvatiya Kala Kendra', 2007

mohan, upreti, 1928, 1997, indian, theatre, director, playwright, music, composer, considered, pioneers, indian, theatre, music, born1928, 1928, almora, british, india, present, uttarakhand, india, died1997, 1997, aged, delhi, indianationalityindianalma, mater. Mohan Upreti 1928 1997 was an Indian theatre director playwright and a music composer considered one of the pioneers in Indian theatre music 1 Mohan UpretiBorn1928 1928 Almora UP British India present day Uttarakhand India Died1997 1997 00 00 aged 68 69 New Delhi IndiaNationalityIndianAlma materUniversity of Allahabad National School of DramaOccupation s Playwright music composer folk artistKnown forBedu Pako Baro MasaSpouseNaima Khan UpretiA popular figure in Kumaon Mohan Upreti is remembered for his immense contribution towards the revitalisation of the Kumaoni folk music and for his efforts towards preserving old Kumaoni ballads songs and folk traditions 2 Upreti is best known for his song Bedu Pako Baro Masa Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life and education 1 2 Career 1 3 Family 2 Legacy 3 Bibliography 4 Further reading 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksBiography EditEarly life and education Edit Mohan Upreti was born in 1928 in Almora where he also received his early education Almora was then a quaint little town still untouched by rapid development that the British brought to other hill stations like Nainital and Shimla It was this environment that drew dancer Uday Shankar to create his institute at Almora in 1937 He was deeply influenced by trade union leaders like P C Joshi who later became a prominent leader of the Communist Party of India CPI and also Upreti s mentor In the 40s Indian People s Theatre Association IPTA and the Progressive Writer s Association were formed as a response to the Indian freedom struggle by the artistic community Mohan Upreti couldn t remain untouched by this burgeoning movement and while still at Allahabad University he formed his theatre group Lok Kalakar Sangh 3 Career Edit As a young man in the 1940s and 50 s Mohan Upreti travelled across Uttarakhand along with B M Shah and collected the fast vanishing folk songs tunes and traditions of the region to preserve them for posterity Upreti was instrumental in bringing the Kumaoni culture and music into national focus by establishing institutions like the Parvatiya Kala Kendra Center for Arts of the Hills which he constituted in Delhi in 1968 The institution produces plays and ballads strongly rooted in the Kumaoni culture 4 In fact B M Shah and Mohan Upreti together are credited with the revival of the theatre in the Uttarakhand 5 He remained in the faculty of National School of Drama NSD New Delhi for many years and also directed plays for NSD Repertory Company where his most known work was the play Indra Sabha 6 His most important work is the epic ballad Rajula Malushahi published in 1980 offers never before insights into the Kumaoni folk culture His other important plays are Nanda Devi Jagar 7 upon which he made a film as well Sita Svayamvar and Haru Heet Apart from that he also gave music for many theatre productions including Ghasiram Kotwal his music for Hindustani version of Brecht s Three Penny Opera was vastly appreciated and still remembered as his finest 8 He worked for many years to revive traditional Ramlila plays and bring them to urban audiences He also gave music for a number of television productions in the 80 s including in a series based on Ruskin Bond s stories Ek Tha Rusty 9 where again his compositions were noticeable for the distinct Kumaoni folk touch He died in 1997 in New Delhi Family Edit He married Naima Khan Upreti a graduate of National School of Drama in 1969 10 Legacy EditEach year on his birth anniversary Parvatiya Kala Kendra an institution set up by him presents a new play 11 In the 2004 Bedu Pako Baro Masa a creation of Mohan Upreti was used in Coca Cola commercial Thanda Matlab Coca Cola by Prasoon Joshi himself from Kumaon In the ad a Pahari Guide is shown humming the tune The song is still played at Kumaoni weddings celebrations and cultural functions and has now even become a popular mobile ringtone It is also the marching song of the Kumaon Regiment In 2006 National School of Drama published his biography titled Mohan Upreti The Man and His Art written by theatre critic Diwan Singh Bajeli Bibliography EditMalushahi The Ballad of Kumaon New Delhi Sangeet Natak Akademi 1980 Further reading EditDiwan Singh Bajeli Mohan Upreti The Man and His Art 2006 New Delhi National School of Drama ISBN 81 8197 016 0 Vidya Sagar Nautiyal Mohan Gata Jayega How Mohan Upreti Found His Guru Joshi P C The Rithagarh Episode 2000 Sangeet Natak 135 136 27 46 UTTARAKHAND KE KALA PRADETA MOHAN UPRETI KA SANGEETIK YOGDAN Ph D Indira kala sangit vishwavidyalaya Khairagarh DR DEEPA JOSHI Dr Deepa Joshi SMRITYON MEIN MOHAN UPRETI mohan upreti lok sanskriti kala aiwam vigyan sodh samiti Almora ISBN 978 93 5267 271 4See also EditKumauni People Music of Uttarakhand Theatre in IndiaReferences Edit The Hindu Jan 28 2005 Personalities of Kumaon The Hindu Nov 21 2006 Parvatiya Kala Kendra at Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2005 Indian Express 6 June 1998 NSD plays Archived 18 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine FILMS of Janapada Sampada ignca The Indian Express March 11 1999 Ek Tha Rusty NSD Graduates Archived 18 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine The Hindu Feb 23 2007 Usurped External links Edita newspaper article on Mohan Upreti Usurped Mohan Upreti s Seeta Svyamvar staged by Parvatiya Kala Kendra 2007 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mohan Upreti amp oldid 1109367615, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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