Foundation aims to revive Hindi play writing

In a bid to revive and encourage original content in Hindi play writing, the Shankar Shesh Foundation has announced plans to organise competitions and workshops to bring newer context and experimentation in theatre performance.
The foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, works to foster original creative play writing in Hindi as a tribute to one of the most prominent Hindi playwrights, Shankar Shesh.
The foundation said it will also produce new plays in Hidni which will be translated in English and other foreign languages.
"It is a great honour to undertake this work. My father has done some really great work, the foundation will enable younger creative talent to take it forward," said Sanjay Shesh, Managing Trustee of the foundation.

Shesh, a prolific playwright, wrote 22 original Hindi plays in a short span of 12 years between 1969 and 1981. His plays, including "Fandi", "Raktabeej" and "Ek Tha Dronacharya", have been marked by the ease with which they can be performed and for their originality and Indianness.
"He (Shesh) passed away at a very young age of 48 years. He had created so much in such a short time. It is time we take his work forward," said Rajiv Shesh, Shesh's eldest son.

Many of Shesh's works have been adapted for stage as well as screen over the last four decades, with accomplished directors like Satyadev Dubey, Arvind Deshpaande, BV Karanth, MS Sathyu, Dinesh Thakur, Jaidev Hattangadi helming them.

The 1977 film "Gharonda" was adapted from one of his plays.
The foundation is staging two of Shesh's most performed plays "Komal Gandhar" and "Raktbeej" on October 2 at NCPA Experimental Theatre, Mumbai, to commemorate his memory.