Name S. Azhar | ||
S M Azhar Alam | Interview for Rekhta Foundation
S. M. Azhar Alam M.A., Ph.D., is working as a Senior Lecturer at Maulana Azad College, Kolkata. He has done his Ph.D. on Urdu Theatre Tradition & Problems. He is working on the project “Study and Analysis of Translation & Adaptation of Drama in Urdu from 1960 till date”.
His theatre journey started from the year 1987 and since then he is actively involved with Hindi and Urdu theatre. He is also involved with Nepali Theatre and has worked with Nepali Folk Artistes of Darjeeling for five years and prepared two plays in Nepali.
He is the director of Little Thespian. He is an all rounder well versed in all departments of theatre including set design, make–up and stage lighting.
He has acted in more than 40 plays and directed 19 major plays. Translation of plays from other language into Urdu is also his forte.
He has been awarded Best Playwright for the Urdu play “Namak Ki Guddia” in 2001 from Paschim Banga Natya Academy, Dept. of Culture, Govt. of West Bengal and has represented West Bengal Five times in the event of One-Act Play in the National Youth Festival organized by Department of Culture, Govt. of India.
He has received financial help from Paschim Banga Natya Akademy, for the play “Lohar” under the Young Director’s Scheme on the occasion of Bertolt Brecht Birth Centenary in 1999. Then again in 1999 he received financial help from West Bengal Urdu Academy for the play “Tamsili Mushaera” (on the occasion of 2nd Birth Centenary of Mirza Ghalib). Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, granted him financial help in 2004 and 2005 for the plays “Hayavadana” in Nepali and “Akee” in Urdu.