Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 7: Theatre legend Kavi Rattan, who laid the foundation of modern theatre in Jammu and Kashmir passed away today evening, here.
Born in 1940, in the family of Pandit Raghunath Shashtri, a talented playwright, actor, director and a 1965 post-graduate in English, he was awarded the first scholarship for theatre by J&K Cultural Academy to undergo training in theatre direction at National School of Drama, Delhi.
A student of Ebrahim Elkazi, he during his stay at Delhi, had the distinction of working with prominent directors including Peter Brooks, K N Pannikar, Mohan Maharishi, Habib Tanvir, Ebrahim Elkazi, Col Gupta, Om Shiv Puri, Sagar Sarhadi, Sardar Gurcharan Singh, Rajinder Nath, Suresh Bhardwaj, B V Kamath, Rattan Thayiam, Kahaniya Lala, Ved Rahi, Shayam Benagal. He also worked with well known actors like Uttara Baokar, Surkha Sikri, Sudha Shivpuri, Rohniti Hattangadi, Nadira Zaheer Babbbar, Om Puri, M K Raina, Manohar Singh, Raj Babbar, Ram Gopal Bajaj, Amal Alana and others.
With his appointment as Drama Instructor in J&K Cultural Academy, Kavi Rattan, became instrumental in laying the foundation of a modern theatre movement in 1970s by training young talent by conducting repertories and workshops both at Jammu and Srinagar. He was also the founder of Bahurangi theatre group in Jammu.
A recipient of State award and many honours, Kavi Rattan’s name will remain etched the cultural history of the J&K for having laid the foundation of a serious and meaningful drama movement in the state.
He is survived by his wife Shashi Rattan and two daughters.
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