Manohar Singh

Manohar Singh
Singh in the play Tughlaq.
Born	1938 Kwara, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Died	November 2002 (aged 63–64) New Delhi
Years active	1971–2002
Awards	1982 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

Manohar Singh (1938 – 14 November 2002) was a distinguishedIndian theatre actor-director and a character actor in Hindi films. He is best known for his performances in films such as Party (1984) and Daddy (1989). Starting his acting career from theatre, he went on to become a theatre director and later the chief of National School of Drama Repertory Company, 1976 to 1988, before switching to cinema. As a theatre actor his most know performances were in Tughlaq directed by Ebrahim Alkazi, Himmat Mai and Begum Barve by Nissar and Amal Allana.

He was awarded the 1982 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Acting (Hindi theatre) by Sangeet Natak Akademi. In 2003, a photo exhibition on his work in theatre was organized at the Art Heritage gallery, Delhi chronicling his journey in theatre starting from his first play The Caucasian Chalk Circle (1968) as a student at the National School of Drama to plays like, Tughlaq, King Lear, Kaho Katha Khajuraho Ki, Himmat Mai (Mother Courage) and The Threepenny Opera.

He provides the voice-over in the annual Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra production "Ram". The audience can hear the commentary in his voice, providing structure and continuity to the narrative.

Born in 1938 in a small village called Kwara near Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, Manohar Singh got his first job in the state government run Drama Division. He graduated from National School of Drama (NSD) in 1971, and soon after started directing plays with NSD Repertory Company, starting with Qatl Ki Hawas in 1971. Later in 1976 he became the second chief of the NSD Repertory Company and remained so until 1988. He was awarded the 1982 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, dance and Drama.