SherleneGirardi at 20:34, 14 March 2026

2026-03-14T20:34:00Z

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{{Short description|Indian theatre actor (1941–2025)}}
{{tone|date=January 2026}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2026}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Hari Madhab Mukhopadhyay
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1941|04|03}}
| birth_place = [[Balurghat]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]<br/>(present-day [[West Bengal]], India)
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2025|03|17|1941|04|03}}
| death_place =
| height =
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|playwright|theatre director|organiser|professor}}
| yearsactive =
| website =
| spouse =
| children = 3
| awards = [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] (2007)<br/>[[Padma Shri]] (2026; posthumous)
}}
'''Hari Madhab Mukhopadhyay''' (3 April 1941 – 17 March 2025)<ref name="eis">{{Cite web | title = Prayat bishishta natyabyaktitva Harimadhab Mukhopadhyay | url = https://eisamay.com/entertainment/famous-play-writer-hari-madhab-mukherjee-from-balurghat-passed-away-in-kolkata-hospital/200356702.cms | access-date = 18 March 2025}}</ref><ref name="ubs">{{Cite web | title = Prayat holen Uttar Banger swatantra natyabhashar dharak o bahak Harimadhab Mukhopadhyay | url = https://uttarbangasambad.com/harimadhav-mukherjee-the-bearer-and-bearer-of-north-bengals-independent-theatrical-language-passes-away/ | access-date = 18 March 2025}}</ref> was a distinguished theatre personality from [[Balurghat]], [[West Bengal]], India. He was an actor, playwright, theatre director, organiser, and by profession a professor. He was the founder of the Balurghat-based theatre group ''Tritirtha''.<ref name="Jiyobangla">{{Cite web | title = Jiboner Alekhya | url = https://www.jiyobangla.com/bn/news/harimadhab-mukherjee | access-date = 5 April 2024}}</ref>

In addition to receiving the Best Actor and Best Producer awards from the [[Paschimbanga Natya Akademi|West Bengal Natya Akademi]], he was awarded the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] in 2007 for his work as a theatre director.<ref name="SNA">{{Cite web | title = Harimadhab Mukhopadhyay | url = https://sangeetnatak.gov.in/public/uploads/awardees/docs/Hari_Madhab_Mukhopadhyay.pdf | access-date = 6 April 2024}}</ref> In 2026, he was posthumously honoured with the [[Padma Shri]].<ref name=":0" />

==Early life and education==
Hari Madhab Mukhopadhyay was born in [[Balurghat]], in present-day [[South Dinajpur district]] of [[West Bengal]], then part of [[British India]]. His father was Nilkantha Mukhopadhyay. From an early age, he developed a deep attraction towards theatre. In 1956, he formed a theatre group named ''Taruntirtha'' in Balurghat.

After completing school, he moved to Kolkata for college education and regularly attended theatre performances across the city during his student years. He received training in theatre under directors Jagmohan Majumdar and [[Ajitesh Bandopadhyay]], among others.<ref name="SNA"/> He remained associated with the Howrah-based theatre group 'Natnatyam' for three years.<ref name="Jiyobangla"/>

During this period, he earned a postgraduate degree in commerce from the [[University of Calcutta]]. Drawn back by his commitment to theatre, he returned to Balurghat and joined [[Balurghat College]] as a professor in 1967.

==Theatrical career==
Due to his deep love for theatre, he remained actively involved in both professional and amateur theatre alongside his academic career. In 1969, he founded the theatre group ''Tritirtha'' in Balurghat. Up to 2008, a total of 58 plays were staged under his production and direction, including ''Tin Bigyani'', ''Jal'', ''Galileo'' and ''Debangshi''.

As a fully dedicated theatre practitioner, he worked not only as an actor and director, but also took on responsibilities such as narrator, composer, lighting designer, costume designer, and set designer. He is regarded as the guiding force behind the “theatre movement” of Balurghat.<ref name="Jiyobangla"/>

Altogether, he wrote nearly sixty plays, including short plays, one-act plays, and full-length productions. His last acting performance was in 2017 in the [[Rajbanshi language|Rajbanshi-language]] production of ''Raktakarabi''. His final directorial work was ''Banduk'' in 2018. Although his thoughts on theatre remained vibrant, declining health prevented further active involvement. He spent his retirement maintaining close contact with his colleagues from ''Tritirtha''.<ref name="bp">{{Cite web | title = Mon bhalo nei, natok likhchhen na Harimadhab | url = https://bartamanpatrika.com/detailNews.php?cID=16&nID=359346&nPID=20220401 | access-date = 5 April 2024 | archive-date = 22 December 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241222042502/https://bartamanpatrika.com/detailNews.php?cID=16&nID=359346&nPID=20220401 | url-status = dead}}</ref>

===Plays written===
Among several others, these are the plays he wrote.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Title
!Notes
|-
| ''Dosh Putul''
|one of his first two plays; based on a story by [[Agatha Christie]]
|-
|Bahvarambha
|one of his first two plays; based on a story by [[Anton Chekhov]]
|-
| ''Shishupal''
|
|-
| ''Aniket''
|
|-
| ''Bichhan''
|
|-
| ''Kharij''
|
|-
| ''Matritantrik''
|
|-
| ''Nikat Ganga''
|
|-
| ''Debangshi''
|1983
|-
| ''Khīrer Putul''
|
|-
| ''Chouryagatha''
|
|}

===Plays directed and performed===
Among several others, these are the plays directed and performed by him.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Title !! Notes
|-
| ''Pap o Papi'' ||
|-
| ''Akkel Selami'' ||
|-
| ''Bondi Bir'' ||
|-
| ''Chhera Kagojer Jhuri'' ||
|-
| ''Pakhir Basa'' ||
|-
| ''Natyakarer Sandhane Chhoti Charitra'' ||
|-
| ''Rajanigandha'' ||
|-
| ''Char Prahar'' ||
|-
| ''Chhayanayika'' ||
|-
| ''Putul Khela'' ||
|-
| ''Brishti Brishti'' ||
|-
| ''Bishay June'' ||
|-
| ''Chhutir Khela'' ||
|-
| ''Tin Bigyani'' ||
|-
| ''Jal'' || 1980
|-
| ''Bichhan'' || 1985 (Hindi play)
|-
| ''Chirakumar Sabha'' ||
|-
| ''Debigirjan'' ||
|-
| ''Mantrashakti'' ||
|}

==Awards and honours==
* In 1977, he received the ''Dishari'' Award for producing and directing ''Debigirjan'' by [[Bijon Bhattacharya]];
* The Government of West Bengal's Department of Information and Cultural Affairs awarded his play ''Debangshi'' as Best Production;
* In 2007, he was awarded the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] for theatre direction by the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]];
* In 2019, [[Raiganj University]] conferred upon him an honorary D.Litt. degree;
* In 2026, he was posthumously honoured with the [[Padma Shri]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|language=bn|title=Moronottor Padmashrite sommanito natyo byaktitva Harimadhab Mukhopadhyay, abege bhashchhe Balurghat|url=https://www.sangbadpratidin.in/bengal/actor-hari-madhav-mukherjee-awarded-in-padmashree-posthumous-balurghat-overjoiyed/pid/1120947/|access-date=26 January 2026|website=sangbadpratidin}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Padma Awards – Awardees|url=https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/PadmaAwards/padmaawardees|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250722125213/https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/PadmaAwards/padmaawardees|archive-date=22 July 2025|access-date=26 January 2026|website=Padma Awards}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Balurghat]]
[[Category:University of Calcutta alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]

Hari Madhab Mukhopadhyay - Revision history

SherleneGirardi at 20:34, 14 March 2026