For a few years, Manohar Singh devoted more time to films and television serials. He also received acclaim in roles of unsympathetic characters like the headman in Prakash Jha's Damul i.e. 'Bonded until Death' in 1984. The role of the prizewinner in Govind Nihalani's cinematization of Mahesh Elkunchwar's Party in 1984, the newspaper owner in Ramesh Sharma's New Delhi Times in 1985, and the food dealer in Kumar Shahani's Kasba in 1990. All of these roles are masterpieces. The second phase of his theatre career started in 1989 with the Theatre and Television Associates' adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear, directed by Amal Allana, in which he acted Lear's Hindi counterpart. He took up a new challenge, female impersonation, as the lead in Himmat mai i.e. 'Brechts Mother Courage' in 1993. In Satish Alekar's Begum Barve in 1996 and Karnad's Naga-mandala in 1998 respectively he performed the man enacting female roles and the snake that visits a woman every night in the garb of her husband. His powerful portrayal of these difficult characterizations, all under Allana's direction, re-emphasized his versatility. Manohar Singh died in 2002. This article is a stub. You can enrich by adding more information to it. Send your Write Up to content@indianetzone.com |