Home > Entertainment > Indian Drama & Theatre > Ramesh Mehta
Ramesh Mehta
Ramesh Mehta as a director, actor, translator and playwrit redefined the style of Hindi theatre.

Share this Article:

Change to a large extent in the style of Hindi theatre was introduced by the great Hindi theatre personality, Ramesh Mehta. Rameshwar Nath Mehta, popularly known as Ramesh Mehta Born in the year 1923 on the 7th day of August, is reckoned as a name in the sphere of Hindi theatre. Famous as a playwright, director, actor and translator, Ramesh Mehta to a great extent redefined the style of Hindi theatrical form.

The childhood and early education of Ramesh Mehta had been spent amidst the serenity of Jammu and Kashmir as his father was an employee of the Jammu and Kashmir Government. After the death of his father Ramesh Mehta shifted to Lahore and completed his graduation from Dayal Singh College, Lahore. It was during this time while in college he became interested in Theatre. The scaffolding of the Coronthian Theatre`s Parsi plays for the very first time seeded his theatre interest. However it was much after his return to Delhi, Ramesh Mehta for the greater interest id limning his theatre interest, joined the "Three Arts Club". The first job that he got at the three arts club was that of a prompter. However, within no time Ramesh Mehta impressed all as he not only restricted himself into prompting but at the same time also suggested some new dialogues for the play, which improved the over all performance. That was just the beginning and with a deep interest for the art form, theatre Ramesh Mehta penned the first play of his life in the year 1949. Named as "India Today", the play was continuously staged for four days at the Messey Hall of Delhi. The following year again he wrote another play, Dahej.

The year 1950 was an important year in Ramesh Mehta`s theatre career. He wrote his third play, Dasturi, which was published with the title of Damad and had six successful shows. Gradually Ramesh Mehta established himself as the in-house writer of the Three Arts Club. More than ten full length plays, a dozen one act plays and also translation works of plays from different regional languages like Telugu (N.R. Nandi`s Maro Mohanjodaro), Bengali (Shambhu Mitra`s Kanchanranga), Gujrati (Bakul Tripathi`s Leela), Marathi (Mama Warerkar and Vasant Kanetkar`s plays) are still counted as his wonderful creations. Some of Ramesh Mehta`s plays like Under Secretary, Dhong, Hamara Gaon, Faisla became as if the milestones of contemporary Hindi theatre. Just not in the numbers of his plays, Ramesh Mehta`s greatness lies in his immense contribution through his plays. It was he who restructured the culture of drama and inculcated the habit of going to the theatre hall in the common man of the Delhi city. Ramesh Mehta, is indeed one of the very few stalwarts of Indian theatre who has so very well performed the role of writer, director and the actor. He was an institution in himself.

A number of awards have been bestowed to Ramesh Mehta to acknowledge his contribution. He has been awarded with Chamanlal Memorial Award for lifetime achievement, Sahitya Kala Parishad, Delhi Award, Delhi Natya Sangh Award, Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademy Award, besides many other awards like the best playwright award etc. His Talent has been recognised as a great actor by offering him the Sangeet Natak Akademy Award, in the year 2007.

Plays written by Ramesh Mehta

Plays Year Plays Year
India today 1949 Uljhan 1955
Dahej 1950 Dhong 1956
Dastoori (damad) 1950 Under secretary 1958
Faisla 1951 Roti aur beti 1960
Apradhi kaun 1952 Bade aadmi 1966
Jamana 1952 Khuli baat 1969
Hamara gaon 1954


One act and short plays written by Ramesh Mehta
Hisab barabar Kya musibat hai Shararat Panch parmeshwar Bhai-band Andhera aur ujala Ek tha buddha
Pagal Lakshmi ke pujari Namak ka daroga Swang Panch lakh Moorkh billiyan


Plays directed by Ramesh Mehta
pagal Uljhan Under secretary Bade aadmi Paisa bolta hai Katha naqad narain ki Inspector general
Faisla Dhong Roti aur beti Khuli baat Wah re insaan Rang kachche aur pakke Bin chehron ke purush



Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in Indian Drama & Theatre


Gondhal Dance
Gondhal is a religious performing folk art of Maharashtra. It is performed on special days like when there is a newborn in a family or marriage.
Tamasha Folk Dance
Tamasha is a folk art, which includes the love songs, which are traditional lavanis and dance along with the music.
History of Indian Theatre
The history of Indian theater is therefore the saga of changing tradition and the account of changing ritualism.
Indian Dramatist
Indian dramatists maintained Indian drama as a distinct art form.
Sringara Rasa
Sringara Rasa is mentioned in Natyashastra as one of the important rasas. The Sthayi bhava in Sringara rasa is Rati or love.
History of Indian Drama
History of Indian Drama is rich with Vedas and Indian epics and has gradually changed with time and remains unaffected by any foreign influence.
Navarasas - Natyashastra
Nine rasas or navarasas, described in Natyashastra contours the structure of Indian drama.
History of Kannada Theatre
History of Kannada theatre brings forth the richness in the Kannada culture. Theatre of Karnataka has been greatly inspired from various other forms of regional theatre in India.
Powada - Marathi Ballad
Powada is a Marathi ballad describing heroic deeds of valour by great warriors and kings.
Jatra - Bengali Folk Drama
Jatra is a form of folk drama from West Bengal, which includes acting, songs, music and dance by travelling troops
Kuvempu
Kuvempu is a literary acronym of Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa - a popular Kannada actor-playwright.
Natyashastra
Natyashastra by Bharata muni is the most detail and elaborate of all treatises on dramatic criticism and acting ever written in any language and is regarded as the oldest surviving text on stagecraft in the world.
History of Bengali Theatre
Blessed with its rich heritage the history of Bengali theatre is the saga of the journey of Bengali Theatre
Bhavai - Folk Theatre of Gujarat
Bhavai is a popular folk theatre form of Gujarat that belongs to the tradition of theatre of entertainment.
Theatre In Ancient India
Theatre in ancient India in a systematic manner was introduced by Bharat Muni who prefaced the term "roopaka".
Bidesiya - Folk Theatre Dance
Bidesiya is one of the most popular folk theatre dance forms of Bihar which is said to have originated in the 20th century.
Regional Theatre in India
Regional theatre in India, in different Indian languages and regions, developed as an important element of Indian culture and tradition.
Koodiyattam
Koodiyattam is the oldest existing classical theatre form of the world. It has been recognised by UNESCO as a Human Heritage Art.
Indian Theatre Festivals
Indian theatre festivals help to bridge the gap between the various regions of the country. It also helps to bridge the gap among people and participants!
Kariyila Folk Dance
Kariyila is one of the most appealing and popular folk drama forms of Himachal Pradesh, portraying social satire with the accompaniment of folk dance and music.
Bengali Theatre
Bengali theatre had developed as a prominent form of protest movement during the colonial period. But with time it has made a niche for itself.