Bibhash Chakraborty is a famous name in the Bengali theatre circuit. Over the years he has been involved in various plays and dramas and performed in different stages in Bengali theatre. Though he started an a government servant in his initial years, but his love, passion and dedication for drama and play, made him quit his secure jobs and take up the latter as profession. An esteemed winner of Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 1989, Bibhash Chakraborty, has added numerous styles and ideas in Bengali theatre. Over the years he has been part of many popular plays, sometimes as actor and director, and mostly writing the same.
Early Life of Bibhash Chakraborty
Bibhash Chakraborty was born in the year of 1937. He was a prominent actor and director after the formidable presence of Sombhu Mitra, Utpal Dutt, and Ajitesh Bandyopadhyay. He was born in Sylhet, East Bengal, and studied at Presidency College, Kolkata. He began as an acting trainee in Bohurupee, soon joined Nandikar on Bandopadhya`s invitation in 1963. Here his acting and directorial capabilities received exposure, but he fully blossomed with Theatre Workshop, which broke away from Nandikar in 1966.
Career in Theatre for Bibhash Chakraborty
Some of his best performances, by Bibhash Chakraborty, in both capacities were recorded in original drama by Theatre Workshop. Such as Mohit Chattopadhyaya`s Rajrakta i.e. `Royal Blood` in 1971, Manoj Mitra`s Chakbhanga Madhu i.e. `Honey Fresh from the Hive` in 1972, Ashwatthama in 1974, and Narak guljar i.e. `Hell Let Loose` in 1976, and Chattopadhyaya`s Mahakalir bachcha i.e. `Mahakali`s Child` in 1978. Under Anya Theatre, which he formed in 1985 after parting from Theatre Workshop, his production Madhab Malanchi-kainya i.e. `Madhab and the Girl Malanchi` in 1988, based on east-Bengali ballad lore, became a landmark in Bengali theatre for its sheer romance. Chakraborty`s acting is remembered for its authenticity and wry comedy, especially as the old villager Jata in Chakbhanga Madhu, the priest Raghupati in Rabindranath Tagore`s Bisarjan i.e. `Immersion` in 1984, and in a Bengali version of Samuel Beckett`s Endgame in 1993 directed by Leonardo Shapiro. However, he had a forgettable stint in Jatra in the years of 1982-84. He also wrote a play, Vietnam, for Theatre Workshop, and adapted from Brecht and Dario Fo.
Bibhash Chakraborty served as producer (1974-88) at the Kolkata centre of Doordarshan, the national television network. He took up an assignment after resigning a Government of India job. Since 1988 he has freelanced, directing for other troupes. Among this some are memorable including a selection of plays on women tided Varna i.e. `Woman` in 1990 for Rangakarmee and Mrityu na hatya i.e. "Death or Murder" from Fo`s Accidental Death of an Anarchist in 1999 for Nandipat. He usually remain busy in occasionally acting in non-commercial films, directing TV movies, teaching part-time at Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, organizing his theatre colleagues in forming Natya Samhati, etc. Natya Samhati is a charitable venture for indigent theatre workers and doing sundry event management. He stays in the forefront of social and cultural campaigns to revive commitment for the Bengali language as well.
Awards Received by Bibhash Chakraborty
Bibhash Chakraborty, in the year 1989, received Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
