Bhai Gursharan Singh Memorial Award for thespian Jatinder Brar

Amritsar, February 6

Punjab Natshala founder and eminent playwright Jatinder Brar has been conferred Bhai Gursharan Singh Memorial Award by the Punjabi Sahit Akademi for his contribution to Punjabi theatre. Padma Shri awardee Dr Surjit Patar, head, Punjabi Sahit Akademi, gave away the award to Brar, who despite being a septuagenarian, manages and curates theatre festivals at Punjab Naatshala.

Earlier, Brar has received accolades and honours, including Punjab Gaurav and Shiromani Natakakar. A mechanical engineer by profession, Brar’s love for theatre and literature can be gauged from the fact that he converted his factory located in front of Khalsa College into a theatre hub, now known as Punjab Naatshala. It started as an open-air theatre in the year 1998 and is recognised globally today for the state-of-the-art technology and hosting several theatre festivals. Artistes from more than two dozen countries have performed here. So far, 3,000 shows have been held here. Many noted names of Indian film and entertainment industry, including Kapil Sharma, Bharti Singh and Chandan Prabhakar, have been nurtured here.

Celebrated actors like Seema Biswas, Nadira Babbar, Juhi Babbar and Rajit Kapoor have performed at Punjab Naatshala.

Brar has composed around 100 plays and short stories, and produced several of his plays including Kudessan, Saka Jallianwala Bagh and others. A film has been made on his play Kudessan and one of his play Padaan is taught in the BA syllabus.

While presenting the award, Patar said, “Brar’s services can never be forgotten. He has put Punjab on the world stage through theatre. All this will be remembered for the generations to come.”