Patiala-based Pran Sabharwal gets Padma Shri

Patiala, January 27

City-based 93-year-old Pran Sabharwal is not a new name in the field of theatre and has been instrumental in promoting it and organising plays for the past two decades. An eminent theatre artiste and director, Sabharwal is one of the two personalities who have been awarded the Padma Shri from Punjab for their outstanding contribution in the field of art.

Associated with theatre and acting for the past seven decades, he has been running the National Theatre Arts Society (NTAS) since 1952.

Born in Jalandhar on December 9, 1930, Sabharwal, inspired by Prithivraj Kapoor, retired from the erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board. He shifted his base to Patiala in 1988. “I have dedicated my life to theatre and will continue to do so. Nurturing young talent and ensuring that they get some training through my initiative still inspire me,” said Sabharwal.

“Theatre is one medium which helps the artiste convey a message strongly to the audience,” he said. Sabharwal is one of the founder faculty members of the Department of Speech, Drama and Music at Punjabi University.