Accolades on stage doyen Ankur’s b’day

Lucknow: Theatre artists and enthusiasts together celebrated 75th birthday of veteran director and former director of National School of Drama, Devendra Raj Ankur, in the city on Sunday.
Organised by Nipa Rangmandali, the programme began with a play, ‘Ek Stree Ke Karname’, based on a story by Suryabala and directed by Ankur. It was followed by theatre artists sharing several memories of them working with Ankur.Besides, he was felicitated and he cut the ceremonial cake during the programme.
Speaking during the programme, theatre veteran Raj Bisaria explained why he fondly regarded Ankur as Lao Tzu, saying the latter is a person who is well read, knowledgeable, capable and master of his trade. “Ankur too has been a creator of ‘kahaani ka rangmanch’ (story-based theatre) and others have imitated him. He is a creator, a thinker and a teacher,” said Bisaria. Nautanki actor and director Atamjeet Singh said his Meghdoot theatre group would not have survived if Ankur had not been there to support. “It was just a year since Harimohan Samson began the group when he suddenly passed away. Ankur directed three plays without taking any fee and governing all finances by himself,” said Singh.
Theatre artists Suryamohan Kulshrestha, Mridula Bharadwaj, Siddharth Pakrasi, BNA director Dinesh Khanna and Anil Rastogi also spoke about contribution of Ankur .