Theatre Director Satyadev Dubey, credited with Introducing Existential & Absurd Theatre died

Theatre director, screenplay writer and actor Satyadev Dubey, credited with introducing existential and absurd theatre, passed away on 25 December 2011. Dubey was a maverick who went on to become a theatre guru.

Born in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, in 1936, Dubey's first ambition was to become a cricketer. However after coming to Mumbai, he gave up the idea of becoming a cricketer.

He gave up that ambition as he got attracted to the post-1947 theatre that was emerging in the city. He joined Theatre Unit, the theatre group-cum-school founded by Ebrahim Alkazi.  Although he came from the Hindi heartland, he was equally at ease on Marathi and Gujarati stage.

Dubey came into prominence with Dharamvir Bharati’s radio-play Andha Yug that brought to the fore the pervasive criminal and homicidal tendencies during the times of war.

By early 70s, Dubey shifted to Marathi playwrights. He also directed a documentary and a feature film in Marathi language. Dubey’s significantly contributed to Mumbai theatre by introducing Theatre of the Absurd inspired by playwrights like Sartre, Beckett, Durrenmatt and Ionesco.

He penned down the screenplay for Shyam Benegal’s film Bhumika as well. He penned screenplays/dialogue of some acclaimed films in the 1970s, including Shyam Benegal's Nishant, Ankur, Kalyug and Bhumika, and also acquired a distinct identity as theatre director-teacher.

In his career spanning four decades, he directed or produced plays of the prominent playwrights who shaped the modern Indian theatre: Girish Karnad (Yayati, Hayavadana), Badal Sarkar (Evam Indrajit, Pagla Ghoda), Mohan Rakesh (Aadhe Adhure), Vijay Tendulkar (Gidhade, Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe),  Chandrashekhara Kambara (Aur Tota Bola). He is also credited with discovery of Dharam Vir Bharti's play 'Andha Yug', which he recommended to Alkazi.

Awards

He won the Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue in 1980 for the film Junoon. He also won the Silver Lotus Award in 1978 for Best Screenplay for the fim Bhimika. He shared this award with Shyam Benegal and Girish Karnad