Makhan Lal Saraf A living Legend of Kashmiri Theater

Face to Face Talk with the Kashmiri Migrant Theater Legend Mr Makhan Lal Saraf Director, Editor, DoP, Muzammil Mustafa Host Murtaza Fazily The Srinagar born, self-taught, senior-most, sought after actor of the valley manifested into a Theatre Producer Director, A-grade Radio Artiste, Television actor, Empanelled Producer (PBBCI) outside Director (DDK Srinagar) and a popular Playwright - with dozens of Plays, Documentaries and tele-films to his credit besides being an author of two books on dramatics one of which is in the syllabus of Kashmiri department, University of Kashmir, Srinagar. Has the credit of having produced and directed works of reputed Playwrights, on stage, like Ali Mohd. Lone, Pushkar Bhan, Sajood Sailani, G.R Santosh, Moti Lal Kemmu, Bansi Nirdosh, Avtar Krishen Rehber and Hriday Kaul Bharti - all of which brought him: 1) Production Awards for all the plays he produced 2) A medal for "Best Acting" by J&K Government 3) Five best Acting Awards by J&K Academy 4) Two play‑script Awards by J&K Academy 5) "Natya Saman" from Allahabad Natya Sangh 6) Recognition as Actor/Director by Bakshi Memorial Society 7) Recognition for "Life Achievement" by Sadiq Memorial Society 8) Award for "Life time Achievement" by Jehlim Art Society 9) Best Play Award-Inter-college Drama Festival‑ 1994 Mr. Makhan Lal Saraf is a popular name amongst the masses in Kashmir valley - for his contribution in Radio plays as a voice and as Actor in Television plays and serials - through DDK Srinagar and Kashmir Channel. He has acted in the very first Kashmiri films - 'Manziraat' and 'Mehjoor' besides in a serial programme for small screen directed by Sham Benegal. Mr. Saraf has grown under the guidance of Shri. R.K Braroo and Shri. Pran Kishore, with whom he traveled throughout the country and performed in Trivanthpuram, Bangluru, Madras, Calcutta, Lucknow, Chandigarh, New Delhi - through J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages with operatic form of plays directed by Pran Kishore. He is on the penal of adjudicators for Drama festivals organized by the Academy of Art, Culture and languages ‑ and teaches in workshops as well. He is a member of a number of Socio‑cultural organizations in and outside the state of Jammu and Kashmir, like UTKAL Sanskritik Sangh / Allahabad Natya Sangh / Sanat Nagar/ Sanskritik Sangh – Hyderabad/Bhartiya Natya Sangh. Mr. Saraf is an active member (Executive Member) of EKTA - Kashmir Theatre Academy. His articles on Drama appear in varied journals published by Sangeet Natak Academy, Academy of Art, Culture and languages, Srinagar, Nagrad ADBI Markaz, Oxford Press, New Delhi, etc. His popular stage plays are PRODUCTION AWARDS GRAND REHEARSAL - 1967 TALAASH - 1969 BE CHUS TSOOR - 1970 FUNDBAAZ - 1971 INSAAF - 1972 AKNANDUN - 1974 BADSHAH - 1975 DR. FA STUS - 1976 NARKAPURI - 1978 YES LAGI TAS LAGI SARKERI - 1983 BAAZGUSHT - 1994 TAQDEER SAAZ - 1967, a Trend Setter Production BUS AKH TAMAH - KUS LOG DAVAS -