Manjul Bhardwaj is an actor, director, writer, facilitator, and initiator in theatre. He is from Dahkora Village in Jhajjar District of Haryana, India.[1] For the past 25 years, he has been based in Mumbai and dedicated himself to creating "The Theatre of Relevance." As a writer and director, he has written and directed more than 25 plays.[2]

Manjul Bhardwaj
Born
Dahkora, Bahadurgarh, Jhajjar, Haryana, India
Occupation(s)Actor, writer, director, social activist

In 1992, Bhardwaj founded The Experimental Theatre Foundation, a pioneering theatre movement in India.[3][4][5] He has conducted more than 300 "Theatre of Relevance" workshops[3] for a variety of organizations, institutions and groups, in 28 states of India[6] as well as abroad[7] (Singapore and Germany).[8][9] Brandeis University sends students for internship to understand fundamentals, principles, concepts and processes of "Theatre of Relevance".[10]

His work has focused on issues such as child labour,[11][12] people affected by HIV and AIDS,[13] and what is known as "Sex-Selection" (the homicide of female fetus).[14][15][16][17][18]

In 2006, he and his group were invited in "Kinder Kultur Karawane"[19] by Buro Fur Kultur Und-Medien Projekte to Germany to perform the play "Vishwa – The World" for 41 days from 10 September to 20 October 2006.[20] The play was performed 24 times in 13 cities of Germany (Hamburg, Ahrensburg, Berlin, Dessau, Penzberg, Biberach, Dobeln, Wiesbaden, Marburg, Chemnitz, Aschaffenburg, Freiburg and Radolfzell).[21][22]

Theatre career

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Bhardwaj has written or directed the following plays:

Sr.No. Year Name of The Play Language Subject Play Time First Time Presented At First Time Presented on
1 1993 Door Se Kisi Ne Aawaj Di Hindi Secularism & National Integration 30 Mins Birla Krida Kendra, Girgaon, Mumbai 12 February 1993
2 1993 Dekha Dekhi Hindi Commercialization & Middle Class 60 mins Karnataka Sangh, Matunga, Mumbai 17 April 1993
3 1994 Mera Bachpan[23] Hindi Child Labour 40 Mins Gautam Nagar, Charkop, Kandivali (W), Mumbai 12 April 1994
4 1994 Dwandwa Hindi Household Violence 30 Mins Tata Community Centre, Chembur, Mumbai 31 July 1994
5 1998 Napunsak Hindi Political & Social Satire 50 Mins Sydenham College, Churchgate, Mumbai 9 March 1998
6 1998 Main Aurat Hun Hindi Women Identity 30 Mins Mumbai University, Mumbai 11 April 1998
7 1999 Vidya Dadati Viniyam Hindi Importance of Education 40 Mins Karnataka Sangh, Matunga, Mumbai 13 January 1999
8 2000 B-7[24] English Globalization, Privatization, & Commercialization 50 Mins UNESCO Theatre, Hannover, Germany 7 September 2000
9 2001 B-7[25] Hindi Globalization, Privatization, & Commercialization 50 Mins Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai 18 January 2001
10 2002 Dhundh Hindi Child Sexual Exploitation 50 Mins A.V. Room, N.C.P.A. Mumbai 21 November 2002
11 2003 Red Light Hindi Human Trafficking 50 Mins Mumbai Police Gymkhana, Mumbai 16 March 2003
12 2005 Ladali Hindi Sex/Gender selection – Female Foeticide 60 Mins Tata Theatre, S.P.P.A.A. Mumbai 9 June 2005
13 2006 Vishwa – The World English Youth Struggles Dreams & their Idols 70 Mins Aufführung, "Kultur im Betrieb", Beiersdorf AG, Unnastraße 48, Hamburg, Germany 12 September 2006
14 2012 Chhed Chhad Kyun?[26] Hindi Eve-teasing and Sexual Harassment 70 Mins Ravindra Natya Mandir, Mumbai 28 September 2012
15 2013 Garbh[27] Hindi Awakening Human within Human 80 Mins Ravindra Natya Mandir, Mumbai 1 March 2013
16 2013 Drop by Drop :Water[28][29] Hindi Celebrating water's life-sustaining virtue but strongly opposing its Privatization 70 Mins Kinder Kultur Karawane −2013, Hamburg, Germany 31 August 2013
17 2015 Anhad Naad-Unheard Sounds of Universe[30] Hindi Liberation of Art & Artists from Birth 90 Mins Ravindra Natya Mandir – Dadar (W) Mumbai 29 May 2015
18 2016 Sangrash Shetkaryancha Marathi Plight of Farmers & Agricultural Crisis in India 60 Mins Sindhudurg, Maharashtra May 2016
19 2017 Nyay ke Bhanwar Main Bhanwari[31] Hindi Women Liberation to Challenge the Authority of Patriarchy 70 Mins M L Bhartia Auditorium, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 3. 17 November 2017

Awards/Nominations

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  • UNFPA-Laadli Media Awards for Western Region for Gender Sensitivity 2006–07 – Category – 16. Theatre- Street Theatre Manjul Bhardwaj, Experimental Theatre Foundation[32]

Theaters / Workshops Conducted

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Dates Location Name of the Theater / Workshop In Association with
4 June 2012 15 – June 2012 Ashirwad Bhawan, Dongargarh, Chhattisgarh Bal Rang Karyashala – "Aao Khele Natak" The Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) Dongargarh, Chhattisgarh

Corporate Trainer

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Bhardwaj is also a human process facilitator and corporate trainer. He has evolved "Theatre of Relevance" based training modules in corporate and management development. He is experimenting and implementing "Theatre of Relevance" based training modules for more than a decade in reputed public and private sector companies i.e., ONGC, Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC Ltd), Central Bank of India and Reliance Energy (Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group).

His concept ‘Role of theatre of Relevance in HR’ is used as pedagogical tool to learn HR process in EMPI's Udai Pareek[33][34] HR labs in EMPI Business School, Delhi.[35] He has also intervened in understanding human processes through theatre in ISABS. He is a visiting faculty in a number of institutions, academies and organizations in India and abroad.

References

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  1. ^ Mukherji, Anahita (3 March 2012). "An actor and an activist". The Times of India Crest Edition. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  2. ^ "17 years of Theatre of Relevance". www.etfindia.org. The Experimental Theatre Foundation. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  3. ^ a b "About The Experimental Theatre Foundation (ETF)". www.etfindia.org. The Experimental Theatre Foundation. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  4. ^ "Decade of theatre activism". MiD DAY Infomedia Ltd. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  5. ^ "KinderKulturKarawane 2006 - The Power of Culture". www.kinderkulturkarawane.de.
  6. ^ Shetty, Vijay. "Manjul Bhardwaj with Nicobari Children—A report". www.etfindia.org. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  7. ^ Dube, Darshana. "Worldwide acceptance of the concept". The Experimental Theatre Foundation's Initiative. Archived from the original on 21 October 2008. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  8. ^ Baumann, Till. "Metaxis. The Theatre of the Oppressed Review, No.3/2004 (to be published)" (PDF). www.tillbaumann.de. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  9. ^ "" Vishwa – The World" Was performed 24 times for 41 days in all over Germany". The Experimental Theatre Foundation. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  10. ^ International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life. "Internship Ideas". Brandeis University. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  11. ^ Wajihuddin, Mohammed. "He directs children on the stage of life". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  12. ^ Mukherji, Anahita (3 March 2012). "An actor and an activist". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  13. ^ Singh, Ivninderpal. "Preparing people to perform on life's stage". The Tribune Chandigarh. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  14. ^ "Girls break gender barriers, find identity in theatre". Indian Express. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  15. ^ "Cause & effect". Indian Express. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  16. ^ Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) Workshop. "Childline 1098 Service – Profiles of Resource People". Childline India Foundation. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  17. ^ "Theatre Creating Environmental Awareness". Indian Wildlife Club. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  18. ^ "An unequal world". Afternoon Despatch & Courier Mumbai India. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  19. ^ "Westfälische Rundschau - Manjul Bharadwaj". www.kinderkulturkarawane.de.
  20. ^ "KinderKulturKarawane 2006 - The Power of Culture". www.kinderkulturkarawane.de.
  21. ^ "kinder kultur karawane 2006" (PDF). www.kinderkulturkarawane.de. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  22. ^ ""Vishwa – The World" Was performed 24 times for 41 days in all over Germany". The Experimental Theatre Foundation. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  23. ^ "Experimental Theatre Foundation, Mumbai". www.kinderkulturkarawane.de.
  24. ^ "रंगढंग - सात छोटे पक्षी उडताहेत जर्मनीच्या दिशेने !". Archived from the original on 11 April 2013.
  25. ^ "Mumbai reports 1,011 new Covid-19 cases, 2 deaths; active tally at 5,852". Mid-day.com. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  26. ^ "Collegians perform play to keep eveteasers at bay". DNA India. 25 September 2012.
  27. ^ "Saamana – Marathi News Paper Dt 7 March 2013". Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  28. ^ Global SOFA GLOBAL State OF Art -Ekvilib Institute – Creative caravan – The project is supported by the Ministry of foreign affairs of the Republic of Slovenia Archived 2 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  29. ^ India News Calling Aug 17, 2013 – Chandigarh Archived 3 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  30. ^ "प्रयोग वैचारिक चिंतनाचा!". Maharashtra Times. 29 May 2015.
  31. ^ Bajeli, Diwan Singh (18 August 2017). "Theatre of relevance". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  32. ^ "UNFPA-Laadli Media Awards for Western Region 2006–07 under Theatre- Street Theatre Category". Population First. Archived from the original on 31 December 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  33. ^ "Theatre of Relevance (Role of theatre in Management Education) Workshop by Mr. Manjul Bhardwaj".[permanent dead link]
  34. ^ "Dr. Udai Pareek share his views on Theater of Relevance".[permanent dead link]
  35. ^ "EMPI's Udai Pareek HR labs in EMPI Business School, Delhi".[permanent dead link]