Trilok Dass-the veteran theatre director passes away

JAMMU, Aug 14: Trilok Dass, the veteran theatre director and actor of yester years passed away here today after a brief illness. He was 69. Born in 1931 at Srinagar, Trilok Dass (Dhar) was lucky to receive his early training from his father Madhav Dass. After a short stint in State government service, he landed up in Calcutta in 1949 to train himself for a bigger role in acting. Subsequently he joined Gemini Studios in Madras and acted in "Mr Sampat" and a few other films.

Problems at home forced him to return and re-take up the government job. He founded his own theatre group-Kala Kendra, where he trained leading theatre artists MK Raina, Bansi Kaul, Krishan Langoo and Upender Khushoo. This centre, located at Shivala temple, Chota Bazaar had been inaugurated by the great actor, late Prithvi Raj Kapoor.

Late Dass, whose death has orphaned the Kashmir Theatre Movement, directed and acted in a number of plays. "Habba Khatoon" (written by Dina Nath ‘Madrer’), "Mango", "Pagal Graduate", "Taanta Kor" (written by Sajjad Sailooni), "Aaram Haram Hai", "Bina Deewaron Ke Ghar"--the plays in which he acted made him a household name in Kashmir. For his role of ‘Badshah’ in the play "Aaram Haram Hai", he was awarded the Best Actor Award of J&K Cultural Academy.

The judge was the Mohan Maharishi. In the autumn of his life, Trilok Dass made his mark as a great educationist by founding a chain of schools. An institution by himself the like of him perhaps will not be seen for many years. He did his community and other Kashmiris proud by his significant achievements