Habib Tanvir passed away on 8th June 2009 in Bhopal. He was in his mid-eighties. Founder of Naya Theatre, Tanvir�s unique contribution to theatre was his ability to create a modern theatre steeped in a folk idiom. His take on Nacha, a popular folk form of Chattisgarh brought him and his esteemed company of actors the wide recognition that they deserved.
His productions like AGRA BAZAAR, CHARANDAS CHOR, PONGA PUNDIT and others stand amongst some of the most important contributions to Indian Theatre. Recipient of prestigious awards like the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Padma Shri, Tanvir was also regarded as a true citizen of the world and a living theatre legend. His is survived by his daughter Nageen Tanvir.
IPTA Mumbai will hold a condolence meeting on Friday 12 June 2009 at 6pm at Prithvi Theatre, Juhu, Mumbai
Amongst Tanvir�s recent productions was RAJ-RAKT, which was also perhaps the last of his plays to be staged in Mumbai. The production was showcased at the Nehru as well as the Prithvi Theatre festivals in 2006. Tanvir had spoken at length about the making of this production in an interview that this site had then conducted.
