Goutam Halder (born 9 December 1963) is an Indian

theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a Stage (theatre), stage. The performe ...

and

film A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

actor An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...

from

Kolkata Kolkata, also known as Calcutta ( its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary ...

. He has appeared in more than 50 theatrical productions since 1981 across various troupes, and is the recipient of several accolades including a ''State Award of Best Production'' for ''Meghnad Badh Kabya in 1995'', ''State Award as Best Director'' for ''Chile Kothar Sepai in 1997'', ''Aditya Vikram Birla Kala Kiran Award'' by '' Government of Maharasthra in 2001'' and '' Shyamal Sen Smriti Samman in 2013''. After graduating from Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College, Rahara Goutam Halder followed his heart into theatrical pursuits where he started gaining tutelage in Nandikar’s Comprehensive Theatre Training, 1986-87 where he gained knowledge, experience and practice under stalwarts like Rudraprasad Sengupta (Guru), Shombhu Mitra (Theatre legend), Khaled Chowdhury(Acclaimed scenographer), Tapas Sen (renowned Lighting Designer), Martin Russell (Fools Theatre, New York) among others. Halder’s career began with his portrayal of Jaisingha in Bisarjan at Bhatpara Sanskritik Chakra which had been directed by Hara Bhattacharya. After completion of his training programme at Nandikar, he went on to direct and act in plays like Football (1986), Shesh Shakkhatkar (1988), Pheriwalar Mrityu(1993), Meghnad Badh Kabya (1995), Nagar Kirtan (1997), Sojon Badiyar Ghat (2003) among multiple others, under the banner of Nandikar. In 2009, he formed his own troup
Naye Natua
which has also produced multiple successful plays. He is the President of the troupe.

Early life and personal life

Halder was born on 9 December 1963 in, Bhatpara, West Bengal, India. He has a younger brother. He graduated from Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College, Rahara. He has been trained in

Kathak ''Kathak'' is one of the eight major forms of Classical Indian dance, Indian classical dance. Its origin is attributed to the traveling bards in ancient northern India known as ''Kathakar'' ("storyteller"), who communicated stories from the ...

at Padatik Dance Centre under Guru Vijay Shankar. He has also dedicatedly learnt

Bharatnatyam ''Bharatanatyam'' is a Indian classical dance form that came from Tamil Nadu, India. It is a classical dance form recognized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and expresses South Indian religious themes and spiritual ideas of Hinduism and Jain ...

in Kerala Kalamandalam under Guru Govindan Kutty and Thankamani Kutty. He has been learning

Modern dance Modern dance is a broad genre of western concert dance, concert or theatrical dance which includes dance styles such as ballet, folk, ethnic, religious, and social dancing; and primarily arose out of Europe and the United States in the late 19th ...

and Movement and

Martial Arts Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; ...

under Guru Sudipta Kundu since 2000. He has also trained himself in Classical vocal music under Guru Ashis Chattopadhyay and Guru Prabir Datta since 1986.

Performing arts career

After completion of his Graduation, Halder began his career at Nandikar with the play Football (1986), directed by Rudraprasad Sengupta where he played the lead role of Hari. Following his start, he starred in other plays directed by Rudraprasad Sengupta like Shesh Shakkhatkar (1988), Sankhapurer Sukanya (1990) and Pheriwalar Mrityu (1993). Apart from Nandikar, Goutam Halder has also worked with other troupes and played significant and leading roles in their productions. They include Mephisto (2002), Shah Jahan (Natyaranga, 2003), Meyeti (Kalyani Natyacharcha Kendra, 2008), Dream Dream (Sansriti, 2009), Bisarjan (Tritiyo Sutra, 2010), Itsy Bitsy (Hate Khori, 2012), Caligula (Prachyo, 2013), Altaf Gomes (Sansriti, 2013), Arabya Rajani (Paikpara Indraranga, 2014), Mumbai Nights (Minerva Repertoire Theatre, 2015), Kalkreta (Swapnalu, 2015), Ila Gurdhoisha (Theatre Platform, 2015), Nilima (Prachyo, 2016), Mudrarakhshash (Belgharia Angan, 2016) and Chayapother Seshe (Natyorongo, 2023).

Theatrical Career as an actor and director

Goutam Halder made his directorial debut in Nandikar with Meghnadbadh Kabya in 1995, followed by Nagar Kirtan (1997), Brechter Khonje (1998), Calcutta Calcutta (1999), Ei Sahar Ei Somoy (2000), Maramiya Mon (2000), Borda (2002), Kabye Gaane (2002), Sojon Badiyar Ghat (2003) and Amake Dekhun (2007). He has also played the lead role in the following plays as well. Goutam_Halder_as_Othello

After forming his own troupe, Naye Natua in 2009, he directed and acted in Jaal (2009), followed by plays like Jama Kharach (2009), Missed Call (2009), Meghnadbadh Kabya (2009, revived), Borda (2009, revived), Amake Dekhun (2009, revival), Osama (2012), Lakshmir Pariksha (2012), Nana Range Rabi (2012), Othello (2013), Haoai (2015), Thakurmar Jhuli (2015), Moimonsingha Geetika (2017), Mrichchhakatika (2018), Nakshi Kathar Math (2020), Mitali (2022) and Doosra (2024). Career as a film actor: Goutam Halder has acted in films like Tadanto (dir. Nitish Roy), Alinagarer Golokdhadha (dir. Sayantan Ghoshal), Maya Mridanga (dir. Raja Sen), Shri Swapankumarer Badami Hyenar Kobole (dir. Debaloy Bhattacharya), Badnaam (dir.Nitish Mukherjee), Tara (dir. Bratya Basu), Artha (dir. Anjan Dutt) and Imaginary Line (dir. Josey Joseph).

Lectures and Workshops

Halder has given lectures at Georgia University, Athens, Georgia, USA, Edinburgh Theatre Festival, Scotland and International Dance & Theatre Festival, Goteborg, Sweden. Halder has also conducted various theatre workshops such as Naye Natua’s Theatre Training Programme, Nandikar’s annual Theatre Training Programme for the Young, Nandikar’s Theatre-in-Education Programmes in Secondary Schools since 1989, Nandikar’s Project In Search of Children’s Theatre, Trainer at BLP for Murugappa Group of Industries, Chennai, Trainer-Judge at British Council Theatre Festival among various others. He has also conducted various workshops at various others troupes all over India.

Goutam Halder on stage and screen

Stage

Film

Film and Television

He also acted in Bengali movies and Television show directed by Bengali directors like

Raja Sen Raja Sen (born 10 November 1955) is an Indian film and television director and the winner of three National Film Awards from Kolkata, West Bengal, India. He is the father of Subhasree Sen and Sreyoshi Sen. Career Raja Sen first received reco ...

, Nitish Roy. Rajendra Prasad Das, Subhendu Chakraborty, * ''Shri Swapankumarer Badami Hyenar Kobole'' (2024) by Debaloy Bhattacharya * ''Alinagarer Golokdhadha'' (2018) by Sayantan Ghosal * ''Maya Mridanga'' (2016) by

(co actors - Rituparna Sengupta,

Paoli Dam Paoli Dam (born 1980) is an Indian actress who started her career with the Bengali television serial ''Jibon Niye Khela'' (2003). She then worked in Bengali television serials such as ''Tithir Atithi'' and ''Sonar Harin''; the former ran for ...

, Debshankar Halder) * ''Tadanto'' (2016) by Nitish Roy (co actors - Rahul Banerjee, Priyanka Sarkar, Rituparna Sengupta, Debshankar Halder, Kaushik Sen). *'' Karunamoyee Rani Rasmoni'' (2017-2022) *'' Mahapeeth Tarapeeth'' (2019-2022)

Awards

* Awarded Scholarship by Department of Culture, Govt. of India (1993-1995) * Awarded Junior Fellowship by Department of Culture, Govt. of India (1997-1998) * Awarded Senior Fellowship by Department of Culture, Govt. of India (2004-2006) * State Award of Best Production for ''Meghnad Badh Kabya'' in 1995 * State Award as Best Director for ''Chile Kothar Sepai'' in 1997 * Awarded Aditya Vikram Birla Kala Kiran Award (2001) by Government of Maharashtra * Awarded Shyamal Sen Smriti Samman (2013) by Swapnasandhani – theatre troupe directed by eminent actor Koushik Sen.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Halder, Goutam 1956 births Living people Bengali theatre personalities Male actors from Kolkata