Navnindra Behl is an Indian theatre and television director, writer and actor.
Early life
Behl was born in a
Jatt Sikh
Jat Sikh (also known by the more conventional endonym Jatt Sikh) is a sub-group of the Jat people and the Sikh religious group from the Indian subcontinent. They are one of the dominant communities in the Punjab owing to their large land holdin ...
family.
[ She started stage acting when she was just three years old. Besides participation in plays at school and college, she got involved in amateur theatre at ]Patiala
Patiala () is a city in southeastern Punjab, northwestern India. It is the fourth largest city in the state and is the administrative capital of Patiala district. Patiala is located around the '' Qila Mubarak'' (the 'Fortunate Castle') constru ...
a former princely state in India, and did her post graduation in Punjabi literature
Punjabi literature, specifically literary works written in the Punjabi language, is characteristic of the historical Punjab region of India and Pakistan and the Punjabi diaspora. The Punjabi language is written in several scripts, of which the Sha ...
.
Career
Shortly after her graduation, Navnindra Behl joined Drama Department of Punjabi University
Punjabi University is a collegiate state public university located in Patiala, Punjab, India. It was established on 30 April 1962 and is only the second university in the world to be named after a language, after Hebrew University of Israel. ...
, Patiala
Patiala () is a city in southeastern Punjab, northwestern India. It is the fourth largest city in the state and is the administrative capital of Patiala district. Patiala is located around the '' Qila Mubarak'' (the 'Fortunate Castle') constru ...
as a lecturer. Besides writing and directing a number of stage plays, Navnindra owns the credit for training and grooming many stage, television and film artists during her career of 37 years as lecturer, reader, professor and head of department. She was Director, Audio Visual Research Centre funded by CEC ( University Grants Commission, Delhi) for 3 years and has 25 years' experience of teaching production, direction and acting for television at Patiala University and as visiting faculty in various institutes. She has acted in numerous stage plays.
She has an experience of 30 years as writer, actress and director in television industry. She has directed films and serials for television, written scripts for television programmes for Doordarshan
Doordarshan (abbreviated as DD; Hindi: , ) is an Indian public service broadcaster founded by the Government of India, owned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and one of Prasar Bharati's two divisions. One of India's largest b ...
, documentaries for Central and Punjab Government Departments, documentaries and educational programmes for Audio Visual Research Centre, CEC, Delhi and Films Division.
She has 15 years' experience as writer and actress in film industry and has acted with film makers of high repute such as Gulzar
Sampooran Singh Kalra (born 18 August 1934), known professionally as Gulzar, is an Indian Urdu poet, lyricist, author, screenwriter, and film director known for his works in Hindi cinema. He is regarded as one of greatest Urdu poets of this ...
(''Maachis
''Maachis'' (transl. ''Matchsticks'') is a 1996 Indian period political thriller film directed by Gulzar and produced by R. V. Pandit. It stars Chandrachur Singh, Om Puri, Tabu, and Jimmy Sheirgill. The film portrays the circumstances surro ...
'', 1996), Dibakar Banerjee
Dibakar Banerjee (born 21 June 1969) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer and advertisement-filmmaker known for his work in Hindi films. Banerjee started his career in advertising, being a feature filmmaker, he still continues t ...
(''Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!
''Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! '' is a 2008 Indian comedy film starring Abhay Deol, Paresh Rawal, Neetu Chandra, Manu Rishi, Manjot Singh and Archana Puran Singh. It was directed by Dibakar Banerjee. The film won the National Film Award for Best Popu ...
''), Vishal Bhardwaj
Vishal Bhardwaj (born 4 August 1965) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, music composer and playback singer. He is known for his work in Hindi cinema, and is the recipient of seven National Film Awards and a Filmfare Award.
Bha ...
(''Gubaare'') and Hollywood projects like The Pride and ''The Guru''.
She has been member on the selection panels of UPSC (for theatre & media), Rabindra Bharti University & has been on the list of board of experts and advisors of Indian Theatre Deptt., Punjab University, Chandigarh, Doordarshan Kendra, Jullundur & Deptt. of Cultural Affairs Ministry, Delhi Govt.
In addition to being Member Syndicate and Member Academic Council, Punjabi University, Patiala, she has been on the panel as eminent visiting faculty of Punjab University, Jaipur University, Garhwal University, GNDU University, Amritsar, Film & Television Institute Kolkata, Mumbai University, etc.
Author of ten books, as creative writer, research related subjects on theatre and media studies, she has made significant contribution as resource person and keynote speaker at many conferences, seminars and workshops on cinema, television and theatre.
Filmography
As producer
* Vijji Amma, a documentary of the life of social activist Vijji Srinivasan for Films Division, Mumbai.
* Rangmanch Ke Teen Rang, a documentary on Folk Theatre Forms of North India produced by North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala.
* Dhund, Hanera te Jugnu, a documentary on elections in Punjab for Punjab Govt.
* Many documentaries and lecture series for Educational Multi Media Research Centre, Govt. of India.
* Khanabadosh, a 13-part serial for Department of Adul Education, Govt. of India, New Delhi.
* Woh Ladki Serial for Doordarshan
* Roop Basant Serial for Doordarshan
* Peele Patton Ki Dastan tele serial for Doordarshan
* Rani Kokilan tele film for Doordarshan
* Chirion Ka Chamba tele film for Doordarshan
As director
* Vijji Amma, documentary
* Rangmanch Ke Teen Rang, documentary on Folk Theatre Forms of North India produced by North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala.
* Dhund, Hanera te Jugnu, documentary
* Many documentaries and lecture series for Educational Multi Media Research Centre, Govt. of India.
* Khanabadosh, a 13-part serial
* Bruhon Paar Na Jayin, Stage Play
* Sadda Jaggon Seer Mukkeya, Stage Play
* Naun Baran Dus, Stage Play
* Kashmir Diary, Stage Play
* Razayi, Stage Play
* Bandmaster, Stage Play
* Bhabi Maina, Stage Play
* Kumaraswami, Stage Play
* Peele Pattean Di Dastan, TV Serial
* Wo Ladki, Telefilm
* Roop Basant' Serial for Doordarshan
* Rani Kokilan, Telefilm
* Chirion Ka Chamba, Telefilm
* Saanp, Stage Play
* Bagula Bhagat, Stage Play
* Daldal, Stage Play
* Baaki Itihas, Stage Play
As a writer
* Peele Pattean Di Dastan, TV Adaptation of Novel by Dalip Kaur Tiwana
* Bruhon Paar Na Jayin, (Adaptation of The House of Bernarda Alba
''The House of Bernarda Alba'' ( es, La casa de Bernarda Alba) is a play by the Spanish dramatist Federico García Lorca. Commentators have often grouped it with '' Blood Wedding'' and '' Yerma'' as a "rural trilogy". Garcia Lorca did not i ...
)
* Sadda Jaggon Seer Mukkeya, Stage Play (Adaptation of Baldev Dhaliwal's story)
* Naun Baran Dus, Stage Play (Adaptation of Varyam Sandhu's story)
* Kashmir Diary, Stage play
* Razayi Stage Play (Adaptation of Veena Varma's story)
* Bandmaster, Stage Play (Translation of Hungarian play Totek)
* Bhabi Maina, Stage Play (Adaptation of Gurbaksh Singh Preetladi's story)
* Kumarswamy, Hindi Stage Play, 1981
* Aakhiri Natak, Stage Play
* Nayak Katha, Hindi Stage Play, 1976
As an actress
*Dil Boley Oberoi
''Dil Boley Oberoi'' ( The heart says Oberoi) is an Indian television series which aired on Star Plus. It is the spin-off to ''Ishqbaaaz''. It was the first Indian spin-off series and starred Shrenu Parikh and Kunal Jaisingh.
Synopsis Omkar ...
, Hindi TV Serial
* Ishqbaaaz
''Ishqbaaaz'' ()(international title :Game of love ) is an Indian romantic drama television series that aired from 27 June 2016 to 15 March 2019 on Star Plus. It initially starred Nakuul Mehta, Surbhi Chandna, Kunal Jaisingh, Shrenu Parikh, ...
, Hindi TV Serial
* Peterson Hill, Hindi TV Serial
* Mukti Bhawan
''Hotel Salvation'' (known in India as ''Mukti Bhawan'') is a 2016 Indian film written and directed by Shubhashish Bhutiani and produced by Sanjay Bhutiani. The film is a comedy-drama about a son who is forced to set his job aside to accompany ...
, Hindi Feature Film
* Queen, Hindi Feature Film
* Viji Amma, Documentary
* Sadaa-E-Vaadi, Hindi TV Serial
* Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, Hindi Feature Film
* Gubaare, Tele Film
* The Pride
* The Guru.
* Peele Patteyan Di Dastaan, Punjabi TV Serial
* Viji, Hindi TV Serial
* Khanabadosh, Urdu TV Serial
* Sunehri Jild, Punjabi Telefilm
* Pankhudian, Punjabi TV Serial
* Roop Basant, Punjabi TV Serial
* Mahasangram, Hindi TV Serial
* Ved Vyas Ke Pote, Hindi TV Serial
* Maachis, Feature Film
* Afsane, Hindi TV Serial
* Aatish, Hindi Telefilm
* Rani Kokilan, Punjabi Telefilm
* Wo Ladki, Hindi Telefilm
* Chirion Ka Chamba, Hindi Telefilm
* Tapish, Hindi Telefilm
* Happy Birth Day, Hindi Telefilm
* Ruliya, Punjabi Teleplay
* Blood Wedding, Stage Play
* Thes, Hindi Telefilm, 1985
* Buniyad, Punjabi Serial
* Ruliya, Punjabi Telefilm, 1985
* Suryast, Hindi Stage Play, 1981
* The Chairs, Hindi Stage Play, 1977
* Pagla Ghoda, Stage Play
* Suryast, Hindi Stage Play, 1977
* Surya Ki Antim Kiran Se Surya Ki Pehli Kiran Tak, Hindi Stage Play, 1976
* Daldal, Stage Play
Published works
* Aawan, Punjabi Translation of Chitra Mudgal's Hindi novel
* Miss Julie, Stage Play (Translation of Strindberg's play)
* Mahamarg, Stage Play (Translation of Strindberg's The Great Highway
''The Great Highway'' ( sv, Stora landsvägen) is the last play by Swedish playwright August Strindberg. The original title is ''Stora landsvägen''. Structured as a journey play in seven stages, it is an allegory of the individual's passage thro ...
)
* Takdi Dhir, (Translation of Strindberg's The Stronger)
* Abhinay Kala, Book on Art of Acting
* Nataki Sahit, Book on Dramatic Literature
* Bharti Theatre, Book on Indian Literature
* Rangmanch Ate Television Nata
Book on Theatre & Television*
Awards
*Awarded as producer and director at first Indo-Soviet Russian Film Festival in 1989–90 for the video film "Chirion Ka Chamba" produced for Delhi Doordarshan.
*Awarded as best writer by Sahitya Kala Parishad, Delhi Administration in 1984 for the script "Kumarswamy".
*“Akashwani Award" for best writer by M/o Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of India.
*“Rashtriya Ratan Award" for contribution to film and television industry by International Friendship Forum, New Delhi.
*Honoured for contribution to cinema by Human Rights Organisation for the film Maachis directed by Gulzar.
*Awarded and honoured by Manch – Rangmanch, Amritsar for achievements in the field of theatre and media.
Personal life
Behl is the eldest daughter of dramatist and theatre personality Kapoor Singh Ghuman. Her husband Lalit Behl
Lalit Behl (15 August 1949 – 23 April 2021) was an Indian actor, director, producer and writer.
Early life
Lali Behl started acting as a college student and won inter varsity contest. He formed a theatre group at Kapurthala (Punjab) alon ...
was a theatre and television director-actor. Her son Kanu Behl
Kanu Behl (born 1980) is an Indian film director and screenwriter. He is known for his work in Hindi cinema.
He assisted director Dibaker Banerjee on the cult hit ''Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!'' and co-wrote ''LSD: Love Sex aur Dhokha''.
His direc ...
is a film writer and director.
References
External links
*
Books
{{DEFAULTSORT:Behl, Navnindra
1949 births
Living people
Actresses from Delhi
Indian stage actresses
Indian television actresses
Indian theatre directors
Indian women television directors
Indian television directors
Indian women television producers
Indian television producers
Punjabi University faculty
Indian women theatre directors
20th-century Indian actresses
Actresses in Hindi television
20th-century Indian film directors
Film directors from Delhi
Indian women screenwriters
Dramatists and playwrights from Delhi
Indian documentary film directors
Indian women television writers
Indian television writers
Women writers from Delhi
20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights
Indian women documentary filmmakers
Businesswomen from Delhi
Film producers from Delhi
20th-century women writers
Women television producers
Indian Sikhs