Jammu, November 20 — The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages (JKAACL) deeply mourns the loss of renowned theatre luminary, Mushtaq Kak, who passed away today. A multitude of theatre and cinema personalities gathered to pay their respects to the departed soul.
Born on September 11, 1961, in Jammu, Mushtaq Kak was a distinguished theatre director and a recipient of the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. He served as the former director of the Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts in New Delhi and was known for his extensive contributions to theatre, conducting workshops and directing numerous plays in various languages.
Kak began his theatrical journey as a backstage artist and gradually ventured into directing plays in Dogri, Urdu, English, and Sanskrit. His repertoire included over 100 plays, showcasing his directorial prowess and versatility. Notable productions directed by him encompassed works by celebrated writers such as Saadat Hasan Manto, Anton Chekhov, Jean Paul Sartre, Krishan Chander, Shakespeare, and many others.
Acknowledged with both Junior and Senior Fellowships from the Department of Culture, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Kak conducted numerous production-oriented theatre workshops, leaving an indelible mark in the field.
Apart from his impactful presence in theatre, Mushtaq Kak made significant contributions to Indian cinema, portraying memorable roles in movies between 2007 and 2022. His notable performances in films like “Amal,” “Sikandar,” “Vishwaroopam,” “Shikara,” among others, showcased his versatile acting talent.
His invaluable contributions earned him accolades from esteemed institutions such as the Sangeet Natak Akademi, JKAACL, Srinagar/Jammu, and the Sahitya Kala Parishad, New Delhi.
Bharat Singh, Secretary of JKAACL, expressed that honoring Mushtaq Kak’s legacy involves following his path and vision, highlighting the enduring impact he made in the realm of theatre and cinema.
Prominent personalities, including Khalid Hussain, Dr. Javaid Rahi, Arvinder Singh Amn, Dr. Liaqat Jafri, Deepak Kumar, Sandeep Ratan Verma, Ravinder Koul, and numerous artists from diverse artistic domains, gathered to offer their condolences and mourn the loss of this legendary artist.
