Vinod Kumar. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Jan. 10: Ever heard of comedy plays with a political message like Ek Gadha: Urf Alladad Khan and Teen Tilange? These are some of the brilliant plays directed by Vinod Kumar who won the National Award for Aakrant, a Hindi feature film starring all top parallel cinema artists of their time.

Kumar, a professor at Ranchi University, has brought several laurels for himself and the state by having won various prestigious awards at the national-level for his poetry and script writing. Apart from being a dedicated teacher at the Ranchi University, Vinod Kumar is also a dramatist, a poet and a critic of life and literature.

Under the literary name of Vinod Kumar, he directs and acts on stage, radio and television.

Rangayan, the well known theatre troupe and the first of its kind in the capital is the concept of this artist who has put in a lot of efforts into giving shape to his dreams. He formed Rangayan when theatre was an unknown concept in the capital.

“I started writing down my expressions and ideas since childhood and struggled throughout my formative years. In the beginning, I interacted with actors, actresses, philosophers and activists to enrich my knowledge and experience about life and my surroundings,” said Kumar.

He has directed 11 plays, which have been highly appreciated not only in the capital but also in other places like Delhi and Mumbai. His play, Bheed Mein Raunda Hua Aadmi, was awarded by the Haryana government for an excellent script.

“My plays are based on political consciousness and anti-establishment concepts, keeping myself close to the masses and their problems. Some of my plays have been translated into various languages like Bengali, Marathi and Kannada,” said Kumar.

A total of 130 shows have been successfully organised of the 11 plays written and directed by him. However, he does not believe in the concept of free shows saying that the concept of free shows is prevalent only in Jharkhand.

“I will organise a seminar on Social Changes and the Role of Dramas very soon as well as a theatre festival for the young to learn more about plays and theatre,” added Kumar.

His television serials like Yeh Log were telecast on the national channel in 1988. Vinod said he was a witness to social oppressions through Saleeb, a magazine carrying the writings of Sharat Chandra and other renowned Indian writers.