New Delhi, June 8 (ANI): Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh expressed grief over the demise of noted Hindi and Urdu playwright, theatre director, poet and actor Habib Tanvir on Monday.

Tanvir passed away in Bhopal after a brief illness. He was 85.

Prime Minister in his condolence message said that Habib Tanvir was one of the most influential theatre personalities of our times and would always be remembered for reviving the folk theatre and folk art forms.

Acutely aware of social and political struggles, Tanvir linked his art and imagination to the day-to-day struggles of the common man, Dr. Singh further added.

PM also expressed his sincere condolences to the bereaved members of Habib Tanvir’s family and his innumerable admirers.

Tanvir wrote plays such as, Agra Bazar (1954) and Charandas Chor (1975), and founded the Naya Theatre in Bhopal, in 1959. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1969, Padma Shri in 1983, Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 1996, and the Padma Bhushan in 2002.

Tanvir had also been nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha (1972-1978). (ANI)