Govind Ram Nirmalkar

Govind Ram Nirmalkar (1935–2014) was an Indian actor and folk theatre artist, known for his contributions to the Nacha folk theatre of Chhattisgarh. His portrayal of the protagonist in Charan Das Chor, a play by Habib Tanveer, won him critical acclaim. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 2009, for his contributions to Arts. He was also a recipient of the 2012 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

Biography Govind Ram Nirmalkar was born in Mohara, a small village in Rajnandgaon district of the Indian state of Chhattisgarh on 10 October 1935. His early training was under Madanlal Nishad, a noted artist of the Nacha Theatre, the traditional folk theatre of the state. He trained playing the traditional music instruments of Dholak and Manjira and started participating in Nacha shows as an accompanist. In 1971, he moved to the Naya Theatre of Habib Tanvir where he stayed till his retirement in 2005. Lala Shoharat Rai, Mitti ki Gaadi, Bahadur Kalarin, Jis Lahore Nai Dekhya, Hirma ki Amar Kahani, Ponga Pundit and Agra Bazar are some of the other notable Naya Theatre productions he performed in.

Nirmalkar died on 27 July 2014 at B. R. Ambedkar Memorial Hospital, Raipur in Chhattisgarh, succumbing to brain hemorrhage that followed a prolonged period of illnesses. It is reported that he was in debts and died in poverty. Padmashri Govind Ram Nirmalkar Auditorium, an auditorium at Rajnandgaon is named after him.