The cine industry, on Tuesday, lost yet another pioneer. Legendary thespian and father of modern Indian theatre Ebrahim Alkazi breathed his last on Tuesday afternoon after a massive heart attack. He was 94 years old. Feisal Alkazi, the son of the longest-serving director of the National School, confirmed the news to a media agency and informed that the thespian was admitted to the hospital a day before passing away. Soon after the news broke, several Bollywood actors offered condolences on social media.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who is an alumnus of the National School of Drama, penned a eulogy for his Ebrahim Alkazi. "The true architect of the Modern Indian Theatre. The Doyen who possessed the extreme knowledge in all the aspects of ART. The magician who nurtured many greats of theatre. May your brightest spark from the heaven keeps us enlightening," he wrote.
The true architect of the Modern Indian Theatre. The Doyen who possessed the extreme knowledge in all the aspects of ART. The magician who nurtured many greats of theatre.
May your brightest spark from the heaven keeps us enlightening #EbrahimAlkazi
#RIP pic.twitter.com/PjYxRybpSr— Nawazuddin Siddiqui (@Nawazuddin_S) August 4, 2020
Manoj Bajpayee offered condolence by tweeting, "REST IN PEACE ALKAZI SAHIB!! we need more teachers like you !!! "
REST IN PEACE ALKAZI SAHIB!! we need more teachers like you !!!
— manoj bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) August 4, 2020
Randeep Hooda wrote, "The Guru of Gurus so many have learnt from and tried to emulate .. Ebrahim Alkazi - the real father of Modern Indian Theatre .. may the light you shone keep shining through countless others as it shines through now .. Rest in Peace Sir condolences to the family"
The Guru of Gurus so many have learnt from and tried to emulate .. Ebrahim Alkazi - the real father of Modern Indian Theatre .. may the light you shone keep shining through countless others as it shines through now .. Rest in Peace Sir condolences to the family pic.twitter.com/20SYTDu67u
— Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) August 4, 2020
Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub wrote on Twitter, "Just got the sad news...#EbrahimAlkazi sahab passed away...end of an era for sure...one of the pillars of modern Indian theatre....RIP sir "
Just got the sad news...#EbrahimAlkazi sahab passed away...end of an era for sure...one of the pillars of modern Indian theatre....RIP sir
— Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub (@Mdzeeshanayyub) August 4, 2020
Ebrahim Alkazi joined NSD in 1962 and was the director till 1977. The thespian also produced plays like Girish Karnad's Tughlaq and Dharamvir Bharati's Andha Yug. He was the mentor of actors including Naseeruddin Shah, Surekha Sikri, Pankaj Kapur and late Om Puri.
(Source: PTI/Twitter)