New Delhi, Aug 4 (UNI) Theatre legend Ebrahim Alkazi died of a heart attack in a private hospital here on Tuesday afternoon.

He was 94 and is survived by his son Faizal Alkazi and daughter Amal Allana, who are themselves prominent theatre artists of the country.

Indian theatre doyen, director and legendary drama teacher had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for a long time.

He died after suffering a heart attack at the Escorts hospital.

Amal Allana, the daughter of Alkazi and a former president of the National School of Drama, told UNI that her father died about 2:45 pm. His funeral will take place on Wednesday.

She is engaged in preparations for the funeral due to COVID.

President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu have condoled the passing away of the theatre doyen, saying he was credited with reinventing and revolutionising Indian theatre.

Saying his death leaves a void in the world of performing arts, Mr Kovind offered his condolences to the bereaved family, saying "Alkazi, the doyen of Indian theatre, mentored and inspired generations of artists. His death leaves a void in the world of performing arts. A Padma Vibhushan recipient, his legacy will live on."

Expressing sorrow at the passing away of the theatre virtuoso, Mr Naidu said Alkazi was credited with reinventing and revolutionising Indian theatre.

"As director of National School of Drama, he helped set a new course for theatre in India. His passing is a great loss to the art and theatre fraternity of India. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. May his soul rest in peace," the message said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep condolences on the demise of Alkazi and recalled his role in popularizing theater across the country.

Mr. Modi tweeted that Alkazi popularized the theater. He will always be remembered for this. “Mr. Alkazi had made significant contribution in the field of art and culture. I am deeply saddened by his demise and I am with his family in times of grief. May his soul rest in peace,' the PM said.

National Theater School Director Suresh Sharma, former Directors Devendra Raj Ankur, Satish Anand, Kajal Ghosh, Sharad Sharma, Mahesh Anand, Ravindra Tripathi and many theater personalities and theater critics have deeply mourned the demise of Alkazi and said that his demise was the end of an era.

Alkazi served as the director of National School of Drama (NSD) from 1962 to 1977.

In a tweet, the NSD said, 'NSD Family deeply mourn passing away of Theatre Legend, Padma Vibhushan Shri #EbrahimAlkazi, Ex Director of NSD from 1962-77. This is a great loss to the country and specially to the Theatre World.'

Alkazi, who revolutionised theatre in India, was one of the most prominent theatre artistes in Mumbai during the 1940s and 1950s.

At the age of 37, Alkazi moved to Delhi and served as the director of National School of Drama (NSD) from 1962 to 1977.

As director of National School of Drama, he shaped the course of modern Indian theatre, establishing links between traditional vocabulary and modern idiom.

Alkazi did powerful renditions of Greek tragedies, Shakespeare, Henrik Ibsen, Chekov and August Strindberg.

Later, Alkazi quit the NSD and theatre and set up the gallery Art Heritage with his wife in New Delhi, and built his collection of art, photographs and books.

Alkazi trained artists like Om Shivpuri, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Vijay Mehta, Manohar Singh, Uttara Baokar, Rohini Hattangadi and Anupam Kher.

Alkazi was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1962 and was later conferred with the Academy's highest honor.
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