Eminent playwright Habib Tanvir passes away

By Agencies

Noted playwright and theatre director Habib Tanvir died at a hospital here after a brief illness. He was 85. 

The theatre legend was admitted to the National Hospital here three weeks back after he complained of breathing problems and was put on a ventilator, family sources said. 

His daughter Nageen was at his bedside when the end came. 

Born on September 1, 1923 at Raipur, Habib began his career as a journalist and went on to become a highly renowned playwright. 

Known for his plays like Agra Bazar and Charandas Chor, Tanvir founded the Naya theatre company here in 1959. 

He also scripted many films and acted in a few of them. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1969 and Padma Shri in 1983. Habib was given the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 1996 and honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2002. 

A large number of people from the theatre and art world in the city thronged Habib's residence here to pay their last respects to him.