Amritsar bids farewell to two icons of art & theatre

Virsa Vihar, Amritsar, organised a tribute ceremony in memory of renowned playwright and founder member of the Virsa Vihar Society Jatinder Brar and eminent painter Baldev Gambhir, who passed away within a span of a week due to age-related ailments.

The ceremony was held at the Kartar Singh Duggal Auditorium and was attended by artists from various fields, who paid heartfelt tributes to the two cultural stalwarts. Playwright and theatre personality Kewal Dhaliwal, who shared a close association with both Brar and Gambhir, spoke about his long journey with them and their lasting influence.

“Both of them inspired a generation of artists in their respective fields through their commitment to their craft and by mentoring young talent. Their contribution to developing the art and cultural ecosystem of Amritsar remains unchallenged,” Dhaliwal said.

He also announced that a theatre festival featuring plays written by Jatinder Brar would be organised at Virsa Vihar, while a painting competition would be held in memory of Baldev Gambhir.

Noted actor Jatinder Kaur, who collaborated with Jatinder Brar on several occasions, paid tribute by recalling the plays, films and performances they worked on together over the past five decades. Shiromani Children’s Literature Award recipient Kulbir Singh Suri said he would always regret not being able to meet Jatinder Brar in his final days as he was abroad at the time.

Similarly, Dr Ritu Sharma, playwright and theatre personality Jagdish Sachdeva paid tributes to Brar, while senior painter Kulwant Singh, art critic Brijesh Jolly and writer Artinder Sandhu spoke about Baldev Gambhir’s artistic journey and association with them.