Born in 1952 in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Shri Rajkamal Nayak is a well-known writer and actor. In
his formative year he honed his skills while working with Habib Tanvir from 1975-79, and with B.V.
Karanth between 1985-88 in Bharat Bhavan Rangmandal, Bhopal. During this period, he worked as an
actor and backstage artist in many productions, directed by leading directors like Habib Tanvir, B.V.
Karanth, Peter Brooke, Fritz Bennewitz, John Martin, Kavalam Narayana Panikkar and Bansi Kaul
among others.
Shri Nayak's primary contribution has been the unique assimilation of other genres into theatre, like
poetry. He has presented around one hundred fifty poems of twenty-five Indian poets (including
Muktibodh, Tagore, Jaishankar Prasad, Ajneya, Faiz, Nagarjun, Bhavani Prasad Mishra, Radhuvir
Sahay, Dhoomil, and Sarveshwardayal Saxena), and nine poets from world poetry (including Brecht,
Mychovski, Neruda, and Kalbasi). He has presented modern poetry in Chhattisgarhi translation as
well. He has directed many plays including Jadu-Jangal, Dularibai, Alag Muluk ka Bashinda, Badka
Saheba, Bharat Durdasha, Are Mayavi Sarovar, Ek Ladki Paanch Diwane, to name a few.
A recipient of the senior fellowship of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, he has
conducted theatre workshops in many cities of the country organized by prominent institutions. He
is the former editor of periodicals Rang Samvad and Silsila, and has contributed articles to journals and
magazines such as Dharmayug, Sarika, Natarang, Natyam, Sakshatkar, Rang Samvad, Akshar Parva, etc.
Shri Nayak has been felicitated by a number of institutions for his contribution to theatre including
the Chakradhar Samman, the Rajya Alankaran, among others.
Shri Rajkamal Nayak receives the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contribution to Indian
theatre as a director.