Kumara Varma (born April 1945) is an Indian theatredirector. To date, he has directed at least thirty-six Indian and Western plays during the past five decades, including Raja Oedipus, Urubhangam, Mattavilasam, Abhijnana Shakuntalam, Ashadh Ka Ek Din, Baaki Itihas, Uddhwast Dharmashala, Six Characters in Search of an Author, Death Watch, Agg De Kaleere ("Blood Wedding") and Leedli Nagari ki Neeti Katha ("The Visit").
Between 1968 and 1973 Kumara Varma was actively involved in the Natakakalari movement (New-theatre Movement) in Kerala, organizing workshops and directing plays in collaboration with playwrights such as C. N. Srikanthan Nair, G. Sankara Pillai and Kavalam Narayana Panikkar. Some of his productions of this period include Nair's Saketam, Pillai's Bandi and Panikkar's Sakshi.
Varma joined the Faculty of the Department of Indian Theatre at Panjab University in 1973 as Lecturer and later became Professor.[1] He has also chaired the Department and has been the Dean of the Faculty of Design and Fine Arts. He was also formerly a Secretary of the Punjab University Teachers Association (PUTA). Kumara Varma was awarded the Italian Government Scholarship in 1979 and studied the History of Theatre and Drama at the University of Rome. Besides having represented India in the UNESCO World Theatre Conference at Paris in 1980, he has also studied theatre in many countries. He received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship in 2016.[2]
Productions
2000
Leedli Nagari Ki Neeti Katha (2001), a Hindi adaptation of Friedrich Dürrenmatt's The Visit by Kumara Varma for the Department of Indian Theatre, P. U., Chandigarh
Ahijnana Shakuntalam (2001), by Kālidāsa for the National School of Drama, New Delhi
Agg De Kaleere (April 2003), a Punjabi adaptation of Garcia Lorca's Blood Wedding by Surjeet Pattar for the Department of Theatre & Television, Punjabi University, Patiala
Teen Bhautik Shastri (2004), a Hindi translation of Friedrich Dürrenmatt's The Physicists for the Department of Indian Theatre, P. U., Chandigarh
Ek Dalit Yuvati Ki Dukh Bhari Dastan (2005), a Hindi adaptation of M. Mukudan's Oru Dalit Yuvatiyude Kadana Katha for the Repertory Company of the National School of Drama, New Delhi[3]
Warren Hastings Ka Saand (2008), a stage adaptation of Uday Prakash's Hindi short story for the Department of Indian Theatre, P.U., Chandigarh.
"Begum Panikkar",(2012), a Malayalam adaptation of Satish Alekar's Marathi play "Begum Barve" for the Department of Theatre, Sri Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, Kerala.
"Andorra", (2014), Malayalam translation of Max Frisch's play "Andorra" by S. Sunil Kumar for the School of Drama & Fine Arts, University of Clicut, Thrissur.
1990
Shehar Hamara (1990), a Hindi adaptation of Thornton Wilder's Our Town for the Department of Indian Theatre, P. U., Chandigarh
Death Watch (1991), by Jean Genet for Sahridaya Sangam, Chandigarh
Rishte Hi Rishte (1994), a Hindi adaptation of Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker for the Department of Indian Theatre, P. U., Chandigarh
Bury the Dead (1996), by Irwin Shaw for the Department of Indian Theatre, P. U., Chandigarh
Jana Shatru (1999), a Hindi adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People by J. N. Kaushal for the Department of Indian Theatre, P. U., Chandigarh
1980
Six Characters in Search of an Author (1980), by Luigi Pirandello for the Department of Indian Theatre, P. U., Chandigarh
Mattavilasam (1982–83), by Mahendra Vikrama Varman for the Department of Indian Theatre, P. U., Chandigarh
Urubhang (1984), by Bhasa for the Department of Indian Theatre, P. U., Chandigarh
Men Without Shadows (1985), by Jean-Paul Sartre for the Department of Indian Theatre, P. U., Chandigarh
Agg De Kaleere (1986), a Punjabi adaptation of Garcia Lorca's Blood Wedding by Surjit Pattar for the Department of Indian Theatre, P. U., Chandigarh
1970
Jabala Satyakaman (1970), by Kavalam Narayana Panikkar for Koothamplam, Alleppey
Kakkarissanatakam (1970), a folk play from Kerala for the Department of Tourism, Kerala state
Bhagavadajjukam (1971), by Bhodhayana for Kerala Sangeet Natak Akademi
Enikkusesham (1972), by Kavalam Narayana Panikkar for Thiruvarang, Alleppey
Daivathar (1973), by Kavalam Narayana Panikkar for Thiruvarang, Alleppey
A Doll's House (1973), by Henrik Ibsen for the Department for Indian Theatre, Panjab University, Chandigarh
Baaqui Itihas (1975), by Badal Sircar, for Indian Arts Revival Group, Chandigarh
Ashadh Ka Ek Din (1976), by Mohan Rakesh, Janvadi Rang Manch, Chandigarh
The House of Bernarda Alba (1976), by Lorca for Sutradhar, Chandigarh
Durmati Bhanda Phoota (Tartuffe) (1977), by Molière for the Department of Indian Theatre, P. U., Chandigarh
Ottayan (1977), by Kavalam Narayana Panikkar for Thiruvarang, Trivandrum
Raja Oedipus (1978), by Sophocles for the Department of Indian Theatre, P. U., Chandigarh
Uddhvast Dharmashala (1979), by Govind Deshpandey for Natika
1960
Chakra (1967), by Vidyadhar Pundalik for the National School of Drama
Hori (Godan) (1967), by Premchand for the Repertory Company of the National School of Drama, New Delhi
Bandi (1968), by G. Sankara Pillai for Suvarnarekha, Trivandrum
Sakshi (1968), by Kavalam Narayana Panikkar for Koothapalam, Alleppey
Kazhukanmar (1968), by G. Sankara Pillai for The Dramatic Club, Cashew Board, Quilon
Saketam (1969), by C. N. Srikantan Nair for Suvarnarekha, Trivandrum
Thiruvazhithan (1969), by Kavalam Narayana Panikkar for Koothamplam, Alleppey
