ABOUT ATUL YADVANSHI

Shri Atul Yadvanshi is a leading Indian artist who has been widely acclaimed for his contributions made in the field of Folk Arts especially Nautanki. He has helped to restore the lost glory of Nautanki and other folk art forms which are real identity of our Nation. Born and brought up in Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh) took Nautanki to new heights staging at almost all the major Festivals including World Performing & Visual Art Festival (2004) Lahore, Pakistan. In an effort towards protecting & Promoting Folk Arts has reached out to lacks of Artists, sounds unbelievable but with his Mission & Vision and struggle he has undoubtedly become Voice of the Artists. He has been nominated Member of various Expert Committees under Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India and Esteemed Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi. Folk Artists with renewed energy are safeguarding their Art Forms on the lines shown by Shri Yadvanshi. He has been awarded Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academy Award (2008) and by various National cultural organization across the country. International, National Magazines & Newspapers have widely carried his stories, Interviews, Case Studies and have also published his Research & Articles which always explores new dimensions. Undoubtedly, he is one of the leading Folk Artist, Director & Researcher with International acclaim.

Highlights of Journey

• Protecting, Promoting & Showcasing the Country's most Incredible, Vibrant and Colourful Folk Art Form 'Nautanki'.
• Organizing Seminars, Conventions & Brainstorming Sessions (Manthan Shivir) of the Legends of Nautanki Artists.
• Conducting in-depth Research in pursuit of “Tracing the Roots of Nautanki”.
• Preserving, Concretizing and Presenting Nautanki by exploring Possibilities of the 'Nautanki of the Future'.
• Emphasizing on “Safeguarding but do not Freeze” keeping in line with the conventions of UNESCO.
• Empowering the Folk Artists & Nautanki Artists especially to avail the benefits of the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, through schemes like Pension, Production Grant, Fellowships etc.
• Imparting Training on Nautanki to the New & Young Artists and moulding them as saviours of Folk Arts in the times to come.
• Conducting Surveys and Analytical study among the Folk Artists of the Rural, Distant & Far Flung Areas in almost 18 states of our country.
• Undertaking Advocacy with Government Departments for the betterment of fellow Folk Artists of Nautanki.
• Reviving, strengthening and re-establishing ‘Nautanki’ as world's most powerful theatrical form.

Field of Excellence - Indian Theatre 'Nautanki'

Atul Yadvanshi is an Artist, Director and Researcher whose achievements have significantly affected, enhanced, and given direction to our dying folk theatre form Nautanki. Atul Yadvanshi started performing in Nautanki very early during his school days (1986-1989) under an able guidance of Eminent Nautanki Artist & Director Shri. Shanti Swaroop Pradhan. After attending a workshop of Dr Braj Vallabh Mishra on Natya Shashtra in 1988 he started a serious journey on Nautanki's trends and traditions. After getting indepth knowledge he established his group Swarg Repertory solely dedicated to the Revival of Traditional Folk Drama Nautanki and for almost more than last two decades he has strengthened Nautanki by incorporating new stories and plays of Kalidasa, Bhartendu, Munshi Premchand and other Folk Tales very effectively in Nautanki form. He also took indepth training of Nautanki from Legend of Hathrasi Guru Shri. Munna Master (Bulandshehar) and Smt. Nanda Devi (Pilibhit). The story telling format of Nautanki with songs in between has certainly regained its lost glory under Atul Yadvanshi. The Highlights of his achievement and contributions is that the sweetness and innocence of Nautanki has been re-established in his productions. He is pioneer in recognizing the power of Nautanki and keeps consistent focus on such daring Contemporary, Historical & Universal themes as Indian Classics, Preserving Cultural Heritage, Care for Old Age, Strengthening Social Fabric etc. through the powerful medium of Nautanki. His notable Nautanki presentations include Daastan-E- Laila Majnu, Deepdaan, Kafan, Amar Singh Rathore, Malavikagnimitram, Boodhi Kaaki, Panch Parmeshwar, Andher Nagari, Batwaare Ki Aag, Paltidhara etc. He has also organized many Seminars and Workshops involving almost all the living legends of Nautanki in recent years. The Art Lovers, Media Personnel, Opinion Makers, Policy Makers & General Public bestows due recognition to accomplishments.

Milestones

• REVIVED NAUTANKI - Revived Nautanki by incorporating new stories and plays of Kalidasa, Bhartendu Harishchandra, Munshi Premchand and other Folk Tales. His Innovative presentation techniques by keeping the basic format intact and unaltered has helped Nautanki to regain its lost glory.
• EMPANELMENTS - Empanelled under prestigious INDIA FESTIVALS ABROAD (Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India), and by ICCR (Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India).
• MEMBER OF NATIONAL COMMITTEES - Nominated by Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India as Member Performing Art Grant Committee (2013 - 2015), Member Fellowship Research Committee (2010 - 2012) and Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi as Member Indian Cultural Heritage Committee (March - 2014 to March 2017).
• AWARDS FELICITATIONS - Awarded Prestigious Sangeet Natak Academy Award by Govt. of UP for the year 2008. Received Lok Kala Ratna Samman, Loknatya Shiromani Samman, Prayag Gaurav Samman, Lok Bhushan Samman, Akhil Bhartiya Natya Shilpi Samman, Folk Art Ambassador across the nation.
• PRESTIGIOUS PRESENTATIONS - Presented Folk Theatre Nautanki at all the major Festivals of India. Major achievement being World Performing Arts Festival Lahore (Pakistan) in 2004 and International Bharat Rang Mahotsava in 2002 - 2005.
• SEMINARS WORKSHOPS - Organized Seminars and Workshops for maintaining dialogues and capacitating the folk art fraternity.

Contributions to the Society

For Allahabad based Thespian Shri Atul Yadvanshi, Indias Vibrant Heritage of Folks Music, Rhythms and Melodies are the Real Identity of our Country and they shall not Die. He has travelled widely in the states of UP, Bihar, MP, Haryana, Rajasthan, Assam, Andhra Pradesh etc. The dialogues with artists and their pathetic conditions inspired Shri Yadvanshi to take up the issues with the concerned officials in the State and National Capital. He has formed Indian Folk Art Federation reaching out to 18 states and plus 200 districts. Thus in an effort towards protecting, Promoting Folk Arts Atul has reached out to Lakhs of Artists, sounds unbelievable but with his Mission Vision and struggle he has undoubtedly become Voice of the Artists. His message is clear Protect Our Folk Arts before its too late. He is undoubtedly, paving a Golden Path through which we will be able to save our indigenous folk art forms for the future generations.

Member Expert Committees of Ministries /Institutions

• Member Indian Cultural Heritage Committee, (Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi) Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India. (March, 2014 to March 2016).
• Member Performing Art Grant Committee, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India. (July, 2013-March 2015).
• Chairperson Indian Folk Art Federation. (2011-Till Date).
• Member Fellowship & Research Committee, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India. (2010-2012).
• Member Programme Advisory Committee Akashvani (Allahabad) Prasar Bharti, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of India. (2005-2007).
• Coordinator- (NIPCCD) Dept. of Women & Child Development, GOI for Tele-Conferencing between Parliamentarians and Grassroots Women Programme, in U.P. & Uttranchal Zone. (2002-2003).
• Member, State S.G.S.Y. Committee, Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of U.P. (2001-2003).
• As member Expert Committee drafted "REACHING THE UNREACHED" (IEC Strategy) for the Department of Information Govt. of U.P. (2001).

Educational Qualifications

• Post Graduate in Sociology from C.S.J.M. University, Kanpur.
• Graduate from University of Allahabad.

International Felicitations

Atul Yadvanshi has been Felicitated at World Performing and Visual Arts Festival at Lahore in 2004 for his Nautanki Presentation 'Batwaare Ki Aag'.

Documentaries/Films

• Film 'The Last Show' 2020.
• Tele-Nautanki "BATWAARE KI AAG" for Prasaar Bharati, Doordarshan, Allahabad 2002.
• Tele-Nautanki "SAUDA" for Prasaar Bharati, Doordarshan, Allahabad 2003.
• Lead Role in Film 'Namah Shivay Shantaya' in 2008.
• Documentary "Protect Our Folk Arts Before It's Too Late" in 2012.
• Documentary on Plight of Folk Artists in India in 2014.
• Documentary of Legends of Nautanki in 2016.