President of India approves Naresh Chander Lal’s name for Padma Sree, Proud Moment for A & N Islands

Sheekha Bureau
Port Blair, Jan 25: Mr. Naresh Chander Lal, son of this soil and prominent film and theatre director and producer has once again main Andaman and Nicobar proud as his name has been approved by President of India for Padma Sree award.
Mr. Lal who has already bagged several National Awards and Islands’ topmost honour LG’s Commendation Certificate twice, will be conferred with Padma Sree award by the President of India at ceremonial functions which will be held at Rashtrapati Bhawan around March/ April this year.
Mr. Naresh Chander Lal will be conferred Padma Sree for this contributions towards Art-theatre and Cinema.
Naresh Chander Lal is a Renowned Theatre Director and Film Maker of Andaman and Nicobar Islands who won many laurels and Awards in the National / International Film Festivals in India and brought name and fame to these Islands.

He is the only National School of Drama, New Delhi (Direction) graduate, from these Islands, passed out in 1990.

After graduating from NSD he triggered a Theatre Wave in these remote Indian Islands. In 1998 he introduced Nukkad Natak form of Drama in these Islands and presented shows on Alcoholism, Pulse Polio immunization programme, AIDS, Vanmahotsava, Family Planning, Women’s empowerment, Sanitation etc.

Most of the Artists, who are presently working for the promotion of Drama in A & N Islands, have been either trained by Shri Lal or worked under his own Registered Theatre group namely Andaman People Theatre Association (APTA) Port Blair.

Shri. Lal has presented his shows in almost all inhabited Islands of Andaman and Nicobar Chain, thus took Drama to India’s remotest corners.

He has worked with many Theatre personalities of India and abroad like Shri Ratan Thiyam, Late Shri B.V. Karanth, Shri. Satyadev Dubey, Shri. Prasanna, Pt. Narendra Sharma, Shri. Barry John, Shri. Ram Gopal Bajaj, Shri. Fritz Benewitz (Germany), Shri. John Kiromo Motsoi (Japan) and Shri. Kenneth Riya (London).

Going one step further, Shri. Lal has made four films so far in the Islands all depicting Islands Cosmo Culture. His films Gandhi The Mahatma (Feature Film), Amrti Jal (Short Film), Runway on the Sea (Documentary) and the Queen of Indigenous Island (Feature Film) have been screened many times by DD National Channel / DD Urdu Channel and at various National / International Film Festivals in India, thus taking Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the international audience, who got a chance to witness the unique Cosmo Culture of this Union Territory.

Recently Shri Lal’s film Gandhi The Mahatma was screened at London. For his meritorious services for more than 40 years in these Islands Shri Lal has been conferred with many awards like –

1) Hon’ble Lt. Governor’s Commendation Certificate – two times 26.01.1999 and on 15.08.2008 for Theatre / Film.
2) Decorated with Mahatma Gandhi Seva Medal by Gandhi Global Family, New Delhi for his film Gandhi The Mahatma.
3) Awarded Maja Koene Social Activist award by Cesi Switzerland on 06.11.2013.
4) Awareded Bharat Jyothi Award on 10.06.2013 by India International Friendship Society.
5) Himalaya Aur Hindustan Gaurav Samman by Himalaya Aur Hindustan Festival Dehradun.
6) Felicitated by Natrang on 06.04.2013 at J & K.

Shri Lal has worked with reputed film makers of India like – Maniratnam, Priyadarshan, Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra, Umesh Mehra, Boney Kapoor, Satish Kaushik and Ashok Gaikawad.

Shri Naresh Chander Lal has dedicatedly devoted his life for the development of performing arts activities especially drama and for the promotion of good Cinema at his native Place i.e. Andaman and Nicobar Islands.