Laxminarayan Lal

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Lakshminarayan Lal (4 March 1927 – 20 November 1987) was an Indian playwright, critic, novelist, and a Hindi Writer.^[1] He worked in many genres of literature but was most prominently known as a playwright. His contributions as a reviewer were also significant.^[2]

Laxminarayan Lal was born on 4 March 1927 in Jalalpur, Basti district of Uttar Pradesh.^[3] He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree with his thesis on the topic "Development of the craft method of Hindi stories".^[4] Lal had an affinity for drama and theatrics in his childhood. His childhood was spent in a rural environment. He was introduced at a very young age with folk dramas like Ramlila, Nautanki, Bidesia etc.^[5]: 234

He died on 20 November 1987 in Delhi.^{[citation needed]}

Lal was a novelist, playwright and literary critic who produced various works in each genre of writing.

Lal composed about 35 full-length plays, many of which were also staged by well-known theatrical directors. He wrote his first play, Andha Kuan, in 1955. He not only continued to write plays but also ran a theater center in Allahabad where he offered both theatrical training and performance with very limited means.^[6]

In his plays, there is often an attempt to see the experiences of ordinary life from a deeper, and different perspective. The mythological-historical setting as well as the realistic environment, experimentation, meaningful use of symbols and images, the complexity of human relations - especially the male-female relationship - the openness and the depiction of multi-layered situations, etc. have linked his plays to their soil and tradition.^[5]: 234 Laxminarayan Lal is well-known as an important playwright of the post-independence era.

Apart from being a playwright and even before that, Laxminarayan Lal was also a storyteller and has authored a large number of novels. In 1951, his first novel Dharti Ki Aankhen was published. Then about a dozen of his novels were published. The background of these novels is often of middle-class civic life and sometimes even rural life.^[7] Various moods of love are also at the center of these novels. In these novels, there are realistic and poignant glimpses of life. At times the story of cultural struggle is told in the middle-class conflict, and occasionally there is a collision of new circumstances and orthodox ideals. Along with the inclusion of folk life and folk elements in the style, symbolism has also been included.^[8][9]

Lal has also written short stories. Most of his short stories are spontaneous experiences of rural life. The reality of Lal's stories is both internal and external, that is, they contain the inner world of the mind and the outside political-economic pressure. Along with the mutual reality of male-female psychology and their relationship, these stories also depict the complex economic-social problems of today's villages.^[10]

Lal was associated with stories from the very beginning. He wrote his dissertation on stories for his PhD. In addition to the work titled "Shilp Vidhi Ka Vikas of Hindi Stories", a review book titled Modern Hindi Story written for the Sahitya Akademi is also a work of literature review.

Due to his versatility and multifaceted work experience, Lal's field of experience was also a broad one. This is the reason that he also made a remarkable contribution in the field of theatrical review. His review books Theatre and The Role of Drama and Modern Hindi Drama and Theatre are based on personal experience and enriched with an observant study of Indian and Western traditions.^[5]: 235 In the third book 'Parsi Hindi Theatre', the history and characteristics of Parsi theatre have been outlined.

Lal was directly associated with various aspects of Rangakarma. He was also a theatre director and actor. The first play he directed was the self-composed Mada Cactus. Apart from this, he also directed and acted in many other plays. The establishment of the institutions Natya Kendra (1958) in Allahabad and Samvad (1967) in Delhi is proof of their association with the totality of theatre.^[5]: 234 He taught drama at colleges in India and also worked as a drama producer on All India Radio.

• Andha Kuan (1956)
• Maada Kaiktas (1959)
• Sundar Raash (1959)
• Sukha Sarovar (1960)
• Natak tota Maina (1962)
• Ratrani (1962)
• Darpan (1964)
• Suryamukh (1968)
• Kalki (1969)
• Mr Abhimanyu (1971)
• Curfew (1972)
• Dusra Darwaja (1972)
• Abdullah Deewana (1973)
• Yaksha Prashna (1974)
• Vyaktigat (1974)
• Ek Satya Harishchandra (1976)
• Sagun Panchi (1977)
• Sab Rang Mohbhang (1977)
• Ram ki Ladaai (1979)
• Punch Purush
• Lanka Khand
• Ganga Mati
• Narasimha Katha
• Chandrama

• Parvat ke Peechhe (1952)
• Nāṭaka bahurūpī (1964)
• Taajamahal ke Aansoo (1970)
• Mere Shreshth Ekaankee (1972)

• Dharatee kee Aankhen (1951)
• Baya ka Ghonsala Aur Saamp (1951)
• Kaale Phool ka Paudha (1951)
• Rupajiva (1959)
• Badi Champa Choti Champa
• Mana Vrindavan
• Prem Ek Apavitr Nadee (1972)
• Apna-Apna Raakshas (1973)
• Badke Bhaiya (1973)
• Hara Samandar Gopi Chander (1974)
• Vasant kee Prateeksha (1975)
• Shrngaar (1975)
• Devina (1976)
• Purushottam

• Aane Waala kal (1957)
• Lady Doctor (1958)
• Sune Aangan Ras Barsai (1960)
• Naye Svar Nayee Rekhaen
• Ek Aur khani
• Ek Bund Jaal
• Dakuu Aaye (1974)
• Meree Pratinidhi kahaaniyaan

• Hindee kahaaniyon kee Shilp-vidhi ka Vikaas (1953)
• Adhunik Hindi Kahani
• Rungmanch aur Unki Bhumika
• Parsi Hindi Rangmanch
• Aadhunik Hindi Natak and Rangmanch
• Rangmanch: Dekhna and Jaanana

Laxminarayan Lal was honored as the best playwright by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1977.^{[citation needed]} He was awarded for literary contribution by the Sahitya Kala Parishad in 1979 and by the Hindi Academy in 1987.^{[citation needed]}

• Mahadevi Verma
• Bharatendu Harishchandra

• Works by Laxminarayan Lal at Open Library