Usha Ganguly Biography 
Usha Ganguly is a noted theater personality known for her contributions to Hindi theatre in Kolkata in 1970s and 1980s. In 1976, she founded Rangakarmee theatre group. She is also known as a stage actress and theatre activist. In 1998, she was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for her excellence in Direction. She received state award for the best actress for the play Gudia Ghar. Mahabhoj, Rudali, Court Martial, and Antaryatra are her noted theatre productions under her banner, Rangakarmee. She is one among the theatre personalities who popularized Hindi plays in Bengali prominent Bengal.
She was born in Jodhpur, Rajasthan in the year 1945. Her family belonged to village Nerva in Uttar Pradesh. She learned Bharatnatyam before moving to Kolkata. She took Master’s degree in Hindi literature from Shri Shikshayatan College, Kolkata. Then she started her teaching career at Bhowanipur Education Society College, Kolkata. Same year, she began her career as a stage actor with the tehare group - Sangit Kala Mandir, which staged her first play, Mitti Ki Gadi (1970). She played the role of Vasavadutta in this play. Though she has been active in theater, she continued her teaching career and got retired only in 2008, completing 38 years.
In 1976, she formed a theatre group, Rangakarmee. Initially she worked as a trained dancer and invited play directors from outside for theater works. She turned to direction in the 1980’s. Mahabhoj (1984), Lokkatha (1987), Holi (1989), Rudali (1992) etc are her noted works. She has also been associated with a few movies as a scriptwriter. Raincoat (2004) directed by Rituparno Ghosh is one such noted work.
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Updated: March 05, 2014
