Chandigarh, June 26: Paying tributes to Punjabi theatre icon the late Harpal Tiwana, renowned Hindi film actor Om Puri today urged Punjabis the world over to contribute towards the foundation set up in his memory. "Let us all contribute to realise the unfinished dreams of that great man who died a premature death (Harpal died in a road accident last year). Harpal Tiwana could have been a big name today in Hindi cinema, but the versatile actor decided to stay back and contribute for theatre in Punjab," Puri told reporter here. "Tiwana groomed me and showed me the way to National School of Drama. I learnt about theatre, about life from him. He was a man who was so deeply rooted in Punjab and he refused to join commercial cinema because he had committed himself to promote Punjabi culture and language," Puri said. He also lauded Tiwana for his efforts to bring sophistication into Punjabi theatre. "People like me and Raj Babbar are his offshoots. Tiwana Sahib, who was a very rounded theatre personality will never die, he will live through us," he said, calling upon the members of his film fraternity in particular and people in general to contribute for the Harpal Tiwana Foundation, of which he is a trustee.
Manpal Tiwana, the late icon's son, said the foundation would establish a museum showcasing the theatre personality's works. Besides this, an experimental theatre would be set up, he said and appealed to the government to give land for the same.
Bureau Report