Friends and family members celebrate Gurcharan Singh Channi’s 70th birth anniversary

Sheetal

Eminent theatre activist and filmmaker Gurcharan Singh Channi, who left us this year in May, had touched many lives. To celebrate his 70th birth anniversary that falls on October 19, his contemporary artists like Diwan Manna, Vinay Vadhera and Navtej Singh Johar, his children Sukhmani Kohli and Gyandev and others met at Tagore Theatre and organised a cultural programme.

If Vadhera was reminded of his stern voice or his habit of breaking into a gibberish language when in trouble, then Ira Pandey, one of his friends, said she could never imagine Channi as an old man complaining about weak knees or hearing issues.

Composer, screenwriter and Sufi singer Madan Gopal Singh inaugurated the evening with a musical performance which was laced with memories, messages and teachings of Channi. “A man who reached out to everyone and encouraged to bring out the best in us, he is omnipresent in our lives,” says Diwan Manna. One of the many reasons that Navtej Johar could pursue his dancing career despite the objections raised by his orthodox Punjabi family was due to Channi’s support.

Navtej says, “He has always pushed me to do more. I am happy that I could spend some time with him in Chandigarh during the lockdown. The last hug that he gave me will be an unforgettable memory.”

Ira talked about Channi’s emotional intelligence other than his intellectually and culturally rich personality. “I often say most men have an emotional void but Channi was full of emotional strength. He was a friend, a brother, a confidante and a teacher in many ways. I used to review plays but it is for my love for him that I am on stage to share a few words on him. Only Channi could push me to do this,” she added.

Not a fan of performing at auditoriums, Channi felt that a play should be taken to the people. The evening culminated with the message—Zindagi Retire Nahi Hoti, a play which was once directed by him.

Channi was a faculty of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, and made some great documentary films.