Usha Ganguli

Usha Ganguli (1945–2020) was a prominent Indian theatre director, actor, and activist, renowned for her pivotal role in shaping Hindi theatre in Kolkata during the 1970s and 1980s. She founded the Rangakarmee theatre group in 1976, earning recognition for productions like Mahabhoj, Rudali, and Court Martial. As one of the few Hindi directors in a predominantly Bengali-speaking city, she revitalized the Hindi theatre scene. Her work garnered the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1998, and she was honored as the best actress by the West Bengal government for Gudia Ghar. Ganguli's contributions also included writing and adapting plays, with Rangakarmee becoming a cultural beacon, performing both nationally and internationally while championing education for marginalized communities.