Atul Satya Koushik
Atul Satya Koushik is a theatre doyen who is active in Indian theatre as a playwright, director, producer and promoter. He is known for making grand stage productions featuring famous celebrities from Bollywood, TV and Theatre. His plays generally feature huge sets, flamboyant costumes and large on stage cast. He is one of the modern pioneers of commercial theatre in India with a large number of ticketed shows running to full houses. After he was denied admission in premier drama and film institutes of the country, he formed his own theatre company in Delhi in 2009 and then entered into collaborations with various producers over years to make larger than life stage productions. He is also revered for making an unconventional career choice after getting coveted education in the field of finance and law.
Education and early career
He got senior secondary education in the field of Commerce before joining the prestigious Shri Ram College of Commerce in University of Delhi to finish his graduation in commerce with honours. Soon after he finished his studies of Chartered Accountancy and became a member os Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. He also holds a degree in law from the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi.Still in his early thirties, he has written more than 20 full-length plays so far including Chakrayuh which marks the comeback of Nitish Bharadwaj as Krishna, Legend of Ram which brings back Arun Govil as Ram after three decades, Ballygunge 1990 featuring Anup Soni, Raavan Ki Ramayan starring Puneet Issar as Raavan, Pajama Party featuring Kamya Panjabi and Kavita Kaushik, Draupadi featuring Himani Shivpuri and Rakesh Bedi, Wo Lahore featuring Avtar Gill, Kahani Teri Meri with Kiran Kumar, Saudagar – An Indian adaptation of Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, Couple Trouble starring Kashmera Shah, Dad's Girlfriend, Bade Shahar Ke Log, Kaali Shalwar Aur Khushiya based on stories by Saadat Hasan Manto, George Orwell's popular work Animal Farm, Temporary Matter and others in the past few years. He has staged more than 1000 shows of these plays which are absolutely different from each other in terms of content as well as treatment.
Atul belongs to the new age of playwrights who are trying to fill the vacuum of good original Hindi plays which is being felt by theatre practitioners in India for quite some time. Having an experience of over 12 years in theatre at various levels, his relation with the art form dates back to 2001. His plays Chakravyuh, Raavan Ki Ramayan, Draupadi, Dad's Girlfriend and Wo Lahore are some of his promising contributions to original play-writing in India. He has also come up with some remarkable adaptations of classic Indian and foreign literature in the form of Kahani Teri Meri, Kaali Shalwar and Animal Farm.
His plays based on chapters from mythology with streaks of his imagination such as Draupadi and Chakravyuh have won accolades for its performances in various parts of India. Atul was invited by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to perform his play Chakravyuh at Rajya Sabha Auditroium for a show for the Members of Indian Parliament.
Atul's play Draupadi starring and shows how the lives of 21st century women resonate chapters from the Panchal princess' life. Using the dramatic device of a play within a play, the director has chosen 11 female actors to enact this juxtaposition. It shows how a set of Haryanvi females take the liberty of the absence of males in their house to perform the banned play Draupadi, but end up finding a reflection of Draupadi's life in theirs. Veteran film and TV actor Rakesh Bedi has also been seen in this women-oriented production.
Atul's another popular play Wo Lahore shows the internal conflicts in an ordinary Indian family against the backdrop of the freedom struggle and social beliefs of the Partition. TV actor Avtar Gill was recently seen in a cameo in the play Wo Lahore that has been staged in over 10 cities including Lucknow, Chandigarh, Delhi and Mumbai.
Atul has recently been awarded with the Saluting The Entrepreneurs Award by Times Group for his excellence in the field of art and theatre. His organisational skill is seen in the formation of The Films and Theatre Society in 2009 encouraging young people working in different fields into its fold. The group is known for organising an impressive festival of literature, films and theatre annually in Delhi. In a short span, Atul has been able to build an audience for his shows that are invariably staged to a capacity hall.
Plays
| Year | Play | Capacity | Notes |
| 2007 | A Temporary Matter | Adaptation/Director/Producer | Based on a story by Jhumpa Lahiri |
| 2010 | Koobar Aur Kaaki | Adaptation/Director/Producer | Based on stories by Munshi Premchand and Dharamvir Bharati |
| 2011 | Arjun Ka Beta | Writer/Director/Producer | Decoding the philosophy of Chakravyuh from 13th day of the battle of Mahabharata |
| 2011 | Jamuna | Writer/Director/Producer | Story of a woman trying to keep her family intact in the highly volatile socio-political environment of undivided India of 1940s |
| 2012 | Living In | Writer/Producer | Ghosts of a young woman's disturbing past challenge her present love life |
| 2012 | Bade Shahar Ke Log | Writer/Director/Producer | Story of decaying morales of young aspiring writer in the fast-paced city of dreams, Mumbai |
| 2012 | Animal Farm | Adaptation/Director/Producer | Based on the famous novel by George Orwell by the same name. A satire of modern democracy. |
| 2012 | Kaali Shalwar | Adaptation/Director/Producer | Based on a story by Saadat Hasan Manto, exploring the dark corners of human desires. |
| 2012 | Saudagar | Adaptation/Director/Producer | An adaptation of Merchant of Venice, a tragic comedy by William Shakespeare. |
| 2013 | Bal Bhagwan | Director/Producer | Written by Swadesh Deepak, the play is a hard hiting commentary on superstitions and how fatal can they be. |
| 2013 | Draupadi | Writer/Director/Producer | All women from a family of traditional artists of Haryana decide to perform a banned play called Draupadi which was hitherto banned by the male folks of the family. |
| 2014 | Chakravyuh | Writer/Director/Producer | One of Atul's most successful play, which was an elevated version of his old play "Arjun Ka Beta". Yogiraj Krishna decodes the mystery of Chakravyuh of life for all generation to come. |
| 2014 | Couple Trouble | Writer/Director/Producer | An adaptation of a Marathi Play by C P Deshpande. Story of two couples seeking pleasure outside their marriages. |
| 2015 | Wo Lahore | Writer/Director/Producer | A revamped version of Atul's old play "Jamuna'. Love story of a freedom fighter during the times when struggle for freedom was at its peak. |
| 2015 | Kahani Teri Meri | Writer/Director/Producer | A revamped version of Atul's old play "Koobar Aur Kaai". An amalgamation of stories by Munshi Premchand and Dharamvir Bharati |
| 2016 | Raavan Ki Ramayan | Writer/Director/Producer | History's most revered villain Raavan tells the whole Ramayana from his own perspective. |
| 2017 | Dad's Girlfriend | Writer/Director/Producer | A love triangle with a difference where a middle aged man's young daughter and his young girlfriend fight for his love and attention. |
| 2018 | Lots of Love | Writer/Producer | A bouquet of five funny love stories with a top up of stand up comedy and live music. |
| 2018 | Ballygunge 1990 | Writer/Director/Co-Producer | A gripping thriller full of vendetta but ultimately culminating as a compelling love story. |
| 2019 | Pajama Party | Writer/Director/Co-Producer | Four young women in metropolitan city lead the fight against urban rapes in the most maverick manner. |
| 2019 | The Legend of Ram | Writer/Director/Co-Producer | Journey of an ordinary man walking on the path of Dharma and Maryada and eventually attaining the status of greatest God of human civilisation i.e. Ram. |
Awards and achievements
Best Theatre Director Award in Indian Global Star Awards.RAI Vasundhara Ratna Award for his contribution in the field of theatre and art to be given in November 2017 by Respect Age International.
Times Entrepreneurship Award in the field of theatre by Times Group in 2016.
Best Performing Arts Promoter Award for his contribution in Indian Theatre by Abhinaya Rangmanch, Hissar in 2016.
Pioneer in Commercial Theatre Award by Artists' India in 2015.
Yuva Natya Nirdesak Puruskar by Sahitya Kala Parishad, Govt. of NCT of Delhi in 2013.
His play Ballygunge 1990 was officially selected and staged at the prestigious Bharat Rang Mahotsav organised by National School of Drama in February, 2020.
His plays have been performed at various prestigious festivals and platforms such as Jaipur Rang Mahotsav, Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, Bhartendu Natya Uysav, Yuva Satya Utsav, Parliament House Auditorium, residence of veteran Indian politician Lal Krishna Advani.
Only active playwright-theatre director in India with a CA and Law degree