Manoj Shah

Manoj Shah or Manoj Sakarchand Shah is a theatre enthusiast who has directed and produced several plays over the years mostly in the Gujarati language. The thespian was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Initially, he started as a dance teacher. He once watched a play by Mahendra Joshi that inspired him to enter the theatrical space. In 1999, he directed the play Master Phoolmani which marked his debut. It was first performed at the Prithvi Theatre Festival. The play is a celebration of the lost Gujarati theatrical art form Bhangwadi. It was one of his longest-running plays. He directed a Gujarati play Gujarat Ni Asmita which featured 45 actors depicting the history and evolution of Gujarati poetry over the years.

His play Mareez (2004) is a biographical play based on the life of the poet of the same name and has had over 200 performances. His plays have always revolved around themes such as Gujarati culture, spirituality, and biographies of notable personalities. His biographical, usually one-man plays include Jal Jal Mare Patang, Apurva Avsar (2007), Siddh Hem (2008), Apoorav Khela (2012), and Hu Chandrakant Bakshi in 2013. In 2017, his play Dr. Anandibai Joshi: Like, Comment, Share was his first ever play to feature a woman protagonist. It was inspired by India’s first female doctor Anandibai Joshi and was performed in both Hindi and Marathi. Throughout his career, he has directed 90 plays under his drama company Ideas Unlimited.

Manoj’s play Mohan No Masalo established a record for being staged in 3 languages i.e. English, Gujarati, and Hindi on the same day and was recorded in the Limca Book of Records. Other plays by him are Varta Kaho Ne – Thigadu, Trasyo Sangam, System, Runanubandh, Mestro Masters Swami, Nami Gaya Te Gami Gaya, Lajo, Rajputani, Gamta No Kariea Gulal, Mitha No Satyagrah, Sikkani Triji Baju, Gathariya, What's Up?, Mukund Rai, Foreign Soap, Idli Orchid Ne Hu, Parpota Na Desh Ma, Orange Juice, Giras Ma Ek Dungri, Trasyo Sangam and many more.