Manav Kaul

Manav Kaul (born 1976) is an Indian theatre director, playwright, actor and film-maker.

Early life and career

Born in Baramulla, Kashmir, Manav Kaul lived in Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh. He started the theatre group Aranya in 2004. Amongst his notable plays are Ilhaam, Park and Shakkar ke Paanch Daane, which was his first outing as playwright and director in 2004. His influences include Charles Bukowski, Vinod Kumar Shukla and Nirmal Verma, to whom he paid homage in his 2010 play Red Sparrow.

In 2012, Kaul debuted as a film director with Hansa, for which he also wrote the screenplay. He made his acting debut in Hindi cinema with fantasy film Jajantaram Mamantaram in 2003, and has been lauded for his performance as a right-wing politician in the Gujarat-based Hindi drama Kai Po Che! in 2013.

Plays

In 2004, Kaul staged Shakkar Ke Paanch Daane, a dramatic monologue in Hindi about a small-towner whose "structured middle-India existence begins to feel suspiciously like a lie." It featured actor Kumud Mishra, who was to become his longtime collaborator. The Mumbai Theatre Guide wrote, "the final poetic denouement is neat, funny, reflective but unfortunately all too expected, all too perfect." The play was a stage hit and was performed in English in 2012, from a translation by Arshia Sattar.

Kaul

Kaul, Koul, Caul or Kol (Kashmiri: कौल (Devanagari), کول <smalltkaul>(Nastaleeq)) is a surname used by the Kashmiri Pandit community. The term also refers to the Kaul clan from which several other krams (surnames) of Kashmir have originated.

The word Kaul, meaning well born, is derived from Kula, the Sanskrit term for family or clan. Its use as a surname or appellation is a derivative of the ancient name Kaula which means well born and is related to Saivite beliefs.

Origins

There are several theories regarding the origins of Kaul as a surname.

Kaul from Mahakaul

One says that it is associated with the word Mahakaul, an epithet for Shiva. Shiva followers were thus called Kaula. Kaul therefore means a devotee of Shiva.

Kaul from Shakta worship

Another states that since the Saraswat Brahmins of Kas'mira were believers in Saivism and Shakta, the peak of Saivism in Kashmir around the 9th century ~ 12th century gave rise to use of the name. This has led many scholars to believe that almost all Kashmiri Pandits were Kauls and they were later subdivided into different nicknames, & with the passage of time these nicknames became surnames. In recent years the use of the nicknames is being progressively discarded and surname Kaul is being adopted by almost all such people. The word Kaul is associated with being an aghoreshwara or enlightened. The practitioners (sadhaks) of the Tantra, associated with Shakti worship, are believed to reach the top of the spiritual ladder, and thus become a Kaul.

KDKN

KDKN (106.7 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a Rock/Alternative format. Licensed to Ellington, Missouri, USA, the station is currently owned by Fred Dockins, through licensee Dockins Communications, Inc.

References

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