Srinagar: Act for a Better Tomorrow (ACT), one of Kashmir’s oldest theatre organisations, celebrated its Golden Jubilee in Srinagar, marking 50 years of contribution to theatre, art, culture and society.
The celebration was attended by veteran artists, writers, scholars, students, journalists, public representatives and hundreds of art enthusiasts from across Jammu and Kashmir.
The event featured cultural performances, music and excerpts from some of ACT’s landmark productions. Veteran artists, writers and founding members of the organisation were felicitated on the occasion. A Golden Jubilee souvenir and a documentary chronicling the organisation’s 50-year journey were also released.
Speaking on the occasion, ACT Chairman Mushtaaque Ali Ahmad Khan, who has led the organisation for over four decades as an actor, director, set designer and organiser, said theatre would remain the soul of ACT.
“For 50 years, we have performed not for fame, but for the people of Kashmir. Our journey is a story of passion, sacrifice and honest creative labour. Today, we renew our pledge to serve Kashmir for the next 50 years,” he said.
The show was attended by dignitaries of the Valley including Zafar Iqbal Khan Manhas, Syed Basharat Bukhari, Dr. Rafi Ahmad, Syed Tajamul Islam, Sujada Basheer, Sayed Humayun Qaisar, Shahnawaz Bukhari, Ahsan Chisti, Suman Raina, Amit Wanchoo, Mehjabeen Nabi, Prof Tariq Abdullah, Rauf Tramboo, Rauf Punjabi, Roma Wani, Shabnum Ashai, Zameer Ashai, G M Wani, Shahzad Rasool, Hussein Khan, Ameen Bhat, Mushtaq Bala, Mir Aijaz, Mir Sarwar, Shafeeq Quraishi, Waheed Jeelani and Raja Bilal, Ashiq Peerzada, Tahir Mohi Uddin and Parvez Majeed.
Over the past five decades, ACT has produced more than two dozen major stage productions, several of which have received state and national-level recognition. Its notable productions include ‘Jheel Bula Rahi Hai’, ‘Ek Potli Armanoon Ki’, ‘Taqdeer Saaz’, ‘Negative’, ‘Sabarmati Ka Sant’, ‘Sanyasi’, ‘Pagla Ghoda’ and ‘Deewana Bana De’.
The organisation has also received more than a dozen awards over the past two decades, including the Chinar Art Foundation Award, two Infotel Awards and the Athwas Award, besides several Awards of Excellence and Honour. Its productions have won recognition for best production, direction and set design at festivals organised by the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages and Doordarshan.
Apart from stage productions, ACT has played a role in creating platforms for theatre, cinema and cultural exchange. It has organised three Spring Theatre Festivals, five editions of the Kashmir World Film Festival, two editions of Istaqbaal-e-Chilla-e-Kalan and the Jashn-e-Sheen Festival.
It also organised the first three-day Kashmir Theatre Conference from September 11 to 13, 2026, bringing together 24 theatre experts from Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Kashmir.
ACT has also marked World Theatre Day on March 27 continuously for 21 years. Its other initiatives include workshops in collaboration with NZCC Patiala and Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, as well as campaigns for NTPC, the Tourism Department and AIRCEL.
The organisation has also conducted drawing competitions for orphaned children after the COVID lockdown and felicitated national personalities, including Naseeruddin Shah, Nandita Das and Ismail Darbar.
The Golden Jubilee event was sponsored by Kashmir Movietone and Halal Nation, with support from Amar Singh Club, Srinagar. Gabfire was the branding partner, while Rampage Advertising Agency served as the advertising partner.