KOZHIKODE: Ahwan Sebastian, a dramatist who played a crucial role in bridging the gap between amateur and professional theatre, died here on Wednesday evening.
The 84-year-old drama artiste, who was suffering from age-related diseases, died at his residence, near YMCA Cross Road, in the city.
Ahwan Sebastian was a familiar face at theatre events till recently. A well-known drama artiste in the 1970s and 80s, Ahwan Sebastian, along with other famous dramatists K T Mohammed, Vincent Samuel and Vikraman Nair, played a crucial role in converting professional drama into a serious art.
Dramatist Civic Chandran said that Sebastian was a good organiser, who was eager to introduce new and serious plays for drama enthusiasts. There were many dramatists, but it was difficult to find a good organiser like Ahwan, he recalls.
An actor, director, musician and script writer Ahwan Sebastian was a familiar face to Malayalam movie buffs in the 80s also. Like Balan K Nair and Kuthiravattom Pappu, Ahwan Sebastian was also absorbed by the film industry. While playing some good roles, he continued to be a good drama artiste.