{{Short description|Indian actor and theatre activist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}} {{Infobox person | name = Samuel John | image = SamuelJohn.jpg | image_size = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|04|18|df=yes}} | birth_place = Village Dhilwan, Faridkot district, Punjab, India | birth_name = | other_names = | years_active = 1990–present | spouse = | children = 1 daughter | height = | occupation = Actor and Theatre activist | awards = | signature = | signature_alt = }} '''Samuel John''' is an Indian actor and theatre activist. He played the role of the protagonist in the National Award-winning Punjabi film, ''Anhe Ghore Da Daan.'' He recently played a role in Punjabi movie ''Munda Hi Chahida'' as the father of Dharmender (Harish Verma) .<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.hindustantimes.com/Punjab/Chandigarh/Stars-extraordinaire/Article1-980019.aspx | archive-url = https://archive.today/20131213132330/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Punjab/Chandigarh/Stars-extraordinaire/Article1-980019.aspx |url-status=dead | archive-date = 2013-12-13 | title = Stars Extraordinaire | author = Usmeet Kaur |newspaper=Hindustan Times | date = 2012-12-24 }}</ref>
The highly acclaimed film ''Anhe Ghore Da Daan'' (English: Alms for a Blind Horse) won National Awards for Best Direction, Cinematography and Best Feature Film in Punjabi at the 59th National Film Awards of India.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://greatwalloffilms.com/anhe-ghore-da-daan-alms-for-a-blind-horse/ | title = Anhe Ghore Da Daan – Alms for a Blind Horse | publisher = Great Wall of Films | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131215165944/http://greatwalloffilms.com/anhe-ghore-da-daan-alms-for-a-blind-horse/ | archivedate = 2013-12-15 }}</ref>
==Biography== Born and brought up in the village of Dhilwan near Faridkot, Punjab, Samuel John did his graduation in humanities from Kotkapura and then post-graduation in Theatre and Television from Punjabi University, Patiala. He works with his small group, Peoples' Theatre, Lehragaga, to stage plays mostly in rural areas of Punjab.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.sunday-guardian.com/investigation/samuel-brings-theatre-back-to-punjab-villages | title = Samuel brings theatre back to Punjab villages | author = Jatinder Preet | publisher = The Sunday Guardian | date = 2013-03-09 | archive-date = 4 March 2016 | access-date = 13 December 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023926/http://www.sunday-guardian.com/investigation/samuel-brings-theatre-back-to-punjab-villages | url-status = dead }}</ref>
==Theatre== Samuel acted in a single actor play ''Jooth'' based on autobiography of Om Prakash Valmiki, adapted in Punjabi by Balram. First staged by ''Media Artists'', the play has had many shows thereafter.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060613/ldh2.htm| title = Theatre Workshop for Children | work = The Tribune | date = 2006-06-12 }}</ref> Samuel also directed for ''Media Artists'', the Punjabi adaptation of Shakespeare's ''Macbeth'' by Balram.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040630/cth2.htm| title = Exposing rural Punjabis to Shakespeare magic | author = Aditi Tandon | work = The Tribune | date = 2004-06-30 }}</ref> Other notable plays that he has directed or acted in, include, ''Maat Lok'', ''Tain Ki Dard Na Aaya'', ''Ghasia Hoia Aadmi'' and ''Baagan Da Raakha''. Samuel John is the founder of Peoples theatre Lehragaga. The group is active in rural areas of Punjab touring around with its body of plays, generally staging in the street corners.
==Movies== * ''Dhoondte Reh Jaoge!'' (1998) * ''Anhe Ghore Da Daan'' (2011) * ''Aatu Khoji'' (short film) (2010) * ''Police in Pollywood'' (2014) * Asees (Punjabi Movie) (2018) * TAKKHI (short film) (2018) * Munda Hi Chahida (Punjabi Movie) (2019) * Kaali Khuhi (2020)
==Web series== * Kohrra (2023)
==References== <references />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:John, Samuel}} Category:Male actors in Punjabi cinema Category:Living people Category:Male actors from Punjab, India Category:1965 births Category:Punjabi University alumni Category:20th-century Indian male actors Category:21st-century Indian male actors