Piyush Mishra is an artist who wears many hats with aplomb. He has had an incredible impact on the Indian Film industry through his writing, acting and composing. After his graduation from NSD in 1986, Piyush Mishra started off what would go on to be a long and illustrious theatre career spanning 20 years. The Film Industry came calling soon after he had tasted success in theatre. His debut film was ‘Dil Se..’ which didn’t get a lot of commercial success but went on to become a critically acclaimed cult classic. Bollywood first got a real look at his artistry in Gulaal, where he played an eccentric artist squashed and driven insane by a political family. He also wrote and composed songs for the movie and his chaste colloquial Hindi lyrics captivated a new generation of film lovers who wanted more art and intellect in their cinema. His war cry ‘Aarambh hai Prachand’ with his impassioned vocals and energizing lyrics became an anthem for restless revolutionary youth everywhere. These songs won him the Stardust Award for standout performance by a music director. His articulate storytelling in his songs, heavy on poetry and nuance sets them apart from all others. This musical storytelling is displayed in all its glory in his musical project ‘Ballimaaraan’, which performs his songs from his theatre days as well as his Coke Studio and film songs. The band has been performing all over India in numerous literature festivals and college concerts.