Veteran Kashmiri actor and ladishah legend Rajinder Tickoo passes away

Srinagar: The cultural fraternity in Kashmir is mourning the loss of noted actor and producer Rajinder Tickoo, who passed away in Jammu on Sunday. Tickoo was one of the most recognisable figures in the revival of Ladishah, Kashmir’s traditional satirical musical storytelling form. He was widely known for bringing current relevance to the nearly extinct folk art through performance and broadcast.

Hailing from Anantnag, Tickoo devoted more than three decades to theatre, with a career spanning stage, television and film. He was widely recognised for helping revive the Valley’s traditional satirical storytelling style through a television programme aired on ETV Urdu, where he performed in classic attire — pheran and turban — while delivering rhythmic verses accompanied by the dhukar.

Blending humour with sharp social and political commentary, his performances resonated strongly with younger audiences and brought renewed attention to the folk form.

Artists and theatre groups have described his death as a major setback to the region’s performing arts scene, recalling his contribution as both an entertainer and cultural torchbearer.