Shah along with Mohan Upreti, are together credited for the revival of the theatre in the Uttarakhand.
Brij Mohan Shah was born in 1933 in Nainital, he joined National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi in 1960, and trained under, Ebrahim Alkazi, and later graduated in 1962.
He also directed play for the Bhartendu Natya Academy (BNA) Lucknow and Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts Repertory Company [3] Shah was also a well regarded Sanskrit teacher at St. Columba's School, Delhi for several years, before he became Director, National School of Drama (New Delhi).
He also acted in two Hindi films, Yeh Woh Manzil To Nahin (1987) directed by Sudhir Mishra, followed by Dil Se.. (1998) by Mani Ratnam[4] and a documentary film, The Post Master.
M. Shah Award' was constituted by Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi, given each year to for outstanding contribution to the field of theatre .