Keep the gods laughing, Burjor

The Patels at Tejpal Auditorium in 2010. Pic/Sooni Taraporevala

Life begins at 80 was never simply the name of his column. It was the way veteran actor-producer Burjor Patel spent his last eleven years. It was what he fervently believed and proved he did. It was what he mentioned yet again, at 91, just two months ago when I visited his Colaba home.

Serving fragrant bhakras (thoughtfully noting I'd loved these at chai break in practices for popular NCPA seasons of Laughter in the House), he said, "Pandemic slowed me. I want to resume writing for Ruby's sake. She would immediately read me on opening the Jame on Sundays, and in DNA where the series started in 2013."

In Hrishi K's studio, announcing Draame Bawas on radio

Those words warmly encapsulate two of the thespian's long-standing associations. Burjor's beloved wife Ruby, dazzling three generations of theatregoers on the Parsi and English stage, whom we lost two years back. And Jam-e-Jamshed, right from when writer-director Adi Marzban, editing his family-owned paper, offered the law grad a job in its advertising department. Burjor found himself bitten by the theatre bug on earning a prize as Cassius in Julius Caesar at Bharda High School. A keen cricketer, too, he represented school at Giles and Harris Shield matches. Further recognition at inter-collegiate competitions emboldened him to try for Marzban's ensemble.

Hanging on the sets for a month, he landed four lines in the Shirinbai Nu Shantiniketan grand rehearsal. "Adi mentored aspirants gradually to the acting drill, not blooding them instantly. That taught enormous discipline." The play totted a six-night run, then considered a healthy innings. Burjor met Ruby when Marzban cast him as her father in Piroja Bhavan, 1954. They spent more time together at the Jame office, she as his secretary and later Marzban's. Theatre's most devoted couple married in 1959, going on to rule as the widely adored lead pair of Marzban's Cooperative Players comedies till the mid-1960s.

The stars enact Meherzad Patel's sketch for the stage production Laughter in the House

Working next at Times of India and The Statesman, Burjor ventured as a producer with the Parsi wing of INT (Indian National Theatre), delivering charmers including Tirangi Tehmul, Gher Ghungro ne Ghotalo, Taru Maru Bakalyu, Lafra Sadan, Lagan Khel, Rang Rasiya and Hello Inspector. Finally came a rich repertoire in both languages from Burjor Patel Productions which toured East Africa and America.

Spotting potential with astute vision, he produced Bottoms Up, the "musical tamasha" garnering rave reviews, with Gujarati, Parsi, Hindi, English and Marathi powerhouse performers. The consummate producer created that Hinglish juggernaut, brimming with innovative ideas, from the formidable combination of having helmed English and Gujarati plays. The smash hit revue necessitated topical switches between shows - "Changing skits, songs and dances was an expensive affair. Burjor had the junoon, sparing no expenses for that to happen," recalls Bottoms Up director Bharat Dabholkar. "I was a novice, he had huge experience. With respect that I cherish, not once did he correct me in front of actors. Making notes, he called at night to give suggestions. A true doyen of theatre, he was a dream producer."

With Kanti Madia in Piroja Bhavan, 1954. PIC COURTESY/MEHER MARFATIA, LAUGHTER IN THE HOUSE

Playwright-director Rahul daCunha acknowledges, "I lay my break in theatre at the feet of Burjor. His daughter Shernaz and I wanted to do a play called Nuts in 1984. With nothing but our passion to break into Mumbai theatre, Burjor backed us to the hilt, producing my next two plays as well. My lasting gratitude to the great man's unchanging belief that I had a pulse on what audiences enjoyed. He was my barometer."

Shernaz ("Shernz beta" to him) says, "As Rage producers we've learnt from him and Hosi Vasunia. Rahul directed for dad, Rajit [Kapur] acted in his plays. I saw basic things: my father always paying actors their dues, never letting any production quality slip. Ensuring everyone is comfortable because nobody's doing this for big bucks, treating people equally - backstage, make-up man or lead actor. In our system, we pay the same, no discrimination letting some travel by train, others by air. Dad even gave people booze, which we don't!"

Over several vibrant INT years, Burjor Patel Productions delighted Gujarati and English drama buffs. The Patels left for Dubai in 1988, where Burjor headed Khaleej Times' marketing operation. On their return to Bombay 20 years after, I was elated to interview them for a weekend paper.

From 2009, I began recording the journey of 20th-century Parsi theatre. We got closer teaming for the revue based on that book, Laughter in the House. Helping backstage brought immense fun and learning, being around Burjor a master class that was educative and entertaining. Dapper in corduroy draping his frail frame, he sat quietly, sharply observant, exchanging views with director Sam Kerawala.
With enviable zest, in the last decade of his life he shone at parallel careers. In demand as a model for ads (think Vodafone, Hitachi, Cadbury, Havells) and starring in film cameos for Kapoor & Sons, Brothers and the award-winning Jonaki in Bengali. Not forgetting how fulsomely he encouraged community spark, energetically masterminding the Draame Bawas and Bawas Got
Talent contests.

Among rare playwrights writing fresh Gujarati scripts, Meherzad Patel, partner, Silly Point Productions, admires, "Burjor Uncle sent us an email the day after watching our shows, giving such good feedback. Never too critical, never full of praise. Always on point. He's the one who pushed us to do shows in Dubai, a true godfather. The icing on the cake being an exclusive short sketch I got to write for him and Ruby Aunty, where they complain about the new Parsi Airlines not being Parsi enough. To see them so beautifully act out one's words, even at their age, is a benchmark one strives to reach."

Bumping into Dabholkar at the CCI before lockdown, Burjor shared happy ambitions for what he conceived as Parsi Bottoms Up - "At 90 he had the enthusiasm to plan that as his last hurrah. I hope one day it will happen. Till then, he'll find most of the original Bottoms Up gang in heaven, who keep the gods laughing, as only they can. Bottoms up to you, Burjor. Cheers."