Indian theatre: a dying art?

Here's a festival that aims to promote and honour theatre artists who have made it big in Bollywood

Someu00a0of the most respected names in Bollywood are theatre veterans. The debate whether theatre actors are better than the others is a never-ending discussion.



Big names such as Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri and Shah Rukh Khan have worked in theatre productions before entering mainstream commercial cinema. With such backdrop comes a theatre festival and an award ceremony which aims to promote and honour those from the theatre background who have made it big in cinema.

"Theatre actors don't have the luxury of retakes as compared to their Bollywood contemporaries. Over the years there have been many awards given to Bollywood stars and commercial artists. In different parts of India there's a lot of hard work happening in the sphere of theatre and there is very little recognition for theatre, original dance forms and plays,"u00a0 says Ravi Dubey, creative director of Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) Festival.
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on revival track
Theatre was considered to be a dying art, but META is trying to change that. "When we started, we had 15 entries and we selected 10. This year we have received over 300 entries from all over the country. I won't say we have reached the peak yet but we are working our way to it," says Dubey.

Only 30 per cent of the plays are in Hindi and English, others are in different regional languages.
The nominated plays include Mythical Surrender, Punasccha Honeymoon and Aaj Rang Hai among others.
The plays are based on various topics and realities we come across in our society such as terrorism, exploitation of women and an intriguing tale of a superhero.

variety fare
Take for instance Mamtaz Bhai Patangwale, one of the nominated plays. It is a story capturing love, hatred, jealousy and revenge, when a young kite-flying enthusiast's fascination with the local kite flyer and seller culminates in a tragic life-changing incident. Dancing on Glass is a dark comedy that takes a look at the flip side of the fast-paced IT world. Written in 2004, in the thick of the BPO buzz, the play is an eloquent response to the rapid changes in the cityscape and its effect on two young working professionals. Alternating between raucous humor and edgy drama, the play is an emotionally explosive theatrical experience, and is a must-watch for anyone who has ever worked in a corporate space.

Bayaa Daar Ughad is based on poetry (Abhang) by women saints from 13th century to 18th century and explores their relationship with God Viththal. They derived courage to face life through this relationship; it was their source of happiness; a means to understand themselves.

Directed by Arvind Gaur, the play Ambedkar and Gandhi is a social and political play and presents the antithetical views and the realisation that Gandhi and Ambedkar's vision was one, but the means were different.
So stir the theatre enthusiast in you and check this festival out.

At: Kamani Auditorium, Copernicus Marg
When: March 2 to March 7
Timings: 7.30 pm onwards
For tickets,ring: 26011430