Smile in Sorrow

Dreams and desires drive him to go beyond cliches,constraints and commerce. A rule Rajat Kapoor follows in both cinema and theatre.

A clowns reading of the tragedy,thats Rajat Kapoors Hamlet

Dreams and desires drive him to go beyond cliches,constraints and commerce. A rule Rajat Kapoor follows in both cinema and theatre. So,he steers clear of the safe and obvious. Hamlets touched,intrigued,pained many for decades,precisely why even after 400 years after the play was written,most directors and actors want to stage it. So did Rajat Kapoor and thats why Hamlet – The Clown Prince was conceived and played. It was relevant at the time it was written and also today. Its still contemporary,like the modern man, Kapoor staged the play on Monday at Tagore Theatre as part of the Chandigarh Arts and Heritage Festival.

The clown has fascinated the actor for years,and the motif appears in his work constantly,thought he finds it tough to pinpoint the reason,and through the eyes of the clown,Rajat explores the vast world of Hamlet. To move away from the classical style,pierce the existing interpretations,re-evaluate the text of Hamlet,was what it all began with,it sounded bizarre,but the idea was to not lose the essence and tragedy of Hamlet,yet make it funny, Rajat has been doing theatre since 82,and the stage he says,gives him an immediate high. Re-editing and juggling the text,taking scenes that were useful to him and giving it a free body,with the clowns questioning the character,Rajat agrees hes taken a lot of liberty,one thats been a hit with the audience. The original clown is Charlie Chaplin,theres not a greater actor and director, Rajat finds the shift from reel to stage effortless,with no unlearning to do and theatre,unlike films he adds has no constraints.

This is a great time for filmmakers and actors who dont want to follow a set pattern,there is an audience for films like Dev D,Mithya and we can experiment, Rajats looking forward to I Am 24,Raat Gayi,Baat Gayi,The Rectangular Love StorySo,the artistic movement continues,with him choosing roles and subjects for making films which may not have a large public appeal,scope for commercial success or give him fame or money,but because they excite me as an actor,director and thinking person, for the last ten years,Rajat has not been using scripts to stage a play. His actors and he,who form Cinematograph,rehearse with objects,situations,characters,space and then emerges a play and text. We improvise everyday and there are changes in every show and its fascinating Rajat is set to do another play next year,with the clowns and Shakespeare in place.

Parul

Parul is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express in Chandigarh. She is a seasoned journalist with over 25 years of experience specializing in public health, higher education, and the architectural heritage of Northern India. Professional Profile Education: Graduate in Humanities with a specialized focus on Journalism and Mass Communication from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Career Path: She began her career covering local city beats and human interest stories before joining The Indian Express in 2009. Over the last decade and a half, she has risen to the rank of Principal Correspondent, becoming the publication’s primary voice on Chandigarh’s premier medical and academic institutions. Expertise: Her reporting is deeply rooted in the institutional dynamics of PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) and Panjab University. She is highly regarded for her ability to navigate complex administrative bureaucracies to deliver student-centric and patient-centric news. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 - 2025) Her recent work highlights critical reporting on healthcare infrastructure, academic governance, and urban culture: 1. Public Health & PGIMER "PGIMER expands digital registry: Centralized patient records to reduce wait times by 40%" (Nov 20, 2025): A detailed look at the digital transformation of one of India's busiest medical institutes to tackle patient influx. "Robotic Surgery at PGI: Why the new urology wing is a game-changer for North India" (Oct 12, 2025): Reporting on the acquisition of state-of-the-art medical technology and its impact on affordable healthcare. "Shortage of life-saving drugs: Inside the supply chain crisis at government pharmacies" (Dec 5, 2025): An investigative piece on the logistical hurdles affecting chronic patients in the tri-city area. 2. Education & Institutional Governance "Panjab University Senate Election: The battle for institutional autonomy" (Dec 18, 2025): In-depth coverage of the high-stakes internal elections and the friction between traditional governance and central reforms. "Research funding dip: How PU’s science departments are navigating the 2025 budget cuts" (Nov 5, 2025): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing researchers and the impact on India's global academic ranking. 3. Art, Culture & Heritage "Le Corbusier’s legacy in peril: The struggle to preserve Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex" (Dec 22, 2025): A feature on the conservation efforts and the tension between urban modernization and UNESCO heritage status. "Chandigarh Art District: How street murals are reclaiming the city’s grey walls" (Oct 30, 2025): A cultural profile of the local artists transforming the aesthetic of the "City Beautiful." Signature Style Parul is known for her empathetic lens, often centering her stories on the individuals affected by policy—whether it is a student navigating university red tape or a patient seeking care. She possesses a unique ability to translate dense administrative notifications into actionable information for the public. Her long-standing beat experience makes her a trusted source for "inside-track" developments within Chandigarh’s most guarded institutions. X (Twitter): @parul_express ... Read More

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