Theatre On Track

In 1991,Pimputkar joined Central Railway as an assistant driver after completing the necessary training.

“During college days,we used to represent Wison College at competitions like the Indian National Theatre (INT) but later,when engrossed in work,the hobby found little scope to develop”. It was only in 2003,when he joined the Railway Cultural Academy,that he started re-inventing himself. “It was from here that my talent got a boost,” he says.

Through the cultural academy,he enrolled for National School of Drama’s (NSD) theatre workshop in 2004. And then there was no looking back.

Since then,Pimputkar has been performing in various drama competitions. In November last year,both Pimputkar and the drama “Shalaka” bagged Rajya Natya Spardha’s second prize for the Central Railway. Not wishing to stay restricted to acting,he is also dabbling in other aspects of theatre like lights. “One should not restrict oneself in theatre. One should keep learning its other aspects,which are equally important,” he says.

When asked about his full-time involvement in theatre,he says,“That would probably come only after retirement as it requires immense hard work and time,which can not be devoted now.”

But he thanks his employer for giving him ample scope to again rediscover his talent and more importantly,to encourage it. “We do not have weekly offs,but whenever there is a competition the administration relaxes the duty hours by changing them according to my convenience. During the last four or five days of a competition,they are kind enough to relieve us for practising,” he says.

“Pipmutkar has nurtured his hobby of acting in socially relevant plays in spite of a busy schedule as a motorman. His efforts are really commendable,” says Shriniwas Mudgerikar,chief spokesperson of the Central Railway.