The missing Hindustani link

A small audience huddled together one drizzly August evening in Sudarshan Hall in Shaniwar Peth. Incense wafted through the auditorium’s small,dark room,while the stage was lit up with red lights that formed the word ‘Bar’. Hyderabad-based group Sifar was in the city with a rare treat – a three-day Hindi theatre fest. In spite of the cosmopolitan melting pot that Pune has transformed into,the presence of Hindi plays in its cultural calendar is sparse. But Sifar’s Feroze Ahmed was still drawn to the prospect of showcasing their plays here,”primarily because,like Hyderabad,a lot of people from north India have streamed in here. So they understand and are comfortable with Hindi.” The reception may have surpassed Sifar’s expectations,and encouraged them to come more often. But local Hindi theatre in Pune is still to crystallise into a solid entertainment machine.The lingua franca of most theatre groups here is Marathi,so even if there are people willing to come watch Hindi plays,there are precious few on offer.

In the past three months however,in a welcome break from the usual,a few Hindi plays popped up on the city’s theatre radar. Apart from Sifar,Niche Stagekraft showcased three comic plays at Ambedkar Bhavan,selling the event on the premise that some jokes are best delivered in Hindi. Oedipus Rex,by Mumbai-based Ranga Theatre,played on August 28 at Akshar Nandan School. Apart from these visitors,Swatantra Theatre is one of the very few groups which keeps churning out Hindi plays. But the frequency and quality of these plays ensure that no definite trend has ever picked up. “We have been trying to establish Hindi theatre in the city for the past two-three years. The response has not really been satisfactory so far,” admits Ravindra Damle,secretary of Maharashtra Cultural Centre which operates Sudarshan Hall. “Hindi plays don’t get much press publicity,and even adverts are expensive. Sifar came at a time when Purushottam Karandak and other college Marathi theatre fests are gearing up,so the timing was a bit awry. But yes,the response needs to be better.”

Apart from Sudarshan Hall,MyTheatre Cafe leads the charge of bringing quality plays to the city,and Hindi plays feature prominently in their agenda. “Hindi plays are definitely picking up in the city,because audiences are always looking for something new,” assures Sunil Chandurkar of MyTheatre Cafe. “Theatre groups are keen to explore Pune because of its strong theatrical legacy. They want to come here and showcase their talent in front of the Puneri audiences that helped build that reputation.” But even he admits to the lack of a local base in Hindi playwriting. “The general perception is that if you want to attract people to Hindi plays,then it should be a comedy,which invariably means slapstick. I have noticed even Marathi-speakers come to Hindi plays,but one play a month is way too infrequent to build a solid following.”

Even Damle admits to the duality of a linguistically-liberal audience and a sad lack of willingness amongst local groups to produce Hindi plays. “Even acting enthusiasts haven’t been exposed to the language much. We need to break this language barrier.” He also points to a regional typicality that makes Hindi theatre struggle in Pune. “The eastern side of the city is much more cosmopolitan than the rest. So Hindi,English,Marathi,all plays find audiences in that section. There are more cosmopolitan pockets than a whole swathe,so exposure to Hindi is varied.”