The Play’s the Thing

Watching Ebrahim Alkazi’s Tughlaq in the late ’60s at Purana Qila was an unforgettable experience. The ambience was perfect and Manohar Singh as Mohammed Bin Tuglaq was perfect. Another play is Shekhar Sen’s Kabir. He brought the entire essence of,on one hand,Mir Kasim,and on the other hand,Kabir,into play.

Bhanu Bharti,Theatre Director

I have known actor Uttara Baokar for 40 years,and worked with her after 20 years in my play Andha Yug last year. She played Gandhari and I was left astounded by her versatility and how effective she is on stage even at this age. According to me,she is one of the finest actors in the world today.

Ritu Kumar,Fashion Designer

A few months ago,I showcased a collection titled Paanch Vastra through a theatrical production that was directed by Chandigarh-based theatre director Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry. The presentation explored five different moods of five different women from the Mahabharata. Neelam interpreted each mood and avatar in a way that I was very impressed. It was a coming together of two different artistic fields — fashion and theatre — and for me,this was quite a refreshing change.

Suhasini Mulay,Actor

Two or three years ago,I watched Motley Group’s adaptation of Saadat Hasan Manto’s short story titled Bu at Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai . It was the first time I realised how beautifully prose had been adapted to a play. It was spectacular and very innovative,and taught me how to look outside the rigid boxes of theatre performance.

MK Raina,Actor and Director

It was by chance that I recently caught Toni Morrison and Peter Sellars’ brilliant production Desdemona at the University of California,Berkeley. The play takes a complete relook at Shakespeare’s doomed heroine and was an amazing reinterpretation from a woman’s point of view. Desdemona is a narrative of words,music and songs as five women actors and one male actor speak to the audience about the traumas of race,class,gender and war,and the transformative power of love. American actress Tina Benko portrayed the title character and all I can say is that Desdemona is a production that’s complete in every sense of the word.

Usha Ganguli,Theatre Director

I don’t have to think too hard to talk about the two productions that still evoke so many emotions in me,even after decades. I watched Utpal Dutt’s Manusher Adhikar (People’s Rights) for the first time in the ’60s. It was a learning experience — how to build up a play,have a political voice and move the audience with grandeur. Habib Tanvir’s Mitti Ki Gadi influenced me in a different way. I started my theatre journey without resources,and this play taught me about the power of theatre sans sets,music,costumes or any grandeur. Mitti Ki Gadi inspired me to start my mobile theatre company and travel all over India.

Madhur Bhandarkar,Bollywood Director

I have watched many plays over the years,in English,Hindi and Marathi. Tumhari Amrita in Hindi,and Hamida Bai Chi Kothi in Marathi are very powerful. In Tumhari Amrita,there’s a bare stage where two actors sit and read letters. Yet Shabana Azmi and Farooq Shaikh have captivated audiences for 20 years with this play. Hamida Bai Chi Kothi,on the other hand,is an evocative story of the time when the traditional kothas were dying.

Pooja Iranna,Artist

I used to attend a lot of plays as a child. From Triveni Kala Sangam,we would hop over to Kamani auditorium. The play that has remained etched in my mind is Habib Tanvir’s Charandas Chor. I have watched this play innumerable times over several years. It had a lot of folk actors from Chhatisgarh,there was tribal music and the whole setting was very impressive.

Prahlad Kakkar,Ad filmmaker

Vijay Tendulkar’s Ghashiram Kotwal was perhaps the first play in modern Indian theatre to lay detailed emphasis on choreography and costume. I have watched many Marathi and Hindi versions of this play,and prefer the former. Every time I have watched this play,I have found a packed hall.