Present Reaction

If only we weren8217;t so damn scared...Asif Ali8217;s work would be much easier but then it would not have the same passion and depth that has become the trademark of Asif8217;s plays.

My plays focus on the root of issues, admits theatre director and playwright Asif Ali

If only we weren8217;t so damn scared8230;Asif Ali8217;s work would be much easier but then it would not have the same passion and depth that has become the trademark of Asif8217;s plays. The playwright-director can not be silenced. If something disturbs him, his reactions will take the shape of words that the actors translate on stage. 8220;No issue becomes an 8216;issue8217; overnight, but it8217;s only when it disturbs our comfortable set-up that we open our eyes to it. It8217;s the grassroots that need to be taken care of. That8217;s what I try to portray through my plays 8211; how the problem rises to become massive and what we can do to prevent it.8221; That8217;s exactly what he has done with his latest production 8216;59minutes, 60seconds8217; that was staged at Punjab Kala Bhavan on September 13 and 14.

An offshoot of his reaction to the Bihar naxalite movement, the play portrays the last one hour of a group of young naxals in hiding. 8220;You may get an impression that the play deals with death but the subtext is about life. For these young and energetic people wanting to change things around them, even death becomes a celebration. The idea is not to glorify their deeds but present a window into a world that builds out of disappointment, frustration and desperation.8221; Asif believes in picking real issues that need to be addressed. 8220;Whatever creates a hulchul in me takes the form of a play. My aim is to create awareness about the same in people. Unfortunately theatre does not have as massive a reach as television or cinema. People don8217;t bring their children to theatre, Disneyland makes more sense to them,8221; rues the playwright-director. However, he can already smell the change, for CBSE and NCERT are in the process of linking theatre with primary education. 8220;It8217;s the theatre people who have achieved this!Theatre should become a daily thing for all, only then will it have an impact. Right now all we can do is point the finger. The co-relation between theatre and the politicians or social workers is yet to happen.8221;

The possibilities are many and so are the challenges. 8220;Theatre should evolve to the demands of the post modern era. With multi-media expanding and the market deciding our lives, theatre has to grow to survive,8221; he however does find some theatre persons set to meet the challenges. 8220;Take Neelam Man Singh for instance, she is doing exceptional work. Amongst the younger generation, people like Ashu from the city are trying to create their own language through theatre. This is a must for anyone who wants to make a difference.8221; As for himself Asif will attempt that with his next play that8217;s about immigrants from Bihar. Watch out!