Nadir Khan has been actively involved with theatre since 1998 as director, actor, producer, sound and light technician, and stage manager. He is a co-founder of Q Theatre Productions and a partner in The Industrial Theatre Co. Nadir is also involved with radio drama in the UK and has so far line-produced and acted in a number of productions with BBC Radio 3 and 4, including the award winning A Suitable Boy and Q&A. In addition to theatre, he has also been working in the radio industry in Mumbai since 2001 as a disc jockey, programmer, producer and voice-over professional. We speak to him about his latest directorial venture for Aadyam for which he has directed the play TWELVE ANGRY MEN by Reginald Rose, also made into a famous film, directed by Sidney Lumet.
By Nishtha Juneja
Nishtha Juneja (NJ): Why did you choose to do the classic 12 ANGRY MEN? Was it entirely your choice? Nadir Khan (NK): To be perfectly honest, I was vaguely aware of the film's existence, having watched it many years ago, when Rage called me and asked me if I would like to direct it for Aadyam. There were two plays suggested, and once I'd read them, 12 ANGRY MEN had me hooked with no hesitation. I tend to not have a lined-up bank of texts I'd like to direct. Comic, tragic, tense, farcical, foreign - it's all the same to me. If the text hits home, that's all I need.
NJ: You have a mixed cast- men and women playing the jurors. Why did you deviate from the original play and film? NK: This play has been performed on numerous occasions, around the world, with an all male / all female / mixed cast. So it's not uncommon. For us, we felt that a mixed cast was more representative of the world we inhabit and definitely, it is the more exciting and "real" option. When the opportunity to put together an ensemble for a text like this came up, we felt it would be a shame to limit ourselves to just male actors.
NJ: You say you have given a treatment to the play that is quite unlike the film. Tell us something about it. NK: Well, the very fact that they are two completely different mediums, is one reason that they will obviously be unlike each other. On another level, apart from the mixed cast, the film is very much a close-up affair with the luxury of individuals in a single frame; the medium allowing for an intimacy and proximity between the audience and the character. Accessing that same kind of proximity on stage dictates a change in form and choice of treatment. It allows for the same results, but since it is theatre, it is from a completely different perspective. Apart from the story and the script, not much else is alike.
NJ: People tend to draw comparisons. Are you nervous that your production is likely to draw a comparison with the famous film? What would you tell your audience? NK: If anyone's going to be drawing comparisons, it should be to another staged production of the same script; it's apples and oranges, otherwise! Film and theatre are two completely separate and individual mediums and forms, and cannot be compared in my book.
NJ: This is your second innings with Aadyam. What has been the best thing for you about this association? NK: I'm very flattered and happy to be a part of this second edition of Aadyam. The best thing has been, very definitely, the opportunity to work on a production and bring it as close to one's expectations of it. That's only possible with support. Aadyam has been very clear that they are here to support Indian theatre, and later the performing arts in general - and they are making sure they do just that. It's an amazing initiative.
*Nishtha Juneja likes to act and write about theatre. Nishtha Juneja is passionate about dance and food and has completed a post-graduate diploma in Journalism from the Xavier Institute for Communication (XIC).
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