Theatre Speaks

Shyam Bhimsaria
Writer, Director
[Hindi Theatre ]
Which is the last best play you saw?

TUMHARI AMRITA, directed by Feroz Abbas Khan.

Your favourite 'adda' to see a play

I love going to the NCPA, but Rangsharda in Bandra (W) I visit more often.

Your favourite playwright

Gulzar.

Your favourite play-character?

Bade Miyaan (from BADE MIYAN DEEWANE), directed by Imran Rasheed.

A play you would like to see filmed?

Spandan Theatre Group's AKBAR DECODED, which is directed by me.

A novel/short story you would like to see on stage? Why?

My own works SAASU MERI DHAASU and AKBAR DECODED.

The most hilarious play you have seen

ALL THE BEST, directed by Feroz Khan.

A play, which is over-hyped

YEH HAI BOMBAY MERI JAAN, directed by Nadeera Zaheer Babbar.

An important play (but ignored)

PURUSH, written by the late Marathi writer Jaywant Dalvi.

A play character you would like to ''dialogue'' with

Bade Miyaan from BADE MIYAN DEEWANE.

A passage from an important play that you can recite

"Mann ki hi baat koi samajh pata, to ye baat bhi pur-vichaar samjhi jaati, ki wo kaunsi baat thi jo itne samay tak Seeta maiyya par boori nazar rakhne wale Raavan ko, uske iraadon mein kaamyaab hone se rok rakhi thi."
(from the play BIRJU KA CHAUTHA GRAHAK)

A classical play that you should have read?

VIKRAMORVASIYAM is a five-act Sanskrit play by ancient Indian poet Kalidasa.

A play that changed your perception about the theatre?

TUMHARI AMRITA.

How do you regard the Mumbai theatre scene?

The theatre scenario in Mumbai is in a very bad shape. Big names in the field are scared to come out of Prithvi Theatre and the NCPA to perform at other venues, not because their plays are bad, but because Hindi audience is diminishing day after day.

Have you read any interesting books/articles concerning the theatre? Why did you find them interesting?

I don't read books at all.

If you have ever been a part of a theatre production/s, can you recall an event that was insightful, significant or simply humorous?

While being involved in so many of our theatre group's productions, this is one very significant point I have noticed and would like to share with all. There is this monopoly trade being practiced in so many theatres and auditoriums, where the applications approved are not on the lines of first come first serve basis. They are purely on terms of their own preferences like languages, personal choices - whom to allot and whom not to. I am really upset about this and many a times tried bringing this to the notice of the management. But they turned a blind eye towards it. May be someday they will read this and introspect in their offices.

Can you think of a foreign production that you found remarkable? Why?

WATER STATION, directed by Sankar Venkateshwaran. There are so many people involved in this play and it runs in slow motion. The conviction of the writer, producer, director and the artists is remarkable. Knowing the fact that it's going to be very heavy on the audiences too, they still make the staging to 2 hours plus.

Your favourite director/actor/music or set designer

Actor: Mahendra Athneria.

A significant Indian production that you may have witnessed

ADRAK KE PANJE, written by Babban Khan.

Life in the theatre without the humble batata-wada or the cutting chai... or can you recall the best gastronomic experience you've had in the precincts of the theatre to date?

In our earlier days, I remember meeting all the artists of our play PYAAZ KE CHHILKE at the famous coffee shop of an auditorium. After 10 to 15 cups of tea and long discussions, when it was time to eat, we would move out towards the food stalls near the bus stand, have the parathas and rice-daal to save money and then come back to the cafe to continue the talks with more tea and coffee. This way our production saved lots of money and we gained some timeless memories.

 
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