Actor-director Amol Palekar, who is back on stage after 25 years with his play Kasur, talks about realism in films, charm of theatre, actors voicing their opinion and much more. By Sakshi Sharma
Amol Palekar is known for embodying the Indian middle class, replete with flaws, in films such as Gol Maal, Choti Si Baat, Rajnigandha and Baaton Baaton Mein. This realism is what has given him an unparalleled connect with the audience.
The actor-director has returned to the stage after 25 years with Kusur (The Mistake), an adaptation of the Danish thriller, Den Skylidge. A social thriller, the play focusses on the complexities of a contemporary life in a modern Indian city. Palekar has essayed the role of a retired assistant police commissioner Dandavate, whose life changes over the course of the night he volunteers at a police control room. One phone call leads to a series of twists and turns and when he leaves the control room, he’s a changed man. Returning to the stage after a long hiatus and experiencing both sides being the lead as well as the director, he tells us how he navigated that space.
How challenging was it to return to the stage after 25 years?
For anybody, 25 years is a very long time. After such a huge gap, it becomes a challenge to be back in form. For instance, you know driving but then you don’t drive for 10 years, it is very obvious that you will get apprehensive. This is something very natural.
How did the audience receive the play, especially the Tier-II cities?
The way people are responding is overwhelming and extremely fulfilling. It is received very perceptively. We find a pin-drop silence in those 90 minutes. There are cities where people appreciate the play with a standing ovation towards the end. And this makes me very happy.
I am also happy because I had earlier decided that I will only perform the play at 25 locations. We have already performed at more than a dozen now. But I also said that I don’t want to perform only in the metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. I wanted to perform beyond that and reach out to the audience with this very rich and different theatrical experience. I am glad that we have been able to do it. We have already performed in Guwahati, Bhubaneswar and Ahmedabad and we are set to perform in Chandigarh as well. The response in all these places has been humbling. It makes me feel that people love me so much even at this stage of life. They even said that the play has given them something to cherish for a long time. Isse jyada kya chahiye? (What more do you need?)
You have usually played realistic roles which are said to have epitomised the middle class. We are again seeing an upsurge of such films. What’s your take?
This is forming a full circle now. During my time, it was more about larger-than-life cinema. There were people like Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra and Jeetendra ruling the industry. But parallel to it, there was a cinema movement, which dealt with day-to-day issues of a common man. And now it is the same again. That’s how you can see it forming a circle. There are films where realism takes the upper hand, where the hero isn’t bashing 30 people and isn’t perfect or an epitome of goodness. But that is just a part of the mainstream cinema. The majority of it still strives on stories that don’t revolve around such issues. But I am glad that the aspect of realism is making a strong presence in filmmaking today.
Do you think the change has come about due to a change in actors’ professionalism and mindsets?
I feel that young actors are much more professional than us. During our time, a lot of wrong things were practised as a part of the star system. And yet glorified. An actor who usually arrived late on the sets was considered to be the biggest star. These were the wrong norms, which were completely unprofessional, yet were followed during that time. Today’s generation is doing a better job. They give their entire attention to one film at a time or whatever project they are doing and nail it.
Do you think the charm of theatre is still intact, especially at a time when they are owned by corporate houses?
The charm of theatre is intact and that is because more and more people prefer watching a live performance. The interaction between one human being with another is the crux and magic of theatre. This has remained the same over the years. Long time back, even before my coming into this field, many theatre companies collapsed with the advent of cinema. It was feared that theatre will be dead but it created its own space, identity and attention. Then when television came, once again it was said that theatre cannot survive because people do not like to watch cinema outside, they prefer watching it at home. Even cinema was threatened at that time but both the artforms survived.
The role of corporate houses in theatre is not a cause of worry because of the intrinsic strength and magic of theatre. It will always survive.
How has storytelling evolved overtime?
Everybody tries to tell a story in a way which is different and holds the audience attention for a long time. That’s the basic about storytelling. You may do it in a traditional, classical, folk or contemporary way, that is your choice, or there might be somebody who doesn’t want to tell a story yet finds a narrative which leaves one spellbound. And this has been going on and will go forever. That’s the beauty of it. It’s like our grandmother used to tell us stories. Now my wife or I will not be able to tell a story in that manner to our children. The stories which we tell them will be different and something which is related to our times and lives. So it will go on evolving and the more evolved it is, the more exciting it becomes.
What would you say about actors voicing their opinion strongly and Bollywood going political?
Of course, actors should voice their opinions. When other professions, for example, journalism has the right to put views out, why shouldn’t you give it to the actors? It is unfair to put a gun under them. At the same time, we can see many journalists meekly accepting whatever is being told. It’s the same scene in every field, even in Bollywood.
The reason politicians question the industry or performers is because actors have a tremendous following and their stance makes an impact. Same is the case with politicians, so they are scared of them. They try to brush aside their opinion and muzzle their voice. They tag actors with a certain political party. I want people to go beyond the party politics. Once you go beyond that as a conscious educated, thinking citizen, you will express your opinion. Everybody keeps voicing their opinion instantly on digital media. So, if all of us want to express our views why are you denying that right to the actors?
(The show is brought by BookMyShow)