Although corporates are investing in festivals, there is still a long way to go, say lIlETTE DUBEY AND RAJAT KAPOOR. Team Viva goes behind the scenes during the META gala
What happens when creative minds of theatre get togetherIJ You brew a fresh pot of ideas. So it was that stage veteran lilette Dubey suggested that theatre promotion could be a part of CSR budget. That way funding would never be a problem. A young entrant felt corporates could sponsor a performance space or better still, build one. And the multi-talented Rajat Kapoor felt that theatre was a far more absorbing passion to pursue than films which suck out about three years of your life.
Veterans and debutantes came together at the META (Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards) festival where the best of the country’s talent was bestowed with honour and recognition. Jury member lillete Dubey said, “Money is very short in theatre. Even the little investment that comes in is not enough for producing, mounting, marketing and then transporting a play. What is needed is a sustained flow. So corporates can show theatre a positive direction by supporting arts through CSR. If they invest their money, the audience will get a chance to witness work of a certain stature. And when word-of-mouth happens, the play gets multiple venues. It’s also getting an opportunity for people to say, ‘that play is really good, next time when we have a festival, we should get that play or we should invite them as a production’. Thus, platforms like this are crucial to elevate the theatre experience.”
Though META is a one-off, Dubey said she had not seen such a diversity even as a theatre practitioner for 40 years. “I haven’t seen work like this as I don’t get the opportunity to go to the heart of Kerala to watch village plays. Yes, NSD has a national theatre festival Bharat Rang Mahotsav, which gives talented artists an opportunity, but given META’s competitive rather than a showcase format, the quality is high as only the best players come to perform. Theatre ought to be as widespread as films and literature.”
Co-juror and theatre powerhouse Rajat Kapoor said, “I hope more corporates come in. Right now there is Aadyam in Mumbai, which actually produces new plays and has recently started doing multi-city tours. META’s annual competition has set a benchmark. But we need more involvement.”
Kapoor shared his judging experience with us, “I have just done my little duty as the jury. The jury’s job is actually redundant during such events as it’s not about who wins or loses but the collective spirit. Around 10 plays were chosen by the selection committee and to witness those performances was a sheer treat. This festival celebrates theatre so it doesn’t matter who finally gets the award, it’s a joy to look at the excited faces when the awards are being announced and it’s beautiful to share that feeling with them.”
Kapoor was happy to note the innovations in the field of overall design, sound, choreography, ensemble, performances, direction and lighting, the elements that make a play. “When you are watching a play you look at everything that impacts you, just as in any work of art. If it engages and moves you in a certain way, then I think that’s the highest criteria for art, whether it’s a painting, a novel, a film or a play.” He recalled that the six days opened his eyes to new talent from the hinterland which he wouldn’t have imagined existed. “Case in point is Jino Joseph from Kerala who won the Best Director for Nona. I wouldn’t have seen his work if it was not for META. A play from Manipur Hojang Taret was again another revelation. What we are exposed to is theatre from Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai but not other parts of the country and this is a good chance to catch up on that.”
How does Kapoor juggle his roles as an actor, theatre and film directorIJ Said he, “When you want to do something, then you find time for it. My main job is still to make films and that take the maximum amount of time, from writing a script to looking for finance, then making and releasing it. A film gobbles up two-three years of your life. Then I find time for theatre, travel with my shows and I have been doing that for the last 15 years. That’s another kind of joy.” The crowd-funding of RK/R Kay is moving slowly; he has collected around 35 lakh and the total budget which they are seeking is 2.5 crore.
The 57-year-old actor, who was recently seen in FilterCopy’s video, If Parents Behaved like Us, will work in the digital space again if something interesting comes his way. He believes that there are too many opportunities in life, so one has to say no to a few things, to actually filter out what one really wants to do.
Theatre artist Abhishek wanted corporates to help where it mattered most, in distribution of plays across cities. “Corporate sponsorship is helping elevate the theatre experience in a certain way. At the same time I feel we need to spend on infrastructure. At the META, we watched plays from all corners of the country no doubt but we need to go to remote pockets as well. Mutual exposure can led to fresher movements and ideas. I would like to see the day when theatre gets a lot of budget like films. And we get support the way indie filmmakers get. Smaller theatre groups don’t have access to space where they can rehearse on a regular basis. There are also other technical issues and it’s an expensive art which doesn’t provide stable flow of money,” he told us.
The host of the evening Vinay Pathak added quirk to the awards night with his funny mannerisms and theatrics. A regular at META for the last 13 years, he told us the reason why corporates developed cold feet was because there is no apparent gain for the brand as it’s not a televised event. “For this one event, they are scouting talent all over India, incorporating different languages, getting in a new pool of talent to perform at this acclaimed platform. I think it’s really encouraging for young theatre practitioners. The selection committee has been doing tiring work throughout the year, watching 330 plays, selecting 60 out of them with the final count being 10. It’s only for their love and passion for theatre. Imagine if we had more corporates even taking half this effort, mounting a new play would seem an easier job and the content leap would be enormous.” Till that happens Pathak is busy with his next film Khajoor Pe Atke on May 18. “It’s a fun and substantial film. Although it’s a comedy but there’s a lot more to it. It’s very cinematic and can’t wait for it to come out.”
Eminent theatre veteran, Vijaya Mehta was conferred the META lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to Indian theatre. In a message to META and to theatre artistes as well as audiences, she said, “I am very happy. I love and admire the generation shaping the art world and theatre today. I find them smart, wise and aware — perhaps in a different way from my own generation of the 1950s of the pre and post-Independence period. It is nice to know that young people are recognising and are aware of my work.”