Drama connoisseurs believe that televising India’s most cherished art form will extend its reach
Theatre has been so much a part of Indian culture that it is where some of the renowned Bollywood names have cut their teeth. However, it is struggling to keep its identity alive in the present-day, tech-driven frenzy, prompting some of the veterans to suggest it be given a cinematic and digital touch to make it more relatable and reachable.
Film and theatre actress Sonali Kulkarni felt that theatre is an important part of “our culture and it is our responsibility to pass on the legacy to the future generations.”
She said, “Today’s generation is impatient, wants the best quality service, doesn’t want to be stuck in a theatre, feeling deprived that they couldn’t sit in the front row — televising a play is the best opportunity for everyone to feel that they are at the centre of the first row.”
She also feels that drama is one of the most original forms of art. “I really like this culture of entertaining each other by storytelling. There are stories — mythical, political, social, stories about our livelihood, society, romanticism and poetry — and everything can be conveyed through a play.
“I believe this basic form of storytelling should be preserved. Today’s audience is always racing against time. They need convenient options of entertainment. Hence, it is important to make theatre easily available to them,” she said.
Joy Sengupta, another theatre veteran, echoed this and also pointed to the limitation of theatre. “Performing art is experienced live and by several people at one given time and venue. But a particular performance cannot reach everywhere. That is the limitation of theatre as opposed to cinema, which can be showcased, or a serial which can be telecast in multiple mediums or places at the same time.
“Millions of people can experience a film or serial at the same time, but not theatre,” said Sengupta.
So, is the emergence of new age Bollywood stories taking away the essence of watching a play? “I don’t think so,” said Sengupta, adding, “I think Bollywood has actually benefitted from theatre. The best of actors, writers and directors have actually come from theatre. It serves as a base for introspection of life, psychology, emotions, society, politics, everything. So theatre, in that sense, is probably the best vehicle for communicating human truth and the magic of theatre will never go out of fashion.”
He disagreed that theatre is in any kind of crisis. “Youngsters in India right now are definitely turning towards theatre as an outlet for their expression and are benefitting from it. More and more youngsters are experiencing theatre right from their college time, post college, into group theatre, into professional theatre. Theatre is benefitting from it, the youth is benefiting from it. I don’t think theatre is in any kind of crisis,” he said.
Mita Vashisht, whose oeuvre spans theatre, TV and films, pointed out that the cinematic format will give theatre a new boost.
“When it comes to educating the youth about the significance of theatre, exposing them to the exemplary performances of theatre stalwarts and reviving its glory, the cinematic format of theatre is the way to go,” said Vashisht.
She also felt it’s vital to increase theatre’s social and cultural space in society. “It reflects the rich cultural heritage of our country and teaches society about itself, bringing to light the mindsets of current society and educating them about their conditions,” she said.
Aiming to preserve the art of drama and emotions of theatre, increase its reach beyond a few privileged cities and take it to the audience short of time, Tata Sky has recently launched a theatre portal — a 24-hour dedicated platform to provide an ad-free theatre-watching experience on digital devices.
The content is curated with the best plays and performances from the finest theatre groups, bringing multiple genres of plays under one platform to be accessible from the comfort and convenience of one’s home.
“We believed that, theatre, which is one of the oldest and the most appreciated entertainment art forms of India, should also be given a new stage and reach. That’s when we planned this concept of ‘archiving’ and ‘televising’ popular plays,” said Pallavi Puri, chief commercial officer, Tata Sky.
So is televising theatre the next big step on the small screen? “Television viewership is only growing stronger with each passing day and televising India’s most cherished art form is an interesting phase for the small screen.
“The plays have been recreated to suit the sensibilities of today’s viewers and is shot using different techniques and technology. The result gives viewers a refreshing experience of watching excellent content and enjoying acclaimed theatre performances from the comfort and convenience of your home and across devices such as mobile, tablet, laptop and desktops,” Puri explained.