The return of the prodigals

These days theatre is suddenly abuzz with television artistes. Many who had left theatre for better opportunity and good money have returned to this art form. Raman Kumar, Sachin Khedekar, Harsh Chhaya, Shekhar Suman, Daisy Irani, Samir Soni, Satish Kaushik, Lakshmikant Berde, Dalip Tahil. Whew, the list is really long and still growing. They are the small screen stars with enough money to flaunt and are almost always cribbing about lack of time. On the other hand, theatre offers peanuts as remuneration
and requires lengthy rehearsals to finally present the show on the stage. So, what made these artistes embrace theatre at this stage!

Satish Kaushik, the director and producer is doing Salesman Ramlal, a play that has drawn positive reactions from the viewers. What prompted him to go back to theatre is the feeling that he belonged to it. He was struggling to establish himself in films and gain enough clout and money before he ventured back to drama. “Now I can tell them that I am busy with my play. They will accept it. Earlier who would have bothered to tolerate my absence from the sets?” he questioned wisely. Ramesh Talwar, the director of Jaya Bachchan’s play Ma Retire Hoti Hai believes that this exercise is useful for actors as well as theatre. While the star value of television artistes helps in pulling the crowds to the theatre, the artistes get to hone their skills further. “There is a dearth of real artistes on stage, it is better if more will come. This way the audience comes to see their favourite stars and stars can play a variety of characters which they cannot do on screen,” he said.

Harsh Chayya who is doing the play Ek Mamuli Admi after a long gap of 7 years, also voiced the same opinion. “People who have done stage want to come back to it after a point of time. I came because I wanted to check whether I can still face a live crowd or not. Besides, you get to learn so much from theatre.” Sachin Khedekar, who did Doctor Aap Bhi last year is currently doing the play Shyam Rang. According to him “I always belonged to theatre. Then I also wanted to break the monotony of my work. I wanted to recuperate, relearn and refine my acting skills. It is my need to do theatre.” Shekhar Suman, too, is going to do one play each year. To accomplish this he has floated a theatre company, ‘Silhouette Theatre Academy’ with Om Katare. “He started the company to make sure that he has a long term commitment and involvement with this fraternity,” said Om.

It is all fine and hunky dory, but it raises a moot question, how long are these artistes going to continue doing theatre! When Nadira Babbar had staged the play Saku Bai on December 31 she had a full house because actress Sarita was a part of the cast. The very next day her another play without starry names was a damp-squib. “This is not my problem. I am here to stay and I will do whatever I can to help theatre. I hope I have not been corrupted by television and cinema,” said Harsh Chayya. Raman Kumar feels that this spurt is helping theatre but is not sure that the artistes will stay here for a long time. “Their idea is to get a different type of high,” he says. Samir Soni who is doing Ask What Father Says has his own reasons to join theatre. “Since I had the time and I liked the script I am doing it.” He, however refused to say how long he planned to do theatre.

The big names are a draw and it makes producers very happy. Lakshmikant Berde is doing Lavangi Mirch after a gap of 13 year. Crowds pour in to see this natural artist. However will it put a full stop to the growth of hard core theatre actors? “This is market economy and it always happens. We do need something to draw the crowd. Today these artistes are doing a fine job of it. If one wants to do pure theatre then one should go to Prithvi on Tuesday and Wednesday when the ticket is only Rs.20. Commercial plays do need the people because even one television or film artiste in the cast makes a difference,” said Ramesh Talwar who had already started on his second play Doctor Mukta with Jaya Bachchan. According to the grapevine even Shatrughan Sinha and Dimple Kapadia are joining theatre. Such big names will surely work as a shot of steroid for the drama fraternity.

Neelam Gupta