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THEATRICAL VISIONS FOR A NEW AGE

is coming over to Dubai to share his vision and knowledge with the theatre enthusiasts in the Gulf.

Hattangady will be conducting here a three-day workshop 'Art of acting' for the theatre enthusiasts from November 3 to 5. The event is being organised by Dubai-based theatre event and management company Rangmanch Theatre Academy, which is also organising an inter-collegiate drama competition 'Stagestruck 2004' on November 23 and 24.

This contest, aiming at popularising theatre in the young minds of Dubai, is being held for the second year without break. Prof Jayadev Hattangady in pursuance of Rangmanch's panodrama (pano means large) promotion goals will be conducting this workshop on the performing art of acting. Twenty to twenty five theatre lovers are expected to attend. In high spirits and full of great expectations about his first visit to UAE, Hattangady while talking to City Times from Mumbai unfolded his desire of evolving a global theatrical language for presentations that could reach out to people of all nationalities and widen the scope of theatre, in this information age of today, for more impact. This in his view would build theatre as a more powerful medium and help it survive in the world dominated by the more glamorous TV and film media. "It is high time to broaden the scope of theatre. Different and more relevant issues that are happening around and to which the people can relate to will have to be taken. The adoption of English language to convey the ideas will not do because then I would be containing the scope of theatre. It has to be something which can understood across the globe in any land," he said.

"The gesture language of the Indian dance art is something that can serve as the foundation for evolving this kind of language for the theatre. India is in position to introduce this universal language of theatrical movement. And I am, working on such a project," he revealed. Though the professor's idea may seem utopian but what is building in the mind of this artiste may prove to be a milestone. He is a man who throughout his career dabbled in experimental theatre. He says he never played it to the gallery and yet he not only survived but also shone.

Hattangady calls himself a freelance theatre and allied arts professional. Alumni of the National School of Drama and Asian Theatre Institute New Delhi, he obtained Masters Degree in Theatre Arts under the directorship of Ebrahim Alkazi. He has directed over 40 plays with several innovations to his credit. He himself has acted in about twenty plays. He has directed a number of TV plays and a tele-film 'Ekach Swapna' for Mumbai Doordarshan Kendra. These days his play called 'Afsanay Insanyat Kay' (narrative of humanity) is being staged in Mumbai. This play is an enacted reading of different short stories. He has also acted in Kushan Nandy's upcoming film 'Hum Dum'. Though he has acted for the tube and film but his forte remains theatre direction. Now he is passing all that he has learned over the years to the next generation by holding regular theatre workshops on design and direction on the weekends in Mumbai. Besides he is senior visiting professor at the Bombay University's Academy of Theatre.

The corporate sector is playing an essentially vital role in the promotion of sports and some arts. Hattangady advocates the expansion of corporate support to the field of theatre. "It is social obligation of companies to encourage serious art. Theatre continues to be an effective medium to convey ideas. It is therapeutic and does succeed in helping break down barriers of communication."

"Due to the advent of television and film that have in recent years become more glamorous, some people have misconceptions that perhaps theatre is dying. That is not so. Theatre too is making great strides. A lot of theatre festivals, which were not there some years ago, are now held in India. Theatre groups are travelling abroad for performances. One cannot deny that Bollywood has a larger commercial value but theatre continues to have committed audiences," he explained.

Hattangady however admitted commercial theatre is growing more rapidly in India. "Theatre has to compete with television. This is the reason that a lot of comedy plays are being staged. But still some of us are trying to do serious plays, which are not commercially viable. Our job is not just to make people laugh. It is to provoke them to think. We try to stir their conscience about the different issues and the meaning of life itself. Many of my productions are centred on women's issues and man-woman relationships. Take for example the recently staged play 'Aparajita,'(invincible) dealt with how a women in our society faces life. And how she sustains. I don't do a play simply because I have to do one," he maintained.

The improvement in relations between Pakistan and India has led to interaction between the theatre groups of both countries. Hattangady is also looking forward to a visit to Pakistan. He disclosed that he met director Madeeha Gohar of Ajoka Theatre and had discussions with her. He says he would love to direct a play in the neighbouring country if such an opportunity came his way.

In December this year Hattangady hopes to conduct a training workshop on 'Importance of aesthetics in managerial decisions' at the Manipal Institute of Management. Kishore Kadam, Sanjana Kapoor, Mahesh Manjrekar, Pratima Kulkarni, Sanjay Upadhyay, Syaji Shinde, Sushma Reddy, Humayun Peerzada, Tarun Aurora and Samreen Zaidi. The list of his students, who have shone in showbiz and the world of performing arts, is exhausting. It remains to be seen what hidden talent in Dubai he brings to the fore.