The Naya Theatre.

The synopsis of the documentary read as the enthralling theatrical journey that happens when a pipe-smoking urban sophisticate like Habib Tanvir travels via Europe to return to his homeland – in Chhattisgarh - to create an essentially Indian theatre…

Well this in short was one of the documentaries that I got to see or rather watch and absorb in a dark auditorium with a few known and several unknown film lovers and critics. The documentary shot in the very raw documentary style show cases the trials and tribulations of a director par excellence trying hard to sustain the very essence of Indian Cinema.

The visual impact or the visual history of the whole documentary spanned only over two years where the director took us through the making and back screen preparations of the theater troupe preparing for the production of a play based on Sanskrit Classics and even some plays the adaptations of Shakespeare and Brecht. Interesting as the topic may seem equally majestic was the interpretation of the themes and the style in which each topic was directed.

The documentary twists and turns itself around the directorial excellence of Habib shahib as he takes on the task of bringing out the artistic skills of the unschooled and uneducated villagers. Each shot of the documentary wound itself around the topic, “ The Naya Theatre “and the man behind the success of the theatre, Habib Tanvir. Simple takes and excerpts from the very people he works with and the glimpses of the long list of celebrity admirers get you to hold on to your seats wondering what’s next. It’s also of great pride when you come to know that this director actually took his bunch of rural artiste’s to berlin and won the competition, in a land where no one knew the dialect and also the music.

In many ways being a critic is easy, we risk very little and yet enjoy a position of the people who offer up their work and their work to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism that’s fun to write and to read. But what we critics often must realize is that in the grand scheme of things the average piece of junk we read and hear is often more meaningful than our criticism designating itself. Not trying to impose myself with the position of being a critic in any way, since I neither have the understanding nor the experience of actually making a critical statement, it doesn’t really stand in the way of me passing a comment o something that is put together beautifully.

The documentary was followed by an interactive session with the director Ranjan Kamath who shared his experience on making the film and also the difficulties. The very first thought going into the making of the film in itself explained the fate or in fact the plight of the Indian Theatre scenario. Asked as to why he made this documentary on the Naya Theatre, his only reply was for my children. For a person who spent the better part or the whole of two years documenting a theatre troupe to make that statement is grave. Well who wouldn’t think so. The pays poor in fact it sucks (@ Rs. 2000/- per month), the hours long and the attendance decent, great only when known persons take the helm. With hardly any encouragement this is one form of entertainment that is nearing its last days. Several other questions later you also come to another revelation that is although the whole of India liked it and applaud its humble origins it has been entered into over 30 film festivals and never once been in the list of films being shown as it lacked international elements. Funny when you actually take in the international films into our nation and one to many of us sit and watch the show blissfully unaware of what’s happening and if at all we are asked whether you understood anything we simply reply oh of course every bit when in reality it’s all gone swish over your head.

Naya theatre is truly an eye opener in terms of the very little we have conceived of the notion of Indian Theatre.

Are we one?

Well strange as it may seem this query is something that has been nagging me ever since I started commuting in Bangalore. Pretty often I’ve even had my sympathies shared cent percent by people I have discussed the problem with and all this to an incredulous question shot right back at me, “why the hell are you paying a road tax, When you initially purchase a vehicle?” No matter what I give as an explanation it never actually suffice as a good enough an explanation.

A few friends got together and we were discussing on this topic and it so happened that everyone had a story to tell; each one of us was stopped at some point or the other by a policeman asking us for our papers. Well not of identification but rather our bike or car papers. In spite of all the other papers being in order the only hindrance being that the Karnataka road tax was not paid. Well to be fair, each one of us were let off with a warning and sometimes a light fine. Now the circumstances all point to one, that the very people who claim to have our unity at the very highest of importance is in fact giving it the least priority, the politicians.

It is noticed that the taxes of this state is seemingly higher than that of the other states but come-on there’s no need of an economics lesson to state why one state can levy a tax that is somewhat higher than what it is charged in other states would a uniform tax system solve the problem better. This when the most advanced city in the state is not even in a tier classification of the cities that entitle for a higher tax quotient. (Whew now that’s like a lot of Greek and Latin even for me!).

Now some may get the argument together and even be able to convince people as to the virtues of having a slightly higher tax rate but then take for instance the fighting going on in Maharashtra, one man’s eccentricity for a land belonging to a state, saying other state people cannot stay there! I must rather say if that chappie went way back to his ancestral root he would in fact learn that he was part of another state himself. Further looking or after deeper thought he would realize that the very development of his state is because of people from other states.

Each one of these incidents only leads us to wonder whether we are truly living in a country calling itself the largest democratic nation bound by a single law and government!

Working Spirituality...

An early morning schedule reason enough for irritable behaviour. Braving the chill to attend a workshop, one that had little importance to what we are doing and striving for, isn't exactly something that one looks forth to with eager anticipation. The previous days session was intense enough to actually foretell the fate we were in for the next day. Going on in a steady pace i finally reach the venue and hunt for a shady spot to park my bike.

With a car being parked there i didn't necessarily think it would be too much of a problem if i too followed the same. This unfortunately did not agree with a couple of oldies. the arguement was dont park there but move to a designated parking for bikes. A further glance at the spot indicated only added to the irritation as it was in bright sunlight. An arguement broke out between the two of us, me telling i will not budge it to the spot indicated as it was sunny and him(a senior official; aparently the site manager) aying that it is the only possible area where you can park. A lot of heated exchanges later i tell him that i am moving to a spot where several others from our company had parked their cars.

This incident lay forgotten till lunch time when i bumped into the chappie fromthe morning debate. this time he was a bit more amiable and the usual apologies followed. Some of my collegues standing along with me I think latched on to the plot much before i did and cleverly retreated to other areas safe and far from the two of us. I realised it a bit too late for any action. One thing led to another and pretty soon even before i could realise it i was talking about spirituality. With absolutely no idea of what i am going to talk about i blabber something or the other.

To be truthful i think the other guy actually found my arguments worth discussing about and that the topic we were on something interesting and in his domain. Not usually supportive of topic that have a potential to lead me to violent arguments and moments of brief irritation, i actually find this conversation leading neither here nor there. Much to my surprise the conversation actually helped in creating religious halo over my head and dwelling on topics far from the heart with clarity.

His very idea was that religion is just a platform that allows you to reach a level that in its own way allows you to dwell into a deeper state of being making you feel at peace and listen to your subconscious. Well rather than arguing i thought this time i might as well ,play the listener and for once it worked like a charm.

For a day that began with irritation, gloom and anger this must have been a fitting tribute to an end where a new relationship is founded. I dont think i did meet the other person after that much and neither did i think that he would remember me, but surprises they say are worthwhile and i did get one when i bumped into the same person a few days back bringing into mind the day when we had a working session filled with spirituality. He did recognise me and i releaved that there was no bad vibes with the guy about me. Much to my relief.

Pretenses...

Pretenses! The very definition says: The act of giving a false appearance. Pretending with intention to deceive.

Another question that really tingles your senses is, why do people put forth false appearances? The reason why i am i am begining it this fashion is.... simple i have absolutely no clue to the same question.

(I was dwelling on this question for some time, which inturn, actually got me into a study of the behavioural patterns of the human race and the believe me it is not a small area to swim in. so cutting short to make it more readable and précis, well atleast trying to, i did happen to chance in on another fellow bloggers article with the same dilemma.)

The use of the word "pretenses" here is perhaps slightly confusing to a modern reader since "pretense", in the modern sense of the word, is the conscious creation of fiction, but in the former sense of the word, as it was borrowed from the French language, it simply meant "claim" or sometimes "belief".

Below are some instances of people not being themselves
a) people are trying their best to create attention
b) people are saying " i will try my best to make it to the party or to that place (where invited)", when they simply cannot make it
c) people pulling in their tummies when a woman walks by
d) people saying good about one person and saying bad the next minute behind their backs
e) people show off in front of people that they like A PERSON but in their hearts of heart they do not
f) people who actually act busy when in reality they aren't
g) people who wish you well when you actually want the inverse to happen
h) people who project a different character when they are infact a totally different person

in this sojourn of mine on earth i strive, and I end this topic with a question hoping, to get an answer for this.

what is it that drives people to change their identity?