Experimenting theatre in 15x20 Room.

June 2014 was over. We had screened 2 documentary films on environment-‘ God on the Edge’ of Ashok Patel and another film in Marathi by Nivedita Kothare- Utsavachi That -Paryavarnachi Vaat"(Festivals caused disaster to Environment.) Before that we had shown a song "Gaon chhodab nahi...." (We will not let our land, our village, our soil....) followed by a very lively discussion. 

What next? It always comes to my mind, not after finishing the program, but much before that. Many friends said that this time, some exclusive should be on theatre only. They all were from theatre. They promised that they will come with their performances.  

Rakesh Chaturvedi from NSD had joined Room Theatre from the beginning. We talked each other and discussed about the possibilities of the program. Finally, we had decided to organise July 2014 program on theatre only.  He said that he will bring an excerpt from "Bade Bhaisaab" a story of legendary writer Munshi Premchand. 

I started contacting people from theatre. Sarita Hussain, Nivedita Baunthial, Madhuri Bhatia, Chitra Jetily, Bhaskar Jha, Virat Kalodbhav Team and very important- Dr Nivedita Sarkar. Nivedita is a professor of Hindi. She is a good teacher of literature, but she has not any theatre background. She was attending all programs. She is my MA days friend, with whom I get connected through FB. Thanks to Facbook. 

Nivedita said that she also want to perform. I okeyed and asked her to bring the piece on which she wants to perform. It is my training design. It is a trial to check the person, whether she/he is really interested.   

Nivedita brought the poem, “Main neer bhari dukh ki badly” written by the great Chhayavadi poet Mahadevi Varma. When she recited, I just understood that I will have to work very hard on her. Whether she is ready? I was very happy to see her zeal. Gradually, she started picking up. I was in a very bad shape, but still, I used to call her almost every day for rehearsal, so that she can perform on the day.

Finally, day came and she was with her very first performance. Link is here. You may see.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh4f6YxDl2E Main Neer Bhari Dukh ki Badli

From March to June, programs were held in as it is condition of our so called drawing room. But, now this is theatre. I was thinking, performers and audience must get a feel of theatre. I brought out all black cloth, which is used for masking purpose during the stage design for any show. I covered my Hall’s window with the black cloth. And really, some miracle happened. The hall was giveng such a wonderful look of theatre!

As there is one of the objectives to get interacted with the veterans of their respective fields, it was thought to invite dignitaries from theatre. Nivedita Baunthial suggested Lalit Parimoo name. She talked to him and very kindly, he gave his consent to attend the program. I recalled, I had written a film “Jayshankar Prasad” for Films Division, where he played the role of Manu from Kamayani. I invited Dr. Ramesh Rajhans, Sri RS Vikal and Shri Bhalchandra Jha. It was a good day for me. All have been contacted and all had given their consent.

People started coming and within no time hall was packed with double of its capacity of 25-30 people. Stage portion was also got covered by the audience. But, neither artists had bothered nor audience. They were experimenting theatre.

Nivedita Baunthial insisted me to perform. I had no courage to perform. My husband Ajay also had requested to leave me. But Nivedita forced a lot. Finally, I performed a piece from my solo “Bimb-Pratibimb”. In fact, I wanted to perform, but have no courage to express my wish. Nivedita request had come to rescue me.

That day right from “Ashadh ka Ek Din” of Mohan Rakesh to “Main Neer Bhari Dukh ki Badli”, of Mahadevi Varma, Premchand’s Bade Bhai Saab to Andha Yug of Dr. Dharmveer Bharti. Play was started with the show of a young theatre presenter Bhaskar Jha. Noted film, TV, Theatre actor Madhuri Bhatia performed on her own script.

 Discussion started. Dr Ramesh Rajhans, Lalit Parimoo ji, Vikal Ji, Bhal handra ji- they all spoke. They all were happy, mesmerized to see that how a 15x20 hall had created an atmosphere for Room Theatre. It is an unforgettable memory. An overwhelming response. Thanks to theatre enthusiast! Love you!!     

Tagore, Prasad, Krishn Chander, Bhishm Sahni- four legendary in Room Theatre

May, 2015 is coming. April is going. AVITOKO Room Theatre has celebrated "Plays and Poetry" on first Sunday of the month, i.e. 5th April, 2015.

Churning time starts just after finishing the current program. Rather I would say, it evolves the mind much before this. New theme, unseen presentation. And qualitative work- The very basic condition of AVITOKO Room Theatre.

Last year in May 2014,  AVITOKO Room Theatre had presented satire writing. Shri Prem Janmejay was the key person of the program. He had come from Delhi. His four articles were read out by four different artists, writers. Shri Akshay Jain from Mumbai had also joined and read out one of his satire.

Now, May is coming. Birth centenary of two great writers of Hindi and Urdu, Bhishm Sahni and Krishn Chander is being celebrated. 7th May is the birth day of Robindro Nath Tagore. I am doing my solo based on one of his short story- "Bhikharini (the lady beggar). Jayshankar Prasad's 126th year is going on. Who can deny the imporatnce of his plays, such as Chandragupt and Dhruvswamini?

An idea came into my mind. What will happen, if these all four writers will arrive at one place? None of the place would be better other than AVITOKO Room Theatre. So next program is got fixed. April month was based on poetry. May month will be focused on the prose of these writers as Tagore and Prasad both had written prose and poetry.

Anyone can come with the work of any of these four writers and present it in AVITOKO Room Theatre on May 10, 2015 at 4pm. Who ever wants to participate, just write on gonujha.jha@gmail.com or can call on +91-9820619161. Venue will be informed later on.

Dont miss your chance as AVITOKO Room Theatre's basic objectives are to provide the platform to unseen talents and meaningful theatre in nominal cost.##

Play and Poetry in AVITOKO Room Theatre- 5th April, 2015

It was a jam packed Room to celebrate Play and Poetry on the occasion of World Hindi Thatre Day (3rd April) and International Poetry Month (April). Room was first decorated as per the esssense of theatre. Room actually is a store room, where my friend Ashok Purang runs his acting workshop. Seeing AVITOKO Room Theatre initiatives, he offered his place to conduct AVITOKO's Room Theatre programs.

Getting place in Mumbai to run such programs without money is now a day a next to impossible job. It is a luck by chance to get such a place to run Room Theatre.

Day was first Sunday. I.E 5th April, 2015. Evening 4pm. So preparing the Room as per Room Theatre sense and essence is not a big work. We have lots of black cloth to mask the area. Before and after masking, the face of room gets changed in a manner that anyone would like to perform. We reached at 3pm and after one hour, Room Thatre was ready for performance.

To celebrate Play and Poetry, there was a series of new as well as veterans. The program was conducted in two segments-

1. Poetry recitation, under this poets recited their poems. They were Santosh Gulati, Om Prakash Tiwari, Rita Das Ram.

2. in performance segment, Dr Ramesh Rajhans had presented the poems of Baba Nagarjun. Rakesh Jaiswal had presented poems of young poet Hare Prakash Upadhyay poems theatrically. Kazi Nazrul Islam's poetry were presented with its English meaning by Dr. Anirban Dasgupta, Shraddha Bonik and Translation was presented by Madhuri Bhatia.

Madhuri has performe the poems of Maya Angelo. "Sharmila Irom: Ek Anugunj" was presented by the artists of Virat kalodbhav- S/S Akshay Yadav, Ram and Vibha Rani under the direction of RS Vikal. The poem is written by Dr. Narendra Mohan. The best performance was of Bhaskar Jha, who presented the poem of Harivansh Rai bachchan's "Vishv sara So Raha Hai" in a fine theatrical tune. Poetries of Vartika Nanda were read out by theatre actors Kanupriya and B Gauri.

A new initiative was taken this time. Various magazines were given to the reading lovers against a mere cost. This initiatives was liked by the people.

AVITOKO Room Theatre has just completed its ONE year. The birthday was also celebrated with cutting cake. Program was anchored by the Senior advocate Purnima Awasthi.

A new, energetic and gala chapter! People will remember it. Thanks performres! Thanks Audience!!

Come and celebrate Play With Poetry- 5th April, 2015

World Hindi Theatre Day falls on April 3rd every year. It is understood that in the year 1868, Bhartendu Harishchandra, The father of modern Hindi has staged his first play at Nagri Pracharini Sabha Hall in Varanasi. In that play, he had acted also. 

April month is being celebrated as a Month of Poetry. Inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month, held every April, in America, is the largest literary celebration in the world with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers and poets celebrating poetry’s vital place in our culture.

Good acts are always good. No mention, from where it gets originated. To give an expansion of the thought of these great American poets and to expand it from nation to International ground, AVITOKO has started celebrating International Poetry Month from the year 2014 by conducting a poetry performance program, where poems of women poets of Hindi, English, Gujarati, Marathi, Maithili, Santhali were performed by various theatre persona. 

Poetry gets a good shape through theatre and theatre gets a

meaning, while performing good poems of veteran poets. To

 celebrate both the occasion and give a correlation between

 poetry and plays, AVITOKO Room Theatre is celebrating 

World Hindi Theatre 

Day and presents "Poetry with Play" 

 on  Sun, April 5, 2015 @ Room No 801,SVP Institute 

of Engineering, Bhawans, Andheri West, Mumbai@ 4pm.

Performance of poetry- Sharmila Irom by Virat Kalodbhav

 Hawk: Ayat Khan, Nagarjun: Dr. Ramesh Rajhans, Quazi

 Nazrul Islam : Dr. Anirban 

Dasgupta & Madhuri Bhatia,

Vartika: Kanupriya & B Gauri,

 Bachchan: Bhaskar Jha.

 Poetry recitation: Abhilash

 Awasthi, Om Prakash Tiwari,

Sulbha Kore, Rita Das Ram,

 Santosh Gulati, Sri Vijay 

Bhandari . Dr Narendra Mohan will discuss on "Correlation in

 play and poetry". 

Programs reaches on a high note, when its well anchored. 

For this, the entire program will be Anchored by senior 

advocate Purnima Awasthi. Gift of magazines will be 

presented by Suraj Prakash on a  minimal cost. Join and

 enjoy poetry & plays. Contact:

 09820619161/ gonujha.jha@gmail.com

Naurangi Natni on World Theatre Day

‪#‎AVITOKO‬ ‪#‎RoomTheatre‬ celebrated ‪#‎WorldTheatreDay‬ on March 27, with colaboration of Virat Kalodbhav and presented 3 plays- 1."Shahadat ke Baad". 2."Sharmila Erom- Ek Anugunj" (Dir. RS Vikal) and 3."Naurangi Natni" (Dir. Rajendra Joshi) with Vibha Rani, Kuldip Vashishtha, Akshay Yadav, Subodh Shrivastav, Sana, Aditi at YWCA. 53,JP Road. Andheri (West) followed by a discussion with veteran writer and playwright Dr. Narendra Mohan. Yet another success of Room Theatre. 

Yet another step of Room Theatre. 

Three Cheers with Three Plays on World theatre Day (WTD)

A very good wishes to all theatre lovers and creative personas for World Theatre Day (27^th March). Just a few ours are remaining to entre to the gala Day. So, let celebrate the Day with the various forms of theatre- revolutionary, poetic, folk! You might have been thinking that where should we go and enjoy these varieties of theatre? Do not roam here and there. Come tomorrow i.e. March 27, 2015 at 4.30 pm at YWCA, 53, JP Road, Andheri (West), Mumbai, (Near Navrang Cinema) and be with the line and life of theatre, form of theatre, enjoyment of theatre.

Because, AVITOKO and Virat Kalodbhav jointly have put the effort to serve you the different genre of theatre and bringing THREE plays on the Day for you- 1."Shahadat ke Baad", 2."Sharmila Erom- Ek Anugunj" (Dir. RS Vikal) and 3."Naurangi Natni" (Dir. Rajendra Joshi) with Vibha Rani, Sangita Vaajpei, Ram Giridhar, Rajesh Gupta, Kuldip Vashishtha, Akshay Yadav, Subodh Shrivastav and Ram Milan. For any kind of assistance or further plan, you may contact us here: 09820619161/gonujha.jha@gmail.com.

"Shahadat ke Baad" is a collage of the post Bhagat Singh condition of the country, where the play puts a question, that whether we got the freedom or whether we are serving our own people?

"Sharmila Erom- Ek Anugunj" is based on the poem on the woman activist Sharmila Erom, written by Dr. Narendra Mohan. It reveals the crude face of the system and the softness of a woman, who has taken such a harsh decision. Both the plays are directed by theatre veteran RS Vikal.

Naurangi Natni is a story of a mother and the challenge she accepts from a powerful king for the bright future of her son. It is also an illustration of a collective awakening felt by the mass and how they mobilize against injustice and deceipt. Based on a folk tale, the play has been written in free verse. The audience travel with the sentiments and emotions of Natni, her role and ambitions as a mother, the deceitful game of the king and the power of a congregated and awakened mass through various traditional songs and rituals. There is a delightful combination of folk traditions and theatrical experimentation in the play. The play has been directed by another theatre veteran Rajendra Joshi.

So, now, its your turn. Come and see the play, understand the life. 

AVITOKO celebrates World Theatre Day (WTD) on March 27, 2015

I celebrated World Theatre Day (WTD) in a jail with the inmates. Unfortunately, I am unable to remember the year. Perhaps, 2008.  

Last year, in 2014, I was totally sick and had just started AVITOKO Room Theatre on March 3^rd. Now, 27^th March! It was too close to organize any other program. I wonder, if I will open up my mouth, my family will throw me out. But hats of them!

Two young boys, Vinay Vinu and Shyam Dangi were studying theatre at my place. I gave them a challenge to observe the Day on 27^th. Though they were new to Mumbai, Somehow they managed. In the meantime, Shri Hrishikesh Sulabh (Bhaiya), noted story writer, playwright and theatre persona had arrived in Mumbai. He is my brother-in-law also. He is very affectionate to me and wished to see me. Sitting with him and listening to him is always a very pleasant moment, not only for me but for  my entire family.

He came on 27^th afternoon along with Subhash Mishra, General Secretary, Indian Peoples Theatre Association (IPTA), Raipur. He, every year organizes theatre festival. In 2012, I had also participated in it. Actor Pankaj Tripathi had also arrived at the same time. Avinash Das had invited him.

          Sulabh Bhaiya told that he will not sit for a long, because of his pre-occupation. Before that, I had requested him to address the children. But he showed his time constraints. I thought that no problem! It will be two programs in a Day. He has enormous numbers of interesting stories realated to theatre. He is a great travelers and lots of untold incidents are in his kitty. His art of narration can be learnt and can be followed. He came as usual and we got glued with his talks and experiences. Time was running and I was praying that he should forget the time. Some young boys came with Vinay and Shyam. They were introduced to everyone. They performed short story, poems and one boy performed a ten minutes act. Sulabh Bhaiya gave them valid and useful tips. Subhash ji addressed them and valued the role of theatre in our lives. Pankaj too participated in the discussion. Unknowingly, the entire program went of very well. Credit goes to Sulabh Bhaiya, Ajay, my husband and Toshi and Ali, my daughter and son-in-law.

          This year also, we are celebrating WED on March 27, at YWCA, Andheri (West), Mumbai at 5pm with three plays. 1."Shahadat ke Baad". 2."Sharmila Erom- Ek Anugunj" (Dir. RS Vikal) and3."Naurangi Natni" (Dir. Rajendra Joshi) with Vibha Rani. Sarita Hussain, Sangita Vaajpei, Ram Girdhar, Rajesh Gupta, Kuldip Vashishtha, Akshay Yadav, Subodh Shrivastav aur Ram Milan. March 27 @4.30pm. Venue: YWCA. 53,JP Road. Andheri (West). Near Navrang Cinema.

          There is a question that what is World Theatre Day? We just hear about it and start saying about the day. Here is the detail. 

        World Theatre Day was initiated in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI). It is celebrated annually on the 27th March by ITI Centres and the international theatre community. Various national and international theatre events are organized to mark this occasion. One of the most important of these is the circulation of the World Theatre Day International Message through which at the invitation of ITI, a figure of world stature shares his or her reflections on the theme of Theatre and a Culture of Peace. The first World Theatre Day International Message was written by Jean Cocteau (France) in 1962. It was first in Helsinki, and then in Vienna at the 9th World Congress of the ITI in June 1961 that President Arvi Kivimaa proposed on behalf of the Finnish Centre of the International Theatre Institute that a World Theatre Day be instituted. The proposal, backed by the Scandinavian centres, was carried with acclamation.

Ever since, each year on the 27th March (date of the opening of the 1962 "Theatre of Nations" season in Paris), World Theatre Day has been celebrated in many and varied ways by ITI National Centres of which there are now almost 100 throughout the world.

The author of the Message of World Theatre Day 2015 is the Polish director Krzysztof Warlikowski! More information about the message author Download the Message 2015 and its translations World Theater Day Message 2015 The true masters of the theater are most easily found far from the stage. And they generally have no interest in theater as a machine for replicating conventions and reproducing clichés. They search out the pulsing source, the living currents that tend to bypass performance halls and the throngs of people bent on copying some world or another. We copy instead of create worlds that are focused or even reliant on debate with an audience, on emotions that swell below the surface. And actually there is nothing that can reveal hidden passions better than the theater.   Most often I turn to prose for guidance.  Day in and day out I find myself thinking about writers who nearly one hundred years ago described prophetically but also restrainedly the decline of the European gods, the twilight that plunged our civilization into a darkness that has yet to be illumined. I am thinking of Franz Kafka, Thomas Mann and Marcel Proust. Today I would also count John Maxwell Coetzee among that group of prophets. Their common sense of the inevitable end of the world—not of the planet but of the model of human relations—and of social order and upheaval, is poignantly current for us here and now. For us who live after the end of the world. Who live in the face of crimes and conflicts that daily flare in new places faster even than the ubiquitous media can keep up. These fires quickly grow boring and vanish from the press reports, never to return. And we feel helpless, horrified and hemmed in. We are no longer able to build towers, and the walls we stubbornly construct do not protect us from anything—on the contrary, they themselves demand protection and care that consumes a great part of our life energy. We no longer have the strength to try and glimpse what lies beyond the gate, behind the wall. And that’s exactly why theater should exist and where it should seek its strength. To peek inside where looking is forbidden.  “The legend seeks to explain what cannot be explained. Because it is grounded in truth, it must end in the inexplicable”—this is how Kafka described the transformation of the Prometheus legend.  I feel strongly that the same words should describe the theater. And it is that kind of theater, one which grounded in truth and which finds its end in the inexplicable that I wish for all its workers, those on the stage and those in the audience, and I wish that with all my heart. Krzysztof Warlikowski

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