May 2014- Meet the Author with satirist Prem Janmejay

 Now Room Theatre had entered in my blood and sweat. After returning home from hospital, after spending 10 days, I was tired and frustrated very badly. I was hospitalized under complain of infection. Doctors started trying all possible treatment. My main doctor was out of country. Under his advise, I got admitted under my Chemo expert. Ten days I was there but he and his team could not find out any reason for infection, but raised the bill in six digits.

Room Theatre kept me alive. Poetry performance of multilingual women poets were done. I was in the hospital so could not attend the same. No one had sent me any photo. But Sachin later on had prepared a report and published in a Daily newspaper “Absolute India” and mailed me the link.

I started thinking- “What Next?” I got a notification on Facebook from the famous Hindi Satire writer Prem Jamnejay of his arrival to Mumbai. My mind started thinking. If he will be during the 1^st week of May, i.e. 1^st Sunday of May, then Room Theatre can schedule a program on him and his satirical writings. I messaged him. He very kindly replied and confirmed that he will be available on the date, May 4, 2014.  We exchanged our phone numbers. I Talked to him and elaborated the concept. He was very happy. I requested him to mail some of his satire so that the same can be given to performers. Now, I was phoning people to get suitable persons to justify these articles. I contacted many people.

 

Prem ji mailed me 4 articles. All were sounding very good though I was not much impressed in first reading. But I knew that when these will be read in a performing form, impact will come. Finally, Amala Rai, a senior pass out from National School of Drama, Priyanka Charan, A theatre practitioner, Amajad Khan, a young theater person and Film/TV writer and Rashmi Ravija, blogger and writer.

Room Theatre program was conducted in my 12x14 drawing room. In Mumbai, its jokingly said that Mumbai’s hall is not a hall, but it’s a hole. I have no other choice to organize here. Secondly, I am very experimental. I wanted to try that whether we can arrange any program in this small room or not. After shifting furniture here and there, there was sufficient place for 30-35 people to sit. Our target was not more than that.

Program started in scheduled time. Priyanka came and asked whether there is any food at home as she directly is coming from rehearsal and is quite hungry. Luckily, Rohu fish was cooked in mustered masala in Bihari style. Priyanka is from Jamshedpur (Early a part of Bihar, now Jharkhand) and is very fond of fish. Satisfied with fish and rice, she sat and started looking the article, which she was supposed to read.  Amala had knee problem and preferd sitting on sofa. Amjad and Rashmi sat on the mattresses.

Program started. Satire were read out by these 4 personalities. Hall was roaring with the laughter of audience. Our mentor Sudarshana Dwivedi, a senior journalist had come. Noted writer Sudha Aroda had come in the last. Prem ji spoke later on. We did video shooting of some of the part and later on uploaded on youtube. Links are given down for your ready reference. ###

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oTxoU9OVf8 –Amala Rai

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd6ynyhWycg –Amjad Khan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrojQbBT7rI – Rashmi Ravija

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tigqXURafjg –Priyanka Charan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKNjX-OHVGU – Prem Janmejay