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!!     

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!!

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.