|
Professionals from different walks of life act out their passion on stage
 |
|
During the rehearsals of Anjor-Kaaya | SUNDAYS are meant to be languid. On this day, sloth-like behaviour is celebrated, movement is unnecessary: "Switch on the fan, na?"
"Too far."
Shrug. "We'll just sit like this then."
But somewhere in Chembur, 19 people from Prarambh Performing Arts, a group of theatre enthusiasts, meet at 8 am every Sunday to practice for their upcoming musical Anjor-Kaaya. They're far from languid they're enthusiastic, cheery and buzzing with energy. "Even though all of us can't meet everyday, we're in touch throughout the week," says Zaheer Shaikh, who is directing the musical.
The idea for Prarambh Performing Arts was initiated by Zaheer and Neha Shah during their days as students in medical school KIMS. Both are now practicing doctors. The group expanded through avenues like Orkut. As time went by, 19 professionals there's a mix of medical practitioners, engineers, architects who shared a passion for theatre came to form it. When asked about the status of theatre in Mumbai, Zaheer says, "There is ample talent. But it's used for more lucrative fields like television and movies. What we want to do is make theatre popular."
Taking form in April, Anjor-Kaaya focuses on a wishing fountain, in which reside the statues of former lovers Anjor, played by Arfie Lamba, and Kaaya, played by Ketaki Chitale, who grant wishes. Aptly then, director Zaheer says, "I like romance, magic and fantasy, stories that are larger than life." Listening to Bryan Adams' Life is an Open Road stirred up the basic idea of this musical.
An artist who wants to paint the face of God, a blind girl who wants to see colour, a journalist who wishes to erase a girl's memories of molestation, an old man who wants to spend a day with his dead wife and a paralysed dancer who wants to dance again these are the five stories that find common ground at the wishing fountain.
So it was Zaheer, Ashutosh Sahu and Haider Jasdanwalla who primarily came up with a script for Anjor-Kaaya: "As the stories progressed, the script progressed," says Zaheer.
When I'm there, the group is practising a Sufi sequence. The first song I hear is Hai Aas a strong voice fills the room. I'm told that it's Ashutosh's voice who when spotted (there are more than 10 people in the room who I've only just been introduced to) gives a friendly smile. Ashutosh sings in a band and is a trained sound engineer. Not surprising then that he's responsible for Anjor-Kaaya's musical arrangement.
"The songs are in Hindi and Urdu, there's Sufi, semi-classical, jugalbani, a fusion of Kathak and ballet, a lori..." informs the director. They're all in-house and original compositions, sung by the Prarambh members themselves and brought to life by total team effort. Formed during train journeys: lyrics pondered over, musical interludes arranged perhaps, and then over to a recording studio for the embellishments.
The rehearsal continues, Zaheer plays Kaalu, a man who is now paralysed and Juhi Rai plays Ameena Bi, his caretaker. The atmosphere goes somber as she's on the verge of breaking down speaking to her son on the phone; the only other sound is that of our camera clicking away, then suddenly, she cracks into a smile. This feels like one of those times when actors say they had a wonderful time and were always laughing on the sets, completely in contrast with the film's serious tones.
Later, I witness a few candid moments during a romantic-playful scene between Ashutosh and Priyanka Mangle who along with playing Maithili, is a trained Bharatnatyam dancer. It's her voice that accompanies Ashutosh's on the song Kaal Chakra.
Zaheer and Kaushik say that the group goes together to watch theatre performances and that they appreciate Naseeruddin Shah's theatre work. They also cite the play Aao Sathi Sapna Dekhen by Swanand Kirkire as one the reasons for mounting interest in theatre. Uncanny then, the phrase 'aao saathi sapna dekhen' 'let us dream, friends' is the same vibe that flows through this group.
Anjor-Kaaya will play on January 24 and 25 at the Rang Sharada auditorium and January 31 at Sophia Bhabha auditorium. Tickets available at www.bookmyshow.com
Photos by Datta Kumbhar |
