New Delhi: Oscar Wilde mentioned famously, “I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.” Mahesh Dattani, Joy Sengupta, Himani Shivpuri and Danish Hussain clarify how theatre transforms each artists and the viewers.
Theatre practitioners agree and on World Theatre Day, discuss what theatre makes them really feel and assume as they bring about human tales to life on stage.
Actor Joy Sengupta who stars in Zee Theatre’s teleplay Ladies Sangeet says, “Theatre is the reason why all my senses opened up exponentially from a micro level to a macro level and also helped me understand myself, my interpersonal relationships, society, the world around me and eventually the universe because theatre essentially deals with all the issues that confront life and human existence itself. All the ideas which address concerns and create curiosity in the human mind exist in theatre so, in a way, it is a window to knowledge and the meaning of life itself.”
Veteran actor Himani Shivpuri who stars in Zee Theatre’s teleplay Hamidabai Ki Kothi describes what theatre represents to her, “Theatre has given me personal fulfilment and has taught me so much. I come from a small town and if it wasn’t for theatre and all the different directors and actors that I worked with, I would not have been able to explore my emotions and thoughts. Theatre is a wonderful form of expression and the connection you form with the audience is really indescribable. From starting tentatively and nervously on the stage to reaching a point where you and the audience become one, is a very magical and powerful feeling.”
Mahesh Dattani, the primary playwright in English to be awarded the Sahitya Akademi award shares what has stored him related to theatre for many years, “Theatre offers you an experience of lasting impact because it is a medium of tangible contact. It is in a way very similar to enjoying a delicious meal which is a different experience from watching a cookery show. You can’t be the same ever again after experiencing great theatre.”
Dattani has directed Zee Theatre’s teleplay Final Solutions, Where Did I Leave My Purdah? The Big Fat City. .”
Actor Danish Hussain who stars in Zee Theatre’s teleplay Aaj Rang Hai shares his ideas concerning the magic of theatre, “Theatre makes me forget everything else, makes me realise that life is now in this moment, in this performance and that is a very powerful experience. And that experience is not just limited to the performers but extends to the audiences because they too momentarily forget what’s outside the theatre and are immersed in the magic of what is unfolding before them. I think that’s the moment when we collectively feel grateful to be alive.”
To encapsulate this transfiguring expertise, India’s first and solely complete digital theatre platform, Zee Theatre has launched a robust marketing campaign on World Theatre Day. Its ‘Makes you Think – Makes you Feel’ marketing campaign celebrates timeless tales and provides audiences a glimpse right into a huge literary treasure trove encompassing various themes, layered characters, iconic playwrights and actors.
The marketing campaign is a becoming summation of how Zee Theatre has revolutionized theatre viewing and coated varied genres, be it comedy, satire, thriller, suspense, drama, musicals, social points or classics.
