Theatre has to feel personal, or it is just noise to all, says director Abhishek Majumdar

Time of India

a day ago

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Abhishek Majumdar, a playwright and director based in Bengaluru, believes theatre 'must reflect life in all its complexities'. With his latest play, Des, he brings together history, human emotions and satire to revisit the night of India's Independence.
Excerpts from a chat:
'SATIRE IS JUST ANOTHER WAY OF TELLING A TRAGEDY'
Most of the stories about independence focus either on patriotism or trauma, says Abhishek. With his play, the director tells us he was determined to offer a new perspective by bringing in a satirical plotline. 'Satire lets one hold both laughter and loss together alongside bringing the truth to the front. It isn't an imported product of Europe or America; satire is in our roots.
The Indian epics are full of characters who speak the truth through humour.
If we don't include satire, then we are just writing essays,' he says.
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Indian mythology and theatre have always been asking tough questions through satire. It is satire that holds up a mirror to society
Abhishek Majumdar
'THE REAL MAGIC OF THEATRE LIES IN ITS PROXIMITY'
When asked how live performance is different from other media, Abhishek is quick to distinguish the mediums. 'In cinema, you might see someone seven times their original size. In the theatre, you're breathing the same air as the actor.
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That intimacy, especially when exploring emotionally loaded times like 1947, creates a unique experience. Theatre stirs with proximity that offers a shared moment between performers and audience,' he tells us.
'THEATRE HAS ALWAYS BEEN DEMOCRATIC ACROSS THE WORLD'
Abhishek believes that theatre is still one of the most democratic art forms in India. 'In theatre, one cannot escape the other. One has to sit with strangers and face the disagreement without switching between channels.
People confront discomfort in real time. Today, theatre survives because of its presence that always tells what our society is thinking, fearing and hoping,' he explains.
Theatre survives because of its presence that always tells what our society is thinking, fearing and hoping
— Abhishek Majumdar
'BENGALURU IS ONE OF THE TOP THEATRE CITIES IN THE WORLD'
'When one thinks of theatre in India, they cannot miss Kannada theatre. Bengaluru is the city of Kambar, Karnad and Ananthamurthy, who have significantly contributed to the theatre scene in the city. From Hindi, English, Kannada to Tamil, Marathi and Bengali, one can observe a rare multilingual diversity in Bengaluru theatres. There is hunger in Bengaluru's audience to listen, to debate, to disagree thoughtfully.
That's what makes for real theatre culture in the city,' says Abhishek.