Theatre personality Arundhati Raja will be presenting Girish Karnad’s play Bali in Bengaluru soon. Arundhati Raja, a theatre artist, has transitioned from balancing her career in science education and theatre to focusing solely on theatre. She is currently preparing for the English adaptation of Girish Karnad’s Kannada classic, Hittina Hunja — Bali: The Sacrifice. In a recent discussion, she shared her experience revisiting a play after several years, the challenges she encountered, and her vision for the future of theatre. Here are some key excerpts from the conversation:
"I found AI to be particularly helpful when directing Bali again. I believe that AI can be a useful tool for us, provided we use it wisely for our benefit. While I had previously collaborated closely with Girish Karnad, this time, as I revisited Bali, I couldn't seek his guidance. That's when I turned to AI. While AI may not possess Girish's knowledge, it definitely provided valuable insights in its own way. Although Bali was staged some time ago, I had to recast two characters for this production, but the rest fell into place naturally. In a sense, the production was wonderful as we already had the foundation, with minor modifications. It felt like revisiting the original play."
"English theatre in Bengaluru has undergone significant transformations. Having spent time in the UK, I was pleasantly surprised to discover English plays in Bengaluru when I first arrived. Over the years, these plays have become more Indianized, yet retained their English essence. We have also witnessed translations of local language plays into English, enabling these stories to reach a broader audience. The theatre scene in Bengaluru has evolved considerably, reflecting the essence of theatre itself."
"Theatre is a collaborative endeavor that requires extensive training to fully comprehend the craft. Engaging with dialogues and delivering lines authentically is crucial. It's not just about stage presence or diction, but also about embodying the characters and their narratives naturally. Theatre is truly a team-based activity that demands dedication and skill."You can adopt the persona you wish to express. It strongly relies on teamwork. Audiences tend to give movies multiple chances even after watching multiple bad films, yet they are quick to dismiss plays after one viewing. Theatre faces unique challenges in capturing audience interest, with the misconception that it is either dull or meant for only intellectuals. However, this perception is far from accurate.
