Theatre artist Arundhati Raja has transitioned from juggling teaching in the sciences and theatre to focusing solely on theatre. Currently preparing for her English adaptation of Girish Karnad’s Kannada classic, "Hittina Hunja - Bali: The Sacrifice," she discusses the process of revisiting a play after many years, the challenges encountered, and her aspirations for the future of theatre.
In her own words: "Utilizing AI was particularly beneficial during the direction of 'Bali.' I believe AI can be a valuable tool for us, provided we understand how to leverage it for our advantage. While I had previously collaborated closely with Girish Karnad, this time I was unable to seek his guidance for 'Bali,' prompting me to turn to AI. Although AI doesn't possess Girish's insight, it offered assistance in its own way."
"Bali" had been staged previously, and although I had to cast two new characters this time, the rest fell seamlessly into place. There's a sense of satisfaction in revisiting the original production, with the set already established, allowing for minor adjustments.
Regarding the evolution of English theatre in Bengaluru, Arundhati shares: "After residing in the UK, I was pleasantly surprised by the English plays I witnessed upon my arrival in Bengaluru. Over time, these plays began to reflect Indian nuances while remaining in English. Subsequently, translations of local language plays into English broadened the audience reach. The theatre scene in Bengaluru has indeed undergone significant changes, as is characteristic of the theatre world."
Arundhati emphasizes the collaborative nature of theatre, stating: "Theatre demands extensive training to grasp its intricacies. It involves dialogue delivery and embodying characters authentically, extending beyond mere stage presence or articulation. Successful theatre performance relies heavily on teamwork."Audiences tend to watch multiple bad films in succession, yet they are reluctant to revisit plays. Theater as a form of entertainment can be challenging. If individuals see a play they do not enjoy, they are unlikely to give theater another opportunity. Interestingly, these same individuals may easily choose to watch another movie despite having had a negative experience with the previous one. There exists a common perception that theater is either dull or meant solely for intellectuals, which is far from accurate.
