Theatre artist Arundhati Raja has transitioned from juggling teaching 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 experience of revisiting a play after years, the challenges she has encountered, and her aspirations for the future of theatre. Here are some key insights from her interview:
- Reflecting on using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in directing the play "Bali" again, Raja found it to be valuable despite not being a substitute for the knowledge of Girish Karnad. She emphasizes the importance of understanding how to leverage AI for our benefit, especially when seeking guidance in the absence of the original playwright.
- Recasting two characters for the production of "Bali" was a notable challenge, but Raja highlights that the rest of the production fell into place smoothly. Revisiting the play allowed her to make minor adjustments while capitalizing on the existing set, giving a fresh perspective to the initial staging.
- Raja comments on the evolution of English theatre in Bengaluru, noting the influence of Indianization and the increased accessibility of stories through translations from local languages to English. She observes that Bengalaru's theatre scene has undergone significant transformations over the years, adapting to new trends and narratives.
- Recognizing theatre as a collaborative endeavor, Raja stresses the importance of training to fully grasp the nuances of acting, including delivering dialogue authentically and embodying characters convincingly. She underscores that theatre is a team-driven art form that requires a deep understanding of the collaborative process.Viewers tend to watch multiple disappointing films without hesitation, yet they often do not offer plays a second opportunity. The realm of theatre is known to be challenging in the entertainment industry. When individuals attend a play and are not satisfied, they are unlikely to attend another production. Conversely, these same individuals may readily watch another movie, despite having previously viewed an unsuccessful one. Additionally, there exists a common perception that theatre is uninteresting or solely for intellectuals, which is quite distant from reality.
