Theatre personality Arundhati Raja is set to restage Girish Karnad's play Bali in Bengaluru. Arundhati Raja, who initially juggled teaching sciences and theatre, eventually chose to focus solely on theatre. As she prepares for her English adaptation of Girish Karnad's Kannada classic, Hittina Hunja — Bali: The Sacrifice, she shares her insights on revisiting a play after many years, the hurdles she has confronted, and her aspirations for the future of theatre. Here are some key points from her discussion:
- Arundhati Raja found AI to be particularly helpful in directing Bali again. She emphasizes the importance of utilizing AI to our advantage, acknowledging that while it may not possess the brilliance of Girish Karnad, it provides valuable assistance in its own way. Despite having staged Bali previously, she had to recast two roles this time, but the production smoothly came together, allowing for minor adjustments to the existing set.
- Reflecting on the evolution of English theatre in Bengaluru, Arundhati Raja notes how she observed a shift over time with plays becoming more Indianized, yet still presented in English. She highlights the significance of translating local language plays into English, enabling a broader audience to access diverse narratives. Theatre in Bengaluru has undergone substantial changes, mirroring the dynamic essence of the art form.
- Arundhati Raja stresses the collaborative nature of theatre, emphasizing the necessity for extensive training to grasp the intricacies of the craft. Effective theatre performance involves natural dialogue delivery and a holistic understanding beyond mere stage presence or vocal delivery. It is about embodying the character and conveying the essence of the narrative authentically.You can absorb the essence of the character you want to depict in a team-oriented activity. Despite audiences often giving multiple chances to films, they tend to overlook plays. Theater is a challenging form of entertainment, as people may not revisit it if they do not enjoy a particular play. Conversely, they may give movies another try even after seeing a disappointing one. Some individuals perceive theater as dull or suitable only for intellectuals, but this is not accurate.
