Fables from France
INTRODUCTION: Puja Goyal caught up with Ruchika Chanana, from the cast of FabulaTantra, to find out what it takes to produce good theatre
Source: Vijay Times, Life - Pg 3.
Copyright © 2006 Puja Goyal.
THERE is Panchatantra and then there is FabulaTantra. While India has its own set of stories that have been engraved in our own folk tales, the French have there own stories to tell. FabulaTantra focusses on the French fables that have Indian origins and lets us see two sides of a very similar world. Ruchika Chanana, a theatre Personality and a documentary filmmaker, recently staged her play, Boy Meets Girl in the City.
What are the key elements a director needs to look into before choosing a script?
A script needs to appeal to you- its style, its content, the characters, the plotÖ also you need to consider the kind of audience you are aiming at - for example, Kimaaya chose Boy Gets Girl because itís a more mainstream sort of play, and that is what they wanted, and what we thought would appeal to the large cross section. But ultimately, you have to feel for the script, and it should touch you or move you in some way!
Why arenít musicals doing well in the theatre world?
Musicals are probably one of the hardest forms of theatre - because you need a cast who can sing, dance and act - and unfortunately in Bangalore, we donít have training facilities for a combination of all these.
Off late there has been an upsurge in the number of theatre groups. Would it dilute the essence of professional theatre? Why?
No- why? The more people there are doing theatre, the better it is for the profession and the community. Even if all of them are not great, atleast people are attempting to produce work.
What are the facilities available in Bangalore where amateurs can learn and develop their skills in theatre?
Attending workshops are one way to refine your skills. It is also important that individuals interested in this field watch more and more theatre. Working in the field - backstage on lights sound etc - is also an invaluable teaching tool.
Why is there still a feeling that no money can be made out of the performance arts?
Only if the government and the corporate community wake up to supporting the theatre, whatever language it is in; Can theatre be pursued as a profession... otherwise people will always have another source of income, and give theatre, step- motherly treatment. However, there are some young people now who are managing to do theatre full-time - thatís really admirable, as it is extremely hard.
You have been actively involved in theatre for some timeÖ Was moving from documentary filmmaking to theatre a conscious decision?
I studied theatre and television, but my first job was in TV, because obviously - it paid. Theatre was always a passion, but it wasnít until I ran into Arundhati Raja of ART that I thought of it as a possible profession. And then I got together with Deepti Sudhindra. Now, I have no time to think about television - although I still yearn sometimes for the thrill of documentary Filmmaking!
Your recent play, Boy Meets Girl, deals with the issue of stalking...
We just felt it was a universal subject. Although the play is about a woman whose life is turned around by a stalker, it also questions a lot of stereotypes of the perceptions men and women have of each other. And how society, movies etcÖ condition us to believe that certain behaviour is totally acceptable,when its not.
Source: Vijay Times, Life - Pg 3.
Copyright © 2006 Puja Goyal.
THERE is Panchatantra and then there is FabulaTantra. While India has its own set of stories that have been engraved in our own folk tales, the French have there own stories to tell. FabulaTantra focusses on the French fables that have Indian origins and lets us see two sides of a very similar world. Ruchika Chanana, a theatre Personality and a documentary filmmaker, recently staged her play, Boy Meets Girl in the City.
What are the key elements a director needs to look into before choosing a script?
A script needs to appeal to you- its style, its content, the characters, the plotÖ also you need to consider the kind of audience you are aiming at - for example, Kimaaya chose Boy Gets Girl because itís a more mainstream sort of play, and that is what they wanted, and what we thought would appeal to the large cross section. But ultimately, you have to feel for the script, and it should touch you or move you in some way!
Why arenít musicals doing well in the theatre world?
Musicals are probably one of the hardest forms of theatre - because you need a cast who can sing, dance and act - and unfortunately in Bangalore, we donít have training facilities for a combination of all these.
Off late there has been an upsurge in the number of theatre groups. Would it dilute the essence of professional theatre? Why?
No- why? The more people there are doing theatre, the better it is for the profession and the community. Even if all of them are not great, atleast people are attempting to produce work.
What are the facilities available in Bangalore where amateurs can learn and develop their skills in theatre?
Attending workshops are one way to refine your skills. It is also important that individuals interested in this field watch more and more theatre. Working in the field - backstage on lights sound etc - is also an invaluable teaching tool.
Why is there still a feeling that no money can be made out of the performance arts?
Only if the government and the corporate community wake up to supporting the theatre, whatever language it is in; Can theatre be pursued as a profession... otherwise people will always have another source of income, and give theatre, step- motherly treatment. However, there are some young people now who are managing to do theatre full-time - thatís really admirable, as it is extremely hard.
You have been actively involved in theatre for some timeÖ Was moving from documentary filmmaking to theatre a conscious decision?
I studied theatre and television, but my first job was in TV, because obviously - it paid. Theatre was always a passion, but it wasnít until I ran into Arundhati Raja of ART that I thought of it as a possible profession. And then I got together with Deepti Sudhindra. Now, I have no time to think about television - although I still yearn sometimes for the thrill of documentary Filmmaking!
Your recent play, Boy Meets Girl, deals with the issue of stalking...
We just felt it was a universal subject. Although the play is about a woman whose life is turned around by a stalker, it also questions a lot of stereotypes of the perceptions men and women have of each other. And how society, movies etcÖ condition us to believe that certain behaviour is totally acceptable,when its not.
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