|
As an absolute theatre nerd, I am constantly in search of opportunities to satisfy the thespian in me. I consider myself extremely fortunate to be living in the SF Bay Area where I work with theatre groups like CalAA and Naatak.
I have had the pleasure of writing, directing and acting some really nice plays here in the bay area. Here's a quick list of my work: |
Cinema 100 |
Lights Design |
October 2013 |
With tremendous passion, fortitude and entrepreneurial spirit, Indian film industry pioneer Dadasaheb Phalke released the first indigenously made movie ‘Raja Harishchandra’ in 1913. At that time, very few could even fathom his vision of the incredible potential held by this medium as a form of mass entertainment. But here we are today, a hundred years later, with a film industry that has permeated our lives and ranks first in the world producing about a thousand films annually. In ‘Cinema 100’, Mudra Performing Arts, and Monika Mutatkar proudly paid a tribute and celebrates this centennial with a special focus on Marathi Cinema.
Vidushak |
Acting & Lights Design |
April 2014 |
Adapted from the similarly titled story, by the Marathi literary stalwart, GA Kulkarni, and adapted and directed by FTII alum Amruta Hardikar, Vidushak is a story of politics and guile. G.A. Kulkarni: G. A. Kulkarni or simply "GA" , in his short stories, created microcosms which were often dark. His characters are in pursuit of the unforeseen and reflect on the inscrutable ways in which destiny affects their lives. His use of symbolism, allegory, and irony provides his stories a unique texture and ethos. Here's Amruta's take on the play :
For me, the story was like a finely woven Dharwad sari, with its intricate Kasuthi embroidery. No matter what I had chosen to do with it - GA, as the master word weaver, had created an everlasting tapestry with his characters and words. What I loved most about this story is that each character has a distinct philosophy of living, which determines the way they face the tempest that destiny throws their way. Despite a definite end to the story, it still gives the audience the space to interpret and experience the story according to their own perceptions. It has been a challenge for the team to interpret and evoke the right notes through their characters' unique experience. |
|
Choonese Pyar Badhta Hai |
Acting & Lights Design |
June 2014 |
Written and directed by FTII alum Amruta Hardikar, Choonese Pyaar... is a beautiful story of a lovely date between a young man and a woman. At least it should be viewed that way. It happens to be so that the pair is HIV positive. Both have rich back stories, and is a lovely written play. What allured me most about this play, is a beauty of the language and the fact that even though we know about the ailment of the characters, we never feel pity for them, and take them, and their emotions in stride. Cheers to love stories and to love!
|
Khaas Aaplyasathi |
Direction |
August 2014-November 2014 |
Khaas Aaplyasathi, is a simple everyday love story of one Nikhil and Anuja Joshi, your everyday mainstream couple. There is a rumor, an urban myth, a fiction, a fantasy, a black-and-white screen cliché that love looks like the mad, romantic dash for a last chance at a flailing kiss. And then the credits roll. And the lights come on. But for most of us, the ones not playing romantic chocolate heroes, and charming heroines, is our ordinary, run of the mill love really like that? Join Nikhil and Anuja, to discover that this ordinary remarkable love, just walks slowly every day alongside, as gently as life itself.
Khaas Aaplyasathi, written by Gayatri Muley, was my directorial debut here in the Bay Area. What really will always remain in memory about this project is the immense amount of fun we had during the rehearsals. I still laugh at some of the jokes. By far, one of the best teams I've worked with. |
Shubhra Kahi Jeevghene |
Lights Design |
August 2014 |
I have never... |
Direction & Acting |
December 2014-July 2015 |
सिलिकॉन व्हॅलीमधल्या काहीश्या Programmatic जगण्यातले विरंगुळ्याचे क्षण घेऊन आलेली पाच मित्रांची एक संध्याकाळ. कुणाचं तरी केळवण; कुणीतरी घेतलेली कुणाचीतरी फिरकी, पण तरीही त्यातूनही डोकावणारी काळजी आणि आपलेपण; Relationships ची स्वप्नं आणि realities, त्यातून जन्म घेणारी expectations आणि मस्त टल्ली होत Drinking gameमधून, पाणीपूरीतून आणि हलक्याफुलक्या गप्पांमधून उलगडत जाणारे perspectives, इतकीच काय ती गोष्ट - I have never ...
One of my favourite plays, and certainly my personal favourite directorial work, I have never is realism is viewed by a silicon valley techie in his late 20s. Written by Amruta Hardikar, I chose to direct it, for it being incredibly relatable. The play takes you to a dinner party of a group of friends, living in the silicon valley, in California. It makes you a part of the fun, frolic and the drunkenness ( ;) ), but then without you knowing, brings to fore a lot of perspectives. About work, money, relationships, sex, arrange marriages, being in California or in India, savings, investments, dating,....the entire churn going through the minds of people in their late 20s. |
|
12 Varsha 9 Mahine 6 Divas |
Lights Design |
April 2015-May 2015 |
Written and Directed by Vikram Watve, this play was an adaptation of the very famous movie, "When Harry met Sally", and yes before you ask, it did have the the famous Meg Ryan restaurant scene, enacted with equal grace by Saylee Apte. I loved doing the lights design for this play, as it was an experiment to play lights, videos, montages to create a cinematic experience on stage.
Art (English) |
Acting |
October 2015 |
Originally written in French by Yasmina Reza, and translated to English by Christopher Hampton, this Tony award winning play, is one of the best subtle comedies I have ever been a part of. I played the character of Yvan, (Yes! with the hilarious two page monologue!) and fell in love with this play. I had set my sights on somehow adapting this into Marathi. 6 months down the line.. I did it :)
Mela - 1 April |
Acting |
November 2015 |
First of all, kudos to Naatak for Mela. Mela was one of the best theatrical experiments I've been a part of. May be because it put together two of my passions - theatre and languages. Mela was a melange of short plays in 9 Indian languages. Proud to have a done a show that reflects upon the beautiful linguistic diversity within India. Each language bringing along the rich culture of its people.
Anti Ek Gotra |
Direction |
December 2015 |
|
देशांतर. Immigration. नेहमीच चर्चेत राहिलेला, ज्वलंत विषय. स्वेच्छेने असो किंवा नाईलाजाने; तात्पुरते असो किंवा कायमस्वरूपी. नव्या आणि चांगल्याच्या शोधात, नवीन भूमीत, नवीन माणसांसोबत, नव्या संस्कृतीत मिसळणे; पण तरीही जिथे नाळ घट्ट जोडली गेली आहे ती जागा, तिथली माणसं, तिथली संस्कृती याविषयी सतत वाटत राहणारी रुखरुख आणि ओढ. अंती एक गोत्र - a poetic peephole into the mind of a typical Bay Area techie going through the gamut of such emotions.
Anti Ek Gotra - was born out of a fervent discussion at a typical Bay Area Indian house party, centered around everyone's favourite topic - immigration. Chakrapani Chitnis, the writer of the play and me, discussed it at length, even afterwards, and realized that in immigration, or in the process of leaving your home and settling somewhere else, what is common between all those who do it, are the gamut of emotions that associated with leaving your home. May it be nostalgia, or a sense of adventure, the fear of the unknown, or the satisfaction of assimilation, we have all been there. In Anti Ek Gotra, we view them through the eyes of a typical Bay Area techie. Also, Chakrapani, being a poet himself, brought the idea of poetry device to the fore. I have tried to use the poetry device and the medium, to depict this in a montage-esque fashion. Do watch the video, to witness powerful performances by Amita Vaidya (and her singing) and Neeraj Kulkarni. |
Art (Marathi) |
Writer & Director |
April 2016 |
|
The Director's note I wrote for Art
The first thing that came to my mind, when I set about adapting and then directing Art was the minimalism. Right from the macguffin in the play, the white expensive painting, to the simple, monosyllabic title - Art, reflected the minimalism of modern art which was at the center of the piece. The short sentence structures, play on the single mot responses of the characters, cursory moments of breaking the fourth wall, all reflected this same minimalism in the writing style. I wanted to incorporate all these in both my adaption and my direction. The color white and “whiteness” were significant motifs that I wished to incorporate in the design of the sparse, minimalistic set; with “whiteness” typifying the power structure entrenched in the exclusive art world and in society in general. The backdrop idea allowed me to showcase the works of art of our talented artist community, while maintaining the central design motifs. The piece is a comedy about the disintegration of the friendship between three longtime friends after one of them purchases an expensive work of art. But the beauty of the play lies in the fact that the piece of art is not the piece of art at all. It is, but, the art of maintaing relationships. The art, is in the maintaing the right balance of truth and guile. |
Logging Out |
Director & Actor |
Nov-Dec 2016 |