Reaping the fruit

http://thoughtsunparalleled.wordpress.com/2010/04/16/an-actor-in-every-breath/

Thanks Abhi for this article...will keep it for life....

It was much to my surprise when I saw few new guys to audition WeMove’s new play, probably a new Emotion; err! ‘Emotion was the role!’ He was there standing when one of the directors was explaining the ‘ACT’, I stood there knowing little about a man who according to me could bring a life to even the smallest character. Engulfed in black robes and black paint, he went on stage much to add to his own surprise “huh! where have I come?”, “What am I doing?”; Life had taken a complete U-turn for him I suppose, having played significant roles in his own MES college play which even earned him enough power to make sure the faculty doesn’t hamper his ‘Theatrical dreams!’; ‘Malavikaagnimitra mitra’ was a huge hit and so was his acting and passion for theatre.

Alas! those days! he must have felt, when he was asked to come for the stage for second time around! ‘Only to see his watch” as I turned the lights on him from the light room I thought “huh! people accept crazy roles”. Days passed by as we improved to performing better scripts, so was that guy! he was there near the auditorium for no reason and accepts a role of a domestic maid on spot not before I turned my back towards him instructing him to at least pay for ticket and act on stage! lol

He did buy the ticket that evening!

Before time wheel showed its magic, he was there standing in front of me casted in a major role! As he read the first lines in the play, I stood there thinking “What to direct in him?” claps thundered and whistles roared as he stepped on the stage for the first time in full flow for a play that marked my entry in theater world as an independent director. Perhaps role was simple and could have gone un-noticed! but he had to make sure his return to the theatre world! probably the stage was not enough for his acting, laughter’s rolled as critics wrote “It is easy to make people laugh on stage!”

They say “With Passion comes Talent” Might be true I suppose, With millions of dreams, stage was just another destination for him, perhaps not known to most of the people, that it took him more than GUTS to step onto stage, barriers unlimited, encouragement- completely under-defined; GOAL was just to step on stage. As time passed by avoiding casting him was difficult and a rare humorous stint in him, the next play was hard to come by as humor had ‘no- meaning’ in it. It was story of society and societies tale is not funny!

“Winds of change”; as actors changed like winds and with out thinking much, the ball was in his plate! Tatyana Moha came alive on stage with his struggle to come to theatre seen by each and every person who witnessed the show. As I stood from the lighting console shivers were sent through my body, never the less to say that “If there was anyone who could do this, then it was him…” papers wrote about him, critics had taken an U-turn. Mysore was stunned by a performance which told them the story of society through the eyes and voice of a man who had been through the struggle himself!

huh! I said proudly “He was the Guy who bought ticket upon my words to do a role..” people laughed, so did my inner sense, a dud by nature, it has remained like that always.



No questions raised when he shook his hands up in air, when MALGUDI’s own MUTHAPPA came onstage, people shook with him, as Rajam Iyer he represented malgudi in a different version, rest was history!

An actor by nature, a director by words, a complete ‘ theatre’ by person, Sri Harsha has shown many of us what can be achieved with constant passion and dedication.

A hoarding in Sharja once said ‘I want to see god till then i will see Sachin….” I will rephrase that

‘I want to learn theatre fully.. till then I will consider him as theatre…”

-Abhishek Iyengar