All the world’s a stage and it is celebrating the 60th World Theatre Day today, March 27. To celebrate the day, we will tell you about 4 Indian theatre artists that made it big in Bollywood as well. But before we share those names, let’s take a look at the origin and significance of World Theatre Day.
World Theatre Day Origin
In the honour and celebration of theatre artists and the art of theatre, the World Theatre Day was first observed in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute. Since 1961, the day has been celebrated annually on March 27. It is reported that each year on World Theatre Day the ITI hosts a conference where one influential theatre performer is chosen to give out a message to the theatre community. The first message was translated in over 50 languages and sent to theatre communities through newspapers and pamphlets.
World Theatre Day Significance
The day’s significance lies in its intent of celebrating each and every single aspect that forms this line of art. Theatre is an art form that’s been arguably the oldest form of performance arts where the actors, writers, directors come together and narrate stories that are rooted in the most humane aspects of the world: empathy, injustice, love, intolerance and more. The art form has been significant for people for generations for the ability it gives them to voice out their dissent, their displeasure, their perspectives about everything that is happening around them.
History of theatre in India
India has always had a diverse theater culture with a talent pool that never shrinks. The earliest form of theatre performances came in the form of recitation and singing. When it comes to earliest milestone of Indian theatre space, Bharat Muni is attributed to have written 36 books on the art of theatre called Natyashastra. As the nation evolved, so did the form of theatre. During the British era, the Indian masses and writers saw a different form of theatre that’s still widely accepted. Since then Indian theatre space has grown leaps and bounds and many phenomenal theatre artists have graced the stage who later came to the big screens.
4 Theatre Artists that made it big in Bollywood:
Om Puri
The late veteran Om Puri, known for movies like Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Aakrosh and Ardh Satya had his acting chops finessed on theatre stage. It should be known that Udhvastha Dharmashala, that starred Mr. Puri was the first play that was staged at Prithvi Theatre. Mr. Puri was a National School of Drama alumnus and started off his career with a theatre group called Punjab Kala Manch. Over the course of his career that spanned for over four decades, he acted in more than 300 films and brought life to a number of characters.
Girish Karnad
Often known as the jewel of the Indian art, Girish Karnad was a veteran polymath who acted, wrote, and gave birth to several significant plays. Karnad is known for writing some of the best theatre plays to have come out of India such as Yayati, Rakta Kalyan, Hayavadan, etc. Moreover, he also made some critically acclaimed films like Samskara, Vamsha Vriksha, etc. In 1964, Karnad wrote a play called Tughlaq when he was just 26-year-old. The play was a metaphor on the authoritarianism that has every few decades plagued India. The film’s titular character was that of Muhammad bin Tughlaq who with his idealism, far-sighted ideas slipped into the pit of madness. The play’s titular character bore a striking resemblance to Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru. He was awarded the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan award by Indian government for his contribution.
Naseeruddin Shah
A veteran film and theatre artist, Mr. Shah has starred in more than 150 films and TV shows in his career. The National School of Drama alumnus created the much-lauded Motley Production in 1977. His first play was waiting for Gadot in 1979 and was staged at the iconic Prithvi Theatre. He also went on to star in and as Einstein where he talked about the Einstein’s genius, his childhood, beliefs on religion and more. He also went on to play the role of Mahatma Gandhi in the critically acclaimed Mahatma Vs Gandhi. In 2000, he was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contribution in the field of theatre.
Ratna Pathak Shah
Daughter of Gujarati theatre artist Dina Pathak, Ratna Patak is known for his roles in films like Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, Kapoor and Sons and for portraying the character of Maya Sarabhai in the comedy-cult classic Sarabhai VS Sarabhai. But not many people know that her acting is deeply rooted in the theatre space. She, along with her husband Naseeruddin Shah co-founded the Motley Theatre Group and has starred in several English, Gujarati and Hindi plays. Another National School of Drama alumnus, she is known for her plays like Silence! The Court is in Session, The Lesson, Dear Liar, etc.
