Wednesday 6 April 2011

Interaction with Ratna Pathak Shah at Gujarati Sahitya Parishad

As part of Natya Parikrama, an interaction with prominent actress Ratna Pathak Shah is organised at the Gujarati Sahitya Parishad.

All are Welcome.

Date: 08/04/2011 (Friday) 
Time: 6:30 pm
Venue: Gujarati Sahitya Parishad, Nr. Times of India, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad 

2 comments:

  1. "Of course, it was a delicious interaction!" However, a little sad initially as only a few from the first row belonging to the yester-generation started off "under the load of their 3000 year old culture" as Ratna put it rightly. Ratna's talk and views on the current society, the theatre practices and the solid distinction of "the connect" and "the disconnect" were matching those of the youth present in the hall. Her energy, her hunger for something new and original, her enthusiasm and devotion to the work and above all her philosophy on her work were not only very impressively expressed but were also very admirably received by the audience in general and the youth in particular.

    It also raised a question on one's desire to break the traditions and do something which is not accepted as to be "culturally Indian"! Indeed, it was an occasion reminiscent of Ratna's mother and a very well-known actress Dina Pathak. A lengthy introduction of Dina Pathak, full of her praises, was not useless but it lacked the contemporary interpretation and connect. It almost became a passive allegory.

    It was Ratna who put the tread into a different needle and spoke of what she learnt from her mother, both what to do and what not to do!

    Her journey of theatre was both inspirational and encouraging for the young rasiks of theatre. Her tips on how to concentrate and improve, how to revisit the play and how one gradually grows were well inscribed on the young-minds. Her call for the intellectual revolution was received with a round of applause and her criticism on the lack of original and more contemporary writing relating to the current society and its beliefs made the conservatives frown. No need to say, how clear she was of her views and how wonderfully she linked with the way of thinking of today's generation.

    It was interesting to notice that the Gujarati Sahitya Parishad may have never witnessed such a strong presence of youngsters before.

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  2. She also said something really interesting... Theatre is not meant to show off.. who you are and what you can do.. It is rather a medium to communicate your World view and your story.. what you feel about it!

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