The five-day-long Shoolini Theatre festival brought together some of India’s finest performers to showcase their skills and celebrate the art of theatre.
Lights, Camera, Action! The five-day-long Shoolini Theatre festival brought together some of India’s finest performers to showcase their skills and celebrate the art of theatre. The festival featured a series of captivating plays and performances that explored various aspects of human relationships, emotions, and social issues.
Performed by students, ‘Sooraj Ka Satwan Ghoda’ was the highlight of the festival. This play has been adapted from Dharamvir Bharti’s book of the same name. Directed by Ankur Saxena Bashar, an alumnus of the National School of Drama (NSD), the play explored the themes of dreams, reality, violence, and the class system. The audience was fascinated by the engaging experience.
Raghav Kapoor, a BAJMC 2nd year student who played the character ‘Tanna’ in the play, shared how he evolved as an actor. “As a BAJMC student at Shoolini, I got to explore different aspects of the media and entertainment industry. Performing in ‘Sooraj Ka Satwan Ghoda’ at the Shoolini Theatre Festival has been a turning point in my journey as an actor. It’s been a challenging yet rewarding experience. I’m grateful for the guidance and support of my mentors and fellow performers. Through this play, I have evolved as an actor. My speech has improved, and my self-confidence has been boosted. I’ve learned to push my limits and delve deeper into the psyche of the characters I portray, which has helped me grow personally and professionally. I hope to continue honing my craft and bringing more engaging and thought-provoking performances to the stage,” he added.
The festival showcased another captivating play, ' One on One’, directed by Rajit Kapur and his team Rage Production. The play presented a series of short plays featuring some of the most renowned names in Mumbai’s theatre scene, including Rajit Kapur, Shikha Talsania, Ajitesh Gupta, Shivani Tanksale, and Vrajesh Hirjee.
The ensemble cast and crew mesmerised the audience with their spectacular performances, each presenting a unique story that explored various aspects of human relationships and emotions. From heartwarming tales to poignant moments, ‘One on One’ left the audience in awe and appreciation. The actors’ seamless transitions between roles and the engaging storyline kept the audience hooked throughout the play’s runtime.
Meanwhile, ‘Baithak’, a play by Team Raabta, presented the ancient Urdu oral storytelling art format known as Dastangoi, which dates back to the 13th century.
The festival culminates in ‘With Love Aapki Saiyaara’, a mono-act play which sheds light on gender issues and the struggles of women. The play was written, directed and performed by Juhi Babbar Soni — the well-known film and theatre artist and the daughter of actor Raj Babbar and theatre veteran Nadira Zaheer Babbar. Based on a character conceived by her mother Nadira Zaheer Babbar, the play was a rollercoaster of emotions that left the audience in tears and laughter.
Juhi effortlessly portrayed the character of Saiyaara, a modern Indian woman who dares to dream and explores her identity in the process. As Saiyaara, she engaged the audience with her conversational approach, hooking the audience while narrating her divorce stories.
The talented cast received a standing ovation from the audience, including many students. Juhi expressed gratitude for the invitation to a unique place like Shoolini that gave her a chance to perform in front of an enthusiastic audience.
Ankur Bashar, Asst Prof (Performing Arts) at Shoolini, expressed the motivation behind creating the Shoolini Theatre Festival. He said sharing live performances post-COVID was crucial. “Theatre provides a safe and brave space for human connections, sharing, and learning,” he emphasised.
The festival’s attendees praised the organisers for bringing such high-quality productions to the region and providing a platform for talented artists to showcase their craft. Overall, with a lineup of captivating performances, the festival was a memorable experience.