That theatre is an unparalleled medium of art is a view that has been echoed for decades. A firm believer of the art, Roshan Abbas, is nothing short of a flag-bearer for the theatre scene in India. During his career span, Abbas has donned several hats including that of a director, actor, TV host, and a radio jockey, but his love for theatre remains intact and how. In a recent conversation, Roshan Abbas spoke to us about theatre, time spent in Lucknow and his plans of attending the Edinburgh Festival Fringe - the largest arts festival in the world.
With the availability of so many professional career options, what made you choose theatre?
The opportunity and joy of living different lives in a single lifetime is a feeling like no other. Theatre gives you the chance of discovering yourself in the process of playing someone else, that is what fascinated me and made me take up theatre seriously.
You're from Lucknow, how important has the city been in influencing your love for theatre?
I have always loved Lucknow. The city is wonderful and is very appreciative of all art forms. I used to be part of various plays and on-stage performances since I was in school. However, busy they are, the people in Lucknow take out time to watch plays and appreciate theatre every now and then. Having said that, people are obviously more attracted towards plays if a certain Anupam Kher or Shabana Azmi is associated with it. The audience is thus, appreciative yet selective, but there is no dearth of some theatre loyalists who make it a point to attend a promising play even without any big names.
Did being a student of Delhi University augment your interest in theatre in any way?
When I was in Hindu College, the Mandal Commission was established. What followed was a series of protests and campaigns which really disturbed me. I wasn't one to resort to violent means and had been an ardent follower of the Jan Natya Manch, thus I decided to establish a street play society in my college. I felt there was a need to educate people and thus wrote three street plays in order to help the cause. I also performed various plays for the 'Stagedoor' theatre company. It is really nice to see Delhi University theatre circuit doing so well today.
What about your bond with Imtiaz Ali?
Imtiaz used to work on stage plays, and I occasionally dropped in to help. He was really fond of Vijay Tendulkar's work and did a little Shakesphere too occasionally.
How was radio jockeying instrumental in shaping your career?
In those days radio was a very important part of everyone's day to day life, which is why gradually people started listening to what I had to say. I took this opportunity to spread word about my theatre workshops. My parents have both been teachers, because of which I too grew fond of teaching and began organising workshops at schools like Modern School Barakhamba and DPS Mathura Road.
What do you think about the condition of the current theatre scene in the country?
The current condition is both encouraging and hopeful. We have people like Purva Naresh, Quasar Thakore Padamsee and Omer Haider who are constantly working towards deconstructing the old notions about theatre in India. All sort of theatre is happening in the country as we talk, there is street, stage, absurd and abstract. The Managing Director of 'Showhouse' Omer Haider, is indulging in a new experiment called 'One on One', which became a raging success. The sequel of the series called 'One on One two' is on the cards and stars Rajit Kapur, Anu Menon, Neil Bhoopalam, Hussain Dalal, Sumeet Vyas, Shikha Talsania along with others.
First salary that we earn is always special, how much did you earn through theatre?
If I remember clearly it was something close to Rs 500 for 10 shows which were performed over a course of two months. I was paid Rs 30 for my first radio show.
Agreed, the comparison is unfair, but do you think Bollywood is somewhere responsible for the contemporary theatre scene in the country?
It is impossible to draw a parallel between the two. Bollywood and theatre are two creative mediums which should not be compared. We have people like Anupam Kher, Naseeruddin Shah, Ben Kingsley etc, who are live examples of how a balance can be struck between the two. For people who are performers, their art becomes their opium.
You have mainly performed across NCR and Mumbai, how different are both the cities in terms of theatre?
In 2014 I performed in a play called 'Check Please' which was staged in Gurgaon. The reception to the play was overwhelming and we noticed a drastic change in the audience reactions. Theatre in Delhi is a way to unwind and relax but also has an elitist connotation to it. Places like Epicentre in Gurgaon and Sri Ram Centre in Mandi house, Delhi are important hubs of theatre in NCR, but we need to develop a habit of watching plays in order to enrich ourselves. Mumbai on the other hand, is constituted of theatre loyalists who make it a point to throng to places like National Centre for the Performing Arts, St Andrew's Auditorium and the Prithvi Theatre to get their assured dosage of theatre.
Can you recall some favourite plays which have stayed with you?
I am really fond of Atul Kumar's 'Piya Behrupiya' and Purva Naresh's 'Umrao'. Also I have a personal bias for my play 'Graffiti' which was made in 1997 and starred Neha Dhupia and Cyrus Sahukar.
What advice do you have for youngsters who want to take up theatre as a profession?
Theatre imbibes a sense of discipline and presence in you, the feeling of being on stage can be equated to none other. When I was young, there weren't many distractions, we had no I-pad, I-Phone or YouTube to keep us occupied, the only way of getting out of a boring class was rehearsing for some school play. That used to be the best part of the day. I would like to tell the youngsters interested in theatre to not think on the lines of "Kitna paisa milega" but "Maza kismein aaega" and "Seekhne ko kismein milega".
How often do you get the time to catch up on a play?
I try to watch as many plays as I can. We need to develop that habit. In fact, I am most probably going to Edinburgh next week for the 'Festival Fringe' which is considered to be the world's biggest performing arts festival. I will spend all my savings, but I will go. (Laughs).
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