Friday, February 12, 2010

Western methods robbing Indian theatre of local content

Western methods robbing Indian theatre of local content
Veteran theatre personality and Padmashree award winner H Kanhilal of Manipur today opined that the over-dependence on European methodology had robbed the Indiantheatre industry of its ‘localized context’, a trend which is setting a bad precedent for the next generation theatre actors.

“This is my personal view and I believe training institutes like the National School of Drama (NSD) has a greater role to play in this regard,” Kanhilal stated during an interaction programme at the Guwahati Press Club today.

“There is no harm in taking clues from the European style, which has it own importance. But the fact that the original and indigenous text representing our deep-rooted culture and traditions is missing is a bit sad,” the Padmashree award winner said, adding, “Today, we rely more on academic and intellectual exercise than the instinctive and spontaneous form of acting, which is unfortunate.”

The veteran theatre personality, with an aim to chalk out a roadmap for the introduction of a new learning process for the theatre actors, is organizing a three-day exposition-cum-workshop at Rampur village of Goalpara beginning from February 6.

The workshop, Kanhilal informed, would be attended by scholars from UK and various other parts of the country, including from the Jamia Islamia University. “I chose Rampur village because the former would provide a perfect natural setting for work and subsequent discussion,” he added.

kanhilal's methodology

I attended a theatre workshop which was conducted by H. Kanhilal in Asam. Enormous experience. That workshop conducted with Sukracharya.Joint venture with kalaksetra .It was three days workshop. Discussed Kanhilal ‘s methodology.