“Theatre holds up a mirror to society and to the times we live in. This is why people fear theatre and theatre actors,” said Chittaranjan Tripathy, Director of National School of Drama, during an interaction held recently at the Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC).
The session, enriched by the presence of noted actor, dancer and radio voice Jayshree Arora, explored the relevance and potential of theatre in the digital age, particularly through OTT platforms. Discussions also focused on women in theatre and the continuing challenges of gender stereotyping.
According to Tripathy, NSD develops the core capabilities of its students, who come from across the country, not only in acting but in every aspect of theatre, including stage management, production, set and costume design, sound and light. It is therefore no surprise that NSD graduates over the decades have carved a strong space for themselves in films, television and increasingly on OTT platforms.
He noted that audiences for theatre and dramatic storytelling have grown manifold, opening up new opportunities for performers and creators. Riding on this momentum, NSD has launched a digital streaming platform called ‘Naatyam’, which gives audiences access to nearly 12,000 NSD theatre productions. Expanding its outreach further, NSD has also introduced ‘Rang Akash’, a radio platform featuring radio plays and offering listeners a deeper insight into the world of audio storytelling. At the same time, he stressed the importance of actually going to the theatre, buying a ticket and watching a play.
Sharing her experiences of over four decades in theatre, television and films, Jayshree Arora — widely remembered for her iconic role as Bhagwanti in India’s first soap opera, ‘Hum Log’ said that acting is a lifelong learning. It is a form of worship.
Responding to a question, she said theatre reflects society as it truly exists, and that such honest portrayals can inspire change in social attitudes and behaviour. Often, audiences relate characters in films and plays to real-life individuals. This could open up new perspectives and trigger a transformation at both personal and societal levels.
Lauding the emergence of OTT platforms, Arora saw it as an important space for meaningful, small-budget and non-commercial productions that may otherwise struggle to find visibility.
As a mother, homemaker and professional, Jayshree Arora needed to balance her time and responsibilities, so that every aspect of life flourishes. This is undoubtedly difficult she said but not impossible. Like women everywhere, this field also poses enormous challenges. However she firmly believes that the strength to overcome obstacles and move forward lies within women themselves. “A woman symbolises Shakti,” she said, “and is never a Bechari.”