The Hindu : Front Page : Prithvi goes back to the musicals

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Monday, Oct 22, 2007
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Prithvi goes back to the musicals

Prachi Pinglay

The theatre’s 29th festival focuses on the long-lost tradition

All set: Youths rehearsing for the coming Prithvi festival in Mumbai.

MUMBAI: A “savitri” pleading with “satyawan” to accept her, a fuzzy talented old jazz musician — they all come together to celebrate Prithvi theatre’s 29th festival, called “Mumbai Musicals” with the spotlight on the long-lost traditions of musicals.

This unique three-sided thrust theatre showcases a different theme every festival. Run by Sanjana Kapoor, daughter of Shashi Kapoor and Jennifer Kapoor, the show will involve children and regional theatres such as Marathi and Gujarati, Hindi, English and even European. She spoke about Prithviraj Kapoor’s memories.

The idea of musicals came from the research days of last year’s festival which was about the birth centenary of the legendary Prithviraj Kapoor who formed Prithvi theatre to promote good drama.

She said, “When we were researching for the birth centenary exhibition, we found so many things and he [Prithviraj Kapoor] had such fabulous actors who were singers and musicians and dancers. We thought we would look for similar talent. Though, earlier, Prithvi tried to break away from the “music tradition” to promote new theatre.”

Considering that the use of music as an integral part of performance has diminished, Prithvi is keeping its promise of showcasing and promoting the different.

The 11-day festival starting November 1 would have 25 shows of 12 productions, of which nine are premiering in the festival. Apart from the main shows, there would be platform performances tapping into different folk cultures like Lavani, Gondhal, Punjabi folk and Natya Sangeet. Then there are spontaneous “musical conversations,” where audiences can talk to the playwrights, directors and other members of the groups.

The events also include lecture demonstrations on music in Kathakali by Keli, a Mumbai-based organisation dedicated to promoting art forms of southern India.

The second Prithvi yearbook, to be launched during this festival, titled “Kala Desh Ki Sewa Mein” (to serve the arts of the country), contains material gathered from last year’s exhibition.

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