Kerala - Kochi   

A stage of opportunities

Ashish Vidyarthi

KOCHI: Being an actor is a privilege. It is an opportunity given by people to act and meet people,” says actor and theatre personality Ashish Vidyarthi. “I also have the opportunity to meet and interact with people. I am happy for the opportunities that I have got. At the same time, one may dream for more. Like a journalist wishing that one day he should write a book than remaining as a journalist,” said Mr. Vidyarthi at a meet-the-press programme organised by the Ernakulam Press Club on Sunday.

He had performed as the Chakiyar in the play ‘Ottayan’ at Changanpuzha Park, Edapally, on Saturday at the drama festival organised by the Ernakulam Press Club. “Ottayan stands out in form. It was a unique experience for me as an actor. It was an exploration of what I have grasped in theatre in various facets. I approached the play with an eye of wonder and explored the lives that people lead through it,” he said.

“I have never done such a role before. It was a totally new territory for me. As an actor, I had the complete freedom to experiment with it. Yet I had to be responsible to the role. Thus the play was a mix of responsibility and freedom for me,” Mr. Vidyarthi said. It is not the story of Kerala, but a human story which is valid every where in the world. There are certain works which are relevant at a particular period of time. But this one transcends time, he said. Chakiyar is the actor of Kerala. In some other places, it will be Abhinetha. “While playing the role, I took a leap of imagination and the audience too took that leap, thus overcoming the barrier of Chakiyar belonging to Kerala,” he explained.

Mr. Vidyarthi, who has roots in Kerala, was all praise for the openness of the State. “Here you have a park named after Netaji Subash Chandra Bose. No where else in the country you will be able to find a park named after a freedom fighter who did not belong to that State.”

“I am waiting to have my ‘puttu’ after the press conference,” said Mr. Vidyarthi expressing his love for Kerala cuisine.

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