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Photo: Anu Pushkarna

Passionate about plays Lillete Dubey

“It is a kick-ass script,” says the director of “Kanyadaan.” In a theatre career spanning 33 years, Lillete has staged original plays, adaptations and even Shakespearean classics.

“Kanyadaan” has been translated into English by Gowri Ramnarayan and Lillette has introduced certain Marathi phraseology to keep the local ethos alive.

For someone who has handled a range of plays, Lillete says zeroing in on one is a relatively easy task for her. “When I read a play, it should scream ‘Do me’. The play should have a pull and the choice happens at an intrinsic level,” says Lillete adding colour to a wintry afternoon in her bright red outfit. She also banks on her years of experience on the stage. “I have never made a really bad choice. It has to be provoking,” she explains.

Lillete is eloquent about “Kanyadaan.” “It is the story of a daughter who decides to marry an ‘unsuitable’ boy.”

Though theatre comes foremost in her list of priorities, Lillete is not too optimistic about the love for theatre among audience. “Theatre is not in our blood,” she declares. Except for Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bengal and Gujarat, theatre has largely failed to catch the collective imagination, she says. “In Maharashtra they have a theatre history of more than 120 years. People are also willing to spend Rs.50 to go and watch a play,” says Lillete.

But according to her, it is important that the craft survives, in whatever form, be it even commercial theatre. “I would say it is better it survives,” she is candid. But Lillete is clear the need of the hour is patronage.

“Theatre is an organic part of the community. It needs to be patronised heavily,” she says and adds that in countries like Britain theatre is supported by the State. Though she is part of both cinema and theatre, Lillete is well aware of where Bollywood scores over the stage.

“If we bring in stars into plays, people will run after it. But they will be there for the wrong reasons. I don’t sell my plays and do not want any star power in them,” says Lillete. However, that does not deter her from marketing her plays vigorously. By marketing well, one is expanding the audience base, believes she, who also takes her plays all around the world.

“Kanyadaan” itself has made a round of Dubai and quite a few Indian cities and festivals.

“I performed plays even in hotels, which the purists scorned at. But as long as people do not drink and eat when the play is on, we are opening a new audience to theatre,” she adds.

Meanwhile, Lillete is juggling theatre and movie assignments. “We will do a new play written by Girish Karnad probably by April-May next year.

There is also the movie “Pankh” with Bipasha Basu. It is quite a bold film and will push the envelope,” she says.

After directing plays, Lillete is now nursing directorial ambitions in Bollywood. “I may direct sometime next year. The film will take away six to nine months of my life. It is going to be big film and will be based on a book.” She refuses to reveal more.

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