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‘I am not preachy’
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Amal Allana has plans up her sleeve for NSD
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Amal Allana
If Amal Allana has her way, the National School of Drama (NSD) will see changes for the better. Apart from courses in acting and direction, students can look forward to courses in business management that will teach them to improve infrastructure for
theatre. “That requires a different mindset and therefore a different set of students. Those who are good in acting and direction may not be good on the management front,” she says.
She’s worked in theatre for over 35 years and confesses with a hearty laugh, “I’m passionate and crazy about theatre.” The chairperson of NSD, known for her riveting plays, is in Hyderabad to talk on ‘Feminine Encounters: Between Text and Performance’ as part of Celebrating Theatre series for the Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Foundation (at Saptaparni, November 18, 6.30 p.m.). Being a well known director herself, she says, “Women artistes are evolving a new language of expression. People need to be more aware to judge post-modern plays, which may not have a linear narrative structure; these works are like pieces of modern art that need to be understood.”
During the lecture, she will touch upon works of Neelam Mansingh, Anuradha Kapur and Maya Rao among others. “Women directors are not merely writing but making scripts, improvising them for the stage.” Allana’s own works (Erendira, Sonata and Char Chughi) have focussed on women. “In Nati Binodini, set in the 19th century, I chose situations relevant for today. None of my plays have been preachy; I try to explore the female psyche,” she says. If there are fewer plays based on Indian writings, she cites, “Until theatre develops into a professional medium, students will prefer to adapt plays that give them revenue. Playwrights want to explore Indian works but have limited resources.”
Nevertheless, Amal Allana has plans for NSD and believes there’s scope for theatre. “We plan to introduce new areas of specialisations, for example children’s theatre, theatre infrastructure and theatre criticism,” she informs. International plays will also be brought to the NSD with super-titles that will help in better communication.
SANGEETHA DEVI DUNDOO
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Mangalore
Puducherry
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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