The most significant, pathbreaking work in theatre this year happened away from Delhi and Mumbai, in the small towns. Indeed, three recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar award were from the hinterland. The standout performers from 2013:
Sankar Venkateswaran Kerala
His Theatre Roots and Wings group produced and directed several plays like The Elephant Project and Urubhangam. His latest is Shogo Ohta’s The Water Station. Combines Kerala’s Kathakali and Koodiyattam with traditional Japanese theatre.
Randheer Kumar Patna
His new play, Jahaji, focuses on the human and social cost of big development projects. Instead of fetishising the letter of the script, he works and improvises with the actor while trying his utmost to keep text and context at the centre of it all.
Pavitra Rabha Meghalaya
NSD alumnus founded the amateur group, Dapon. His play, The Rhythm of Bardoisila, focused on traditional folk performances of the Northeast. Works with differently abled people too.
Pravin Kumar Gunjan Begusarai, Bihar
NSD graduate founded Fact Rangmanch that works with marginal people in Bihar. His significant previous productions include Samjhauta (below), and the latest is Macbeth.
