Theatre A Kindergarten for Film Professionals

Delhi University’s Kirori Mal College runs arguably the best film incubator in the country, in the form of The Players, its dramatics society. It has produced screenwriters who have won National awards; film-makers who run ; and actors who are household names, including one who is India’s biggest superstar. By Ekta Mohta

Illustration by Shreedhar Sutar

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t is in The Players, Kirori Mal College’s drama society, Rousseau, and issues in the struggle for Kamala Nehru College — it was Neena closing performance was at Hindu College, where many film professionals first met the justice. “His subject was political science, Gupta. Hot pants were very in those days. and Frank was the senior judge. Onstage, actor, writer, and director in them. Its roster of but he could talk on any subject — be it KM didn’t have girls who’d be willing to act he tells the story of him refusing permission ex-students include actors Amitabh Bachchan, literature, economics, anything,” says in theatre. In that context, Neena Gupta to me for the play. He talks about me being Satish Kaushik, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Ravi Rajinder Nath, a retired English professor “Kirori Mal wearing hot pants is like if the college obstinate and refusing to listen. And, then, Baswani, and Vijay Raaz; writer-directors Habib who founded the theatre group Abhiyan, College is the building could have exploded, it would have he says, ‘I have come up onstage to say I I Faisal (, Daawat-e-Ishq, writer of and who was president of The Players from exploded. So, there I am walking towards was wrong.’ And, my eyes just popped with foremost non- ), (Tashan, :3, 1959-61 while pursuing his MA. Keval the college auditorium, and Neena Gupta is tears. It was so fucking generous of him to the upcoming ), (Ek Tha , Arora, who succeeded Thakurdas in The technical walking towards the girls’ common room, say that, so handsome of him to say that. Bajrangi Bhaijaan, the upcoming Tubelight), and Ali Abbas Players, says, “He was a fairly important institution that and I’m telling myself, ‘Don’t look down, He could have easily told me this in private. Zafar (, Sultan, the upcoming ); and figure in the cultural circuit of don’t look down, just look ahead and walk.’ I understood then why people loved him. University, not just for drama but also Behind her is Frank Thakurdas. He has this screenwriter (Tanu Weds Manu, , is supplying The one lesson I’ve learnt from him is that debate and music. He was a towering, little smile on his face, and he’s looking at me. if a student convinces me that, ‘I want to do Tanu Weds Manu Returns). larger-than-life figure. Everybody has been artists to As I walk past, he catches my hand, turns me this, please let me do this,’ I would like to be In addition to these heavyweights, The Players has given taught by Frank, whether they were in KM Bombay cinema” around and says, ‘Aren’t you walking in the proved wrong. His influence shapes the way countless other lyricists, dialogue writers, actors, and assistant or not.” wrong direction?’ And, I’m thinking, ‘This is I deal with students. Sometimes, I think it’s directors to the Hindi film industry, along with filling up Thakurdas juggled between his teaching not right for a teacher to be commenting on more a burden than a legacy.” teaching positions and back benches in the National School position and The Players superbly. “He I am not a good-looking guy. How will I a female student.’ And, he says, ‘Aren’t those of Drama (NSD) and Film and Television Institute of India inspired and encouraged all the students become an actor? He told me, ‘When I see the most gorgeous pair of legs you’ve seen?’” rora has been the ‘o captain, my (FTII). As Satish Kaushik likes to say, “Kirori Mal College [KM] who were fond of dramatics,” says Nath. “He you performing, you’re the best-looking actor In 1979, when the college celebrated 25 captain’ of the Players for more is the foremost non-technical institution that is supplying artists was not called Frank, he was called ‘Uncle’. for me.’” years, Thakurdas wrote a two-part article than three decades. He has to Bombay cinema.” Even people his age used to call him ‘Uncle’. Arora embroiders the legend of Thakurdas on The Players in the college magazine. “The A taught non-writers to think, The Players has created this many artists out of sophomores He was jagat uncle. He was my first guru. with a few anecdotes of his own. “He was second half starts with me,” says Arora. cardboard men and women to emote, thanks to its two staff advisors — two village elders who gave You could write a full book on him. He a giant bear of a man, with a very benign “So, he turned me into the second innings introverts to lead. Among former students, their time and their wisdom, freely, openly, and with love, to was such a warm, affectionate, and helpful smile and very mischievous. Mischievous to of Players.” In it, Thakurdas writes of a the epithet ‘legend’ is already being lightly nurture the society. The earlier generation was sandpapered person. I’ve never come across a teacher like the point that I would find embarrassing. creative tiff with Arora. “I wanted to direct used to describe him. A tall, bearded, by political science professor Frank Thakurdas, who retired in that. We used to sit and discuss for hours Once when we won a prize, there was no this play called Revenge by a very exciting spectacled man, dressed like a Fabindia 1978; the more recent students have been guided by English and hours in the coffee house in front of cash, it was a cup. We went to him, he lifted British dramatist called Howard Brenton. I mannequin, with gentle manners and literature professor Keval Arora since 1981. KM. His influence was all-pervasive.” the lid and said, ‘It’s empty. You’ve obviously took it to Frank who read it and said, ‘What expressions, Arora spends the better half of

rank Thakurdas was born in Amritsar and raised, an arm’s A scene from an original length away, in Lahore. He Players’ script called Ground Zero (2007) F taught at a liberal arts college PLAYERS TAKE Actor Amitabh called Forman Christian College, Lahore THE STAGE Bachchan is (where IK Gujral also studied), before chief guest at the College Annual moving to Delhi after Partition. KM was Day in March established in its current building in the 1986 North Campus of Delhi University in 1954, where Thakurdas joined as a lecturer in the political science department, and as “a man of theatre,” renamed the drama society From film-maker Actor Dinesh Vijay Krishna The Players. Thakur, in a Acharya’s time (1986- Amitabh Bachchan, who joined KM in scene from 89) in The Players; The Players (2000-2001). Lyricist Raj Shekhar, film-makers Ali Abbas Aakhri Shama Zafar and Gaurav Sharma, screenwriter Himanshu Sharma and actor 1959, has said that “the tall and imposing” Acharya is seated third from right can be seen here Thakurdas had given him his first compliment. “Frank Thakurdas was the one who noticed me in college even though I was never in his class.” Bachchan was a science He guided me very much.” Thakurdas had Several of his students have attested that not been trained in The Players’ traditions.’ is this nonsense you’ve got me? This is not the day talking to me. With cigarettes student, and more likely to be seen on the enlisted Bachchan for the annual Miranda Thakurdas nudged them to realise their We asked Satish Kaushik about it, and even a play. I can’t see this working at all.’ It barbecuing his voice, he recounts his life with badminton court than in the auditorium. House play, a satire on Greek mythology daydreams. In an interview given to DNA, he said, ‘You have to take a bottle of rum.’ was a cops and robbers story; a romp in the his alma mater. In a video released recently by the college, called The Rape of the Belt, in which Kaushik says, “When we were graduating When we went back, Frank said, ‘Good, park. Frank kept saying, ‘It’s too thin. The A cantonment kid, Arora was born in he says, “I don’t know why he thought I Bachchan played Zeus. from college, Frank Thakurdas called me to you’re quick learners.’” Another story goes dramaturgy doesn’t work.’ I finally told him, Kochi (then Cochin) in 1957 to a Punjabi should be on the stage. One day he called me A highly respected scholar, Thakurdas his house and said, ‘Satish, you’re capable of thus: “Kaushik’s group was doing [Vijay ‘Frank, I’m not getting another play. This father and a Parsi mother. He did his and said, ‘We have a drama society called wrote a number of books on political theory, doing a lot of things in life, but you should Tendulkar’s] Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe. can be done.’ Finally, he said, ‘Okay,’ but the schooling in Kendriya Vidyalaya in Navy

Players. You should come and participate.’ including on German political idealism, become a professional actor.’ I told him that VIJAY KM ALUMNI; COURTESY IMAGES RAJ SHEKHAR KRISHNA ACHARYA; They got this actress to play the lead from subtext was, ‘Don’t say I didn’t warn you.’ Our Nagar, (then Bombay), and then

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moved to Delhi for higher studies. By the storytelling, characters, how a story needs the role of a lifetime the day after. that I can talk about it as a theory of how f Arora sounds like the kind of which you are being praised? There’s an time Arora joined KM in 1973, Thakurdas to be presented in front of an audience — it The society is divided into Hindi and to approach work — when you do a play, man you’d wish your father was, absolute hypocrisy. You’re now recognising had suffered a stroke. “His visits to the comes from the three years I spent in The English groups, and members typically you must claim ownership rights. Get into rest assured he can also be a tough Habib Faisal’s Do Dooni Chaar, which you auditorium had become infrequent. We were Players. Even today when I’m stuck on do one major play a year. For instance, a dispute with the text you think can be I critic. He calls students from liked very much. But, when Faisal had told, ‘Don’t disturb him.’” Instead, Arora something, I go back to what I learnt there.” Zafar and Sharma, who are from the same improved upon. The contestation doesn’t privileged backgrounds as practising missed two practicals, and he’d asked for was conscripted into theatre in 1974 by a Screenwriter Himanshu Sharma adds, “We batch, did Manto in their first year; a street always imply rewriting. It means that if the “Gurgaon” theatre or “mall” theatre. “I have extra time in the lab, he was told no, and he colourful gentleman called Ganesh Bagchi have this joke in KM — if you’re a part of play called Khade Hai Lathi Taane and text has warts, you either surgically remove a biting tongue; I’m not always considerate got a zero on that. The time to show (“Rumour was that he ran off with a British Players, then you’re doing Players honours. Amarkant’s Hatyaare respectively in their the warts, or you apply make-up to hide it, or in my cruelty,” he says. I get a glimpse of this generosity is then. Now you’re a parasite, high commissioner’s wife”). The two plays he That was also the truth because we used to second year; and a Hindi adaptation of you show the damn warts.” trait when Arora speaks of KM’s idol leeching off someone’s hard work.” acted in were Bagchi’s scripts called work 24x7 in that auditorium. Those three William Golding’s Lord of the Flies called Apart from teaching the grammar of worship towards its more famous students. Arora, I think, has gone in the other A Recurrent Theme, for which he won the years were a life-changing experience for me. Saral Saras Kahani in their third year. The the stage, Arora also inculcated openness “It bothers me that the institution fawns direction. Though he is loathe to pick best actor trophy in its debut performance, Players is hugely responsible for whatever productions are handled entirely by the and critical thinking among his students. over the celebrity. This, by the way, is the favourites, he does appear to harbour a and Yaksha Town, an allegorical I am doing right now.” Arora says, “I think students, with Arora occasionally warming “It was a very democratic theatre society,” schizophrenia of all institutions. For soft corner for students who were not lured commentary on the Emergency. After my students have given away themselves the director’s chair. “Players belongs to says Zafar. “You could speak your mind, be example, Hansraj and . by the sex appeal of the film industry, returning to KM to finish his MPhil and to me far more than what students would its students, not its staff,” he says. “That’s completely free. It encouraged a very spiritual When you become successful, the college such as NSD faculty Amitesh Grover and direct plays for The Players, he moved to [usually] do.” why when you have the alumnus talking understanding of yourself through the will fall over backwards to claim you as an documentary film-maker Tarun Bhartiya. Ramjas College to teach English about Players, it’s always with a sense of medium of theatre. You start understanding alumnus. How did they treat you when you “They’re not going to make the news, but and commit a wee bit of treason. ownership.” that whatever you believe in, you need to bring were a student, taking your baby steps they have substance in them,” says Arora. “I would come back as a Ramjas Professor Keval Arora “Normally you would expect amateur that out [via a story]. There was no hierarchy.” towards acquiring skills in the very thing for “It’s often been said to me that the trouble teacher to look at Players’ plays and has been leading The theatre to be a little rough around the Arora says, “Hierarchies make things very with Players is that it builds such a cocooned Players since 1981 give them advice. It didn’t strike me edges,” says film-maker Vijay Krishna difficult. My students [from Players] call me space of working in a way in which integrity even once that I should be looking at Acharya. “I can safely say that as far by my name. I am sometimes called ‘Chief’, is defined in frighteningly, unrealistically, Ramjas theatre. So, the loyalty has as college theatre was concerned, we ‘Boss’, ‘Budha Baba’, ‘Big Shit’. One entire absolute terms that when you go into the always been completely for Players.” were the best. Our plays were very batch called me ‘Big Shit’. I’ve often been “We have this world outside, you’re a misfit because you When KM’s then-principal well-produced. We were a bit snooty scolded by other teachers for encouraging joke in KM — if have to forget the things you’ve learnt in Dr Narender Singh Pradhan because of the kind of work we did.” indiscipline in my students. ‘Keval, you Players. Should Players become a finishing approached him for a position Even Bachchan says, “Being a part shouldn’t encourage a student to smoke in you’re a part of school for cinema, or for , or for teaching English literature in 1980, of Players was really serious theatre. front of you.’ [Or,] ‘Please stop saying “fuck Players, then the market? Absolutely not.” Pradhan clarified in the interview, The exposure I received there was you” to students. It was okay when you were At the same time, the more recognisable “You do know if you get the job, you’ll very educational in understanding young. Now, you’re an old, bald man shouting you’re doing Players are currently playing a big role be expected to handle The Players.” To the language and nuances of “fuck you.” It’s a frightening spectacle.’” In Players honours. in helping KM build a state-of-the-art which Arora arrogantly replied, “You do writing. When I’m working in films, response to another question, he says, “I think auditorium on campus. To be named Frank know if I get the job, I’ll be expected to somewhere those lessons have stayed Players haramipanti sikhati hai. And, I don’t That was also the Thakurdas Memorial Auditorium, it will be given charge of The Players.” Arora in my mind.” mean that as a gaali. Harami hone mein jo ek truth because we cost `7 crore. The alumni have responded to hasn’t left KM since, and except for the If Thakurdas’s midwifery produced swaad hai, jo andaz hai — if a theatre person used to work the call of help admirably, such as Bachchan period between 1990 and 1997, when he more actors, Arora’s has certainly is not a harami, he might as well get into a who is shelling out `51 lakh from his deep abandoned The Players due to internal produced more writer-directors. business suit and do an MBA.” 24x7 in that pockets, and several others who are pitching conflicts (“a deeply unhappy time”), he Under him, students are expected auditorium” in with performances to raise money. has remained its godfather. “Sometimes I to interpret the text as opposed Their generosity can also be explained joke around and say, ‘I’m married to The to parrot it onstage. For instance, The alumni came together by how homesick many of the former Players.’ I have given my lifetime to Players. film-maker Habib Faisal did a Hindi recently to raise funds for a new Players sounded when I spoke to them. “We People ask me, ‘Why are you spending so nlike most elite groups, rewrite of Woody Allen’s God called Apni auditorium to be named Frank used to sit in the green room, and sabki Thakurdas Memorial Auditorium much time with The Players?’ I’m married by membership to The Players is Dum Ko Khojta in his second year. Sharma taang kheechte the,” recalls Sharma. “Every then. Later on I have a child as well. I’m not open to all. “If you’re interested fleshed out the one-and-a-half-page story of day had hundreds and hundreds of jokes. at home because rehearsals are from 1.30 pm U in theatre, come in. We don’t Hatyaare, along with batchmates Gaurav Even when I’m talking to you right now, I to 6.00 pm. There are so many days when I audition for membership; we audition for Sharma, a film-maker, and Raj Shekhar, a feel that from here, I have to go to Players. have worked all night. In my head, it’s always plays,” says Arora (though he does keep an lyricist, into a 45-minute play. “That was the It feels so close.” Acharya says, “Sometimes been if I’m anything today, it’s because of eye out for those who have a “huge smell of first time I tried my hand at writing,” he says. I wonder if it was a fiction in my head KM. My confidence, my ability to deal with the non-urban” about them). Of the “Somewhere along the line, most of because I seem to be getting more and more people socially — it all comes from Players.” approximately 100 students who answer the the direction we do requires rewriting,” emotional about this. Given half a chance, This is a sentiment I hear on a loop call at the beginning of an academic year, says Arora. “Very rarely do we work with if I could relive one part of my life, it would from the other graduates of The Players. about 15-20 stick around. Everyone is [student] directors who say that this is the be my time in Players.” Their dakshina “Everything I am today, I owe it to The expected to work backstage and on text, and hallowed be thy name. Our job is towards the stage comes as much out of Players,” says film-maker . production, and no job is too menial — you not to be technicians who transfer the words duty as love. As Zafar says, “At the end of the “My backbone comes from there. My first could be sweeping the workshop space today, from the page to the stage. In my head, day, everyone’s identity has come from that understanding of everything I do today — lifting heavy props tomorrow, and playing this has become codified as an aesthetic, so auditorium in Kirori Mal College.”

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