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 Yash Raj Films; and actors who are household names, including one who is India’s biggest superstar. By Ekta Mohta Illustration by Shreedhar Sutar 116 MAY 2017 • MW MAY 2017 • MW 117 Theatre 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 Hindi 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 (Do Dooni Chaar, 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- Band Baaja Baaraat), Vijay Krishna Acharya (Tashan, Dhoom: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 Thugs of Hindostan), Kabir Khan (Ek Tha Tiger, 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 (Gunday, Sultan, the upcoming Tiger Zinda Hai); and figure in the cultural circuit of Delhi 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 Himanshu Sharma (Tanu Weds Manu, Raanjhanaa, 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 Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub 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, Mumbai (then Bombay), and then 118 MAY 2017 • MW MAY 2017 • MW 119 Theatre moved to Delhi for higher studies.