The city’s cultural mainstay on its feet
As Mumbai gets back on its feet, numerous happenings in and around the city have started contributing to the normalcy that its citizens have awaited with bated breath. Of them, the reopening of major venues — NCPA and Prithvi Theatre — with 100% occupancy have reinstated the fact that theatre continues to be the city’s cultural mainstay, alongside films.
“The future of theatre is absolutely secure,” says actor Pratik Gandhi, as he emphasises on the inability of any medium to replace the stage. “It’s a different thing — enjoying a performance live. In the lockdown, many tried theatre on OTT so there was experimentation,” adds the actor.
“Once normalcy is resumed, the audience will rush to the theatres as they are tired of watching OTT shows at home,” opines Makarand Deshpande. Thespian Naseeruddin Shah remains optimistic and performed his popular play Einstein in December. He adds, “I love being on the stage and will continue even if no one turns up”.
Actor Preeta Mathur says, “Prithvi was one of the first theatres to brave it and open for performances in November. Even as we prepared for our shows in January we were riddled with anxiety but all apprehensions melted as soon as we stepped inside the premises.”
NCPA, too, boasts of many upcoming performances. Other than Gandhi’s play, Mohan’s Masala, it will host a musical show titled The Golden Years featuring Darren Das, Giselle Pinto, and the band Sixth Sense.
(From left) Pratik Gandhi, Makarand Deshpande, Naseeruddin Shah and Preeta Mathur