‘That’s My Girl!’ is a Hinglish social comedy
Dhabolkar’s play explores father-daughter relationship
The theatre is the place people come to see the truth about life and social situation. Theatre holds up a mirror to society, and on Friday, Oct 26, Indian Cultural Society’s presentation, Bharat Dhabolkar’s “That’s My Girl!’ will do that and more. ‘That’s My Girl!’ is a Hinglish social comedy which explores the father-daughter relationship in a contemporary context. In the play, Anil Desai (Anant Mahadevan) and his daughter Aishwarya (Shweta Rohira) are caught at a crucial juncture in life. Estranged for many years, the duo is compelled by different compulsions to come together, and in the process they learn and unlearn many things about each other and about life. The play written, and directed by Dhabolkar, explores this turbulent relationship, as it reaches an acceptable resolution.
Bharat Dhabolkar is a creative genius. A man of many talents, he has left an indelible mark on advertising, television and theatre in India with his creative thinking, his introduction of Hinglish and his multifarious contributions to the creative industry. His work with Amul has become a subject of advertising lore in India. ‘That’s My Girl!’ stars Anant Mahadevan, a seasoned actor and director of Hindi and Marathi films and television serials in India. The National award-winning screenplay writer is also an active participant in professional English and Hindi theatre. The play will be presented by the Indian Cultural Society, a veteran of several successful live shows at the Kuwait Boy Scouts Association Auditorium in Hawally. ‘That’s My Girl!’ has had a successful run since it was first staged. Arab Times caught up with the two theatre personalities to discuss the creative experience.
Arab Times: You are known for your musicals and laugh riots – where does ‘That’s My Girl!’ fit in? How different is it from the plays you have written and directed so far?
Dhabolkar: It is very different from all the plays I have done apart for one serious play which was adapted from a Marathi play called ‘Purush’ which is about the rape of a school teacher. But yes, ‘That’s My Girl!’ is completely different from all the plays I have done so far. I am used to laughter every minute of the performance. ‘That’s My Girl!’ is about relationships. It is different in the way it gets people involved. People have told me that they laugh and cry at the same time while watching the play.
AT: What do you like most about ‘That’s My Girl!’?
Mahadevan: ‘That’s My Girl!’ is a captivating piece of writing. The true-to-life interactions of the characters, particularly the daughter and the father discovering each other and the father ‘s attitude towards his ex-wife, in the end, is what relationships are all about. Bharat Dabholkar’s pithy one-liners and observations make this play relatable to every father, daughter, mother and female friend in the audience. It is a huge slice of life garnished with cheers and tears that stay with you long after the play is over
AT: ‘That’s My Girl!’ marks Shweta Rohira ’s debut in theatre. How well has Shweta slipped into the skin of the character? Did you find it difficult to direct a newcomer?
Dhabolkar: I have worked with some of the best actors in Indian theatre/English theatre in all my plays. They were stars of theatre, and so I found it very easy to direct this play. I had my apprehensions about working with Shweta as she had not done any theatre earlier. I was sceptical about her ability to carry on a such a central role, but from the very first rehearsal, I realized that not only is she perfectly suited to the role in terms of looks, she is also extremely dedicated. She gave up a very lucrative film assignment, to avoid missing rehearsals and she works very hard on her part. I think the lion’s share of credit for what she finally managed to do goes to her because she worked very hard. She managed to hold her own and do better than the other two senior actors on stage. I am very happy with the way she has performed. And I am glad I chose her over the experienced actors.
AT: What has it been like to work with Shweta and Ananya?
Mahadevan: A three-actor play is always difficult to sustain and hold audience interest for nearly two hours. The play was heavily dependent on the character of the 19-year-old daughter who comes back into her father’s life, 16 years after he abandoned her. For Shweta Rohira, the challenge was immense. But one discovered her blooming like a huge water lily as the rehearsals progressed. From a naïve, inexperienced actor she became an expert performer and swept me off my feet at the opening show. Ever since she has garnered a lot of acclaims and has grown in confidence. For me, Shweta is a revelation. And with her professional attitude and talent, will go places. Ananya Dutta plays the balancing act in the father’s life.
AT: How challenging and fulfilling has this play been and how has the audience responded to it?
Mahadevan: The day I read Bharat Dabholkar’s script in one sitting of an hour and a half, I knew I had found the perfect role that would challenge me to perform it with its multi-dimensional layers. The growth of the father’s character is something that would be a task cut out for any actor, and I knew that here was my chance to grow and mature as an actor. I have tried to impart to the character all the various shades it demanded, and it has been a rewarding experience so far. Over 20 shows in various Indian cities, the audiences have laughed and shed a tear and, given us a standing ovation each time. An actor like me lives for roles and moments like these.
AT: You wear many caps. What is the role of theatre in your life?
Mahadevan: Theatre is to the actor what prayer is to the soul. I debuted with theatre and went on to wear the hats of writer, director and editor. But it is in the theatre where I breathe. The magic of enthralling a live audience is unparalleled, and theatre is the big fix I seek with every play. With ‘That’s my Girl!’, the intoxication has reached a new high
AT: You started your career with advertising before venturing into theatre. How do you look back at your journey with theatre so far, and where do you place ‘That’s My Girl!’ in that journey?
Dhabolkar: Every play I have done until now has been extremely successful. Whether it was because I wrote in Hinglish which was a new language at that time, or whether I experimented with different songs, (I did qawalli in Hinglish, Antakshari in Hinglish, Lavni in Marathi and Hinglish), so for me, my journey with theatre has been one of experiments. The theatre is alive; it gives you that chance to experiment and change unlike films. In theatre I can change every show depending on what I want and the audience reaction. Moreover, until now I have mostly done topical plays, where I had to write in new lines in every show. In ‘That’s My Girl!’ the only thing we can improve on is the performance, which the actors do by themselves. It does not put pressure on me to write something topical every time.