Prithvi Theatre : Art in service of nation

By: Smita Mishra
In this world of cinema, television and dot coms, the scope of theatre as a means of entertainment has become quite small. Performing theatrical troupes have become rare and interested audience has become rarer still. Has theatre in India really died then? It would have been true had it not been for the incessant efforts of a select few. The Legacy The seeds of Prithvi theatre were sown way back in 1944 by Prithvi Raj Kapoor in form of a mobile theatre company. The company, its actor-manager Kapoor and the entire troupe toured the country for 16 years. The pressing topics of the time were woven into plays and presented before the audience. It was an unconscious attempt of both social and cultural awakening. Inspite of being an established actor of Hindi cinema, Prithviraj could not give up his passion for theatre. Six years after his death in 1972 Prithvi Theatre was born. Prithvi whose foundation was laid on 5th November 1978 by Prithviraj Kapoor’s son Shashi Kapoor and his wife Jennifer was a unique and unconventional concept of its time. It was the first serious attempt to organise Indian theatre. Prithvi was a product of great thought, study and speculation. Shashi and Jennifer realised that the Indian theatre was disorganised and there was an urgent need for an umbrella organisation to bring together various forms of Indian drama. It was formed with the intention to give theatre a platform, the lovers of art an assorted platter and the general public yet another means of entertainment. The Place The Prithvi, though situated in the heart of Mumbai is fortunately untouched by the city’s noise and crowd. The theatre is a cozy place, tucked away at Janki Kutir in a quiet Juhu corner, basking in the salty Arabian Sea breeze which is hardly 10 minutes away from it. Though appearing to be a quiet, modest place from the exterior, the place is vibrant and buzzing with activity inside. It was constructed initially with Hindi theatre in mind though now it patronises almost every type of national and international theatre.The planning of Prithvi is so perfect that even lighting was taken care of during its construction.As the back row is no more than 25 feet away from centre stage, artificial amplification becomes unnecessary and one approachs the intimacy of the old `music room` It has expanded itself to include children’s theatre, experimental theatre, theatre festival and much more. The theatre which has a seating arrangement for 200 people is booked for 300 days a year and hosts more than 400 performances yearly.Prithvi has come up with a scaled theatre rent and ticket rate to enable performing groups to survive economically as well as develop an audience. Controlled ticket pricing has helped to develop an audience. The average audience per show is 80% of its capacity, which is approximately 65,000 audience per year. The Café One of the most happening things about Prithvi is its café. The place still remains untouched by the commercialisation of the city and maintains its virgin charm. It is frequented not only by artists actors and theatre lovers but also by college goers, by people who love serenity and privacy and by those who like being reminded of their youthful days. From the humble tea cup to the sophisticated Irish coffee and from savoury samosas to sizzling kebabs, the variety offered is amazing. The Guiding Angel If Prithvi theatre was Prithviraj Kapoor’s dream and Shashi and Jennifer’s passion, it is their daughter Sanjana’s life! Sanjana is synonymous with Prithvi theatre. Ever since she took up its reigns in 1993, she has been living and breathing Prithvi. From roping in foreign companies to bringing international audiences - she has tirelessly attempted to reform, innovate and preserve Indian theatre. She has promised herself to carry forward her grandfather’s dream of “a spirited theatre movement”. The Contribution The Prithvi is much more than a theatre. It is not just a stage or a hall where troupes come, perform and go away. It is a place with a mission behind it. What Prithvi has done for Indian theatre could not be done by any government organisation meant for promotion of art and culture and supported by heavy government funding. The Prithvi is a brand in itself. It is a reminder of the classical Shakespearean era. A serious and dedicated attempt to preserve theatre art, Prithvi is a beautiful mixture of classical thought and modern idea. It will be difficult for the best PVR or the most modern cinema hall to match the timeless charm of Prithvi . The Festival The Prithvi festival, organised on an yearly basis is a commendable attempt to encourage theatre in general and local theatre in particular. Local troupes are given a world class platform. It is an effort to make theatre popular and an attempt to reach out to the masses. Its motive is to create awareness and interest in the country for theatre as an art form and a means of entertainment and in trying to do so it has unconsciously triggered a theatre movement. This year’s title of the Prithvi Festival –Kala Desh Ki Sewa Mein truly justifies the purpose of Prithvi Theatre. Prithvi Festival 2006 Calender http://www.prithvitheatre.org/calendar.htm