Rooting for the forgotten cultural roots of Bihar

Recently, renowned Hindi cinema actors Seema Pahwa, Vivaan Shah, and Mayank Pahwa were seen visiting the capital city of Bihar, Patna. But this time, the reasons were quite different as they were here to stand in unity to promote cultural development in the city through a theatre named House Of Variety.

The newly opened theatre hosted a three-day show titled "Kuch Panne," performed by veteran actress and director Seema Pahwa, alongside the dynamic Vivaan Shah and the promising Mayank Pahwa. The trio graced the stage with three captivating monologues: Gulli Danda, Gango ki Jaya, and Saag Meat, produced under the banner of the Mumbai-based production house Kopal Productions.

Back to back three captivating monologues; Gulli Danda, Gango ki Jaya, Saag Meat

Seema Pahwa, with her wealth of experience and versatility in characters, brought depth and authenticity to her monologue named ‘Saag Meat,' effortlessly portraying a range of emotions that resonated with the audience. Written by the eminent writer Bhisham Sahni, "Saag Meat" delves into the intricate relationship between two classes of society.

Shah's charismatic stage presence and expressive dialogue delivery captivated the audience, while Mayank Pahwa showcased his emerging talent in Gango ki Jaya, leaving a lasting impression.

Gulli Danda, Munshi Premchand's timeless tale, transports audiences into the world of two boys from contrasting backgrounds. The story follows the narrator, a boy from a well-to-do family, and Gaya, a poor boy, bonded by their love for the game of "gulli danda." Through a series of events, the narrator experiences a profound realization about friendship, respect, and societal dynamics.

 ‘I have my own set of good and bad experiences of Bihar’, A section of Bihar values art and literature

In an interview with Patnabeats, the veteran actor and director Seema Pahwa said it was her first time visiting Patna. She asserted that the audience in Patna is highly attentive and sharp enough to understand literature. They easily understood the message of our play and were also able to convey their experiences post-show.

For a theatre actor, what could be better than having a room full of an attentive audience?

I extend my thanks to the House of Variety for creating this intimate space where the audience and actors can interact in a much more closed setting. Adding to her experience about Bihar, she said, “I had my own set of good and bad experiences with the people of Bihar outside the state and a perception of the state through movies, but it turned out different while visiting the city. The city is warm, and people welcome you with open arms and love in their hearts. Bihar is not all that you see in the films. It is a perception expressed by a writer or director from their own point of view. I have expressed what I felt after watching this city with my own eyes.

Shah, on his second visit to Patna, said, ‘I visited Bihar earlier in 2018, and this time it is very different as I came to Patna to perform my play Gulli Danda at the newly opened theatre. It's great to see people despite being busy in their academic lives and jobs; they took out time and came to watch our show. It makes me feel like there is a section of the state that still values theatre, literature and meaningful shows.

He also compared Patna to Mumbai, saying the city is somewhat like Mumbai—rough and tough. When talking about his next project, Shah said that he is working on a project that is based on communal harmony. Apart from his theatre shows, he would like to work on more film projects.

Patnabeats also spoke with the stage actor Mayank Pahwa, recognized for his great craft and dialogue delivery. On asking why one pursues theatre, the actor said theatre helps in expressing yourself. There are multiple emotions that we often hide or suppress due to fear of judgment or to not discomfort others, which one can express through pursuing theatre.

He also shared his experience of travelling to Patna and trying out Bihari mutton and fish, which he would again want to eat on his next visit.

A glimpse of Naseeruddin Shah

We interacted with the audience present at the HOV theatre about their experience post-show, to which Mani Raj Singh said, “I enjoyed all the performances. The actors were so crisp and captivating with their craft that we couldn’t take our eyes off for a single moment. Vivaan Shah was outstanding with his monologue. Although he has his own style of performing on the stage, one cannot deny that there is a glimpse of Naseeruddin Shah in his dialogue delivery, expression, intensity, and body language.

House of Variety: A Seed of Change, Bringing Back the Theatre Experience in Patna

Suman Sinha, the Founder of the theatre, concluded the interview with his idea behind the performances of hindi cinema and theatre actors at the newly opened theatre to which he said that the newly opened theatre is an initiative to bring back the glory of theatrical experience in Patna. Theatre is the heartbeat of humanity, where stories breathe life into the soul and emotions take center stage. Our objective is to encourage people in Patna to spend their weekends watching high-quality entertainment and also learning through storytelling, as theatre has been a valuable storytelling method throughout history.

This space has been intentionally built with only 49 seats so people can watch actors' performances in a closed setup. We are incessantly running different shows throughout the week with national, international, and local artists as well. The theatre is becoming a great weekend getaway for people who are bored with their usual activities every Saturday and Sunday, he added.

Bihar is known for its contribution to art and literature in the history of India. A few prominent theatre forms in the state, including Bidesia, Bihula-Bisahari, Reshma-Chuharmal, Raja Salhesh, Bahura-Gorin, Dom Kach, and Sama Chakeva, are theatre forms with richness to project the state’s indigenous identity.

Unfortunately, with the rise of digital platforms, the charm of traditional theatre and literature experiences has taken a back seat. In a place where cultural roots have sometimes been neglected, these initiatives act as seeds of change, promising to breathe new life into Bihar's rich heritage.