Ad guru and theatre veteran Alyque Padamsee (picture below) on directing Shabana Azmi in Broken Images, to be staged in association with t2 at Science City Auditorium on October 25.
What made you choose Broken Images?
This is a Girish Karnad play and I have previously done Girish’s play (the English version of Tughlaq, featuring Kabir Bedi). I first watched the Hindi version of the play, directed by Girish himself, with Arundhati Nag in it. It was called Bikhre Bimb. I found it was a fantastic play. Then my daughter Raell wanted to produce this play and she approached me saying, dad will you direct? The challenge was fantastic and we immediately started a three-month-long rehearsal.
A lot of people get astounded at the end of the play because I have changed the ending a little bit, but I won’t say much as it would spoil the experience!
What was Girish Karnad’s reaction to the changes?
He was okay with it as he said he had faith in me. I had changed the beginning of his play Tughlaq as well. He believes in a director’s privilege and I haven’t changed the words but the presentation. The ending turned out to be rather magical… it ends in a very unusual way.
What’s the best thing about the play?
I have never done a play like this. Shabana (Azmi) is on stage playing one of the sisters and also on a large TV screen (in a pre-recorded video) playing the other sister. Shabana, the actress on stage, has to keep pace with Shabana, the actress in the videotape. It is Shabana talking to herself… the two entities are having a dialogue. There is physical interaction between the screen and the real Shabana.
How was the experience of directing Shabana Azmi?
I have worked with many wonderful actresses, from Lushin Dubey to Sabira Merchant and Sharon Prabhakar. I have never seen anyone with the kind of discipline and acting prowess as Shabana. She is a glutton for rehearsals. Shabana is so fantastic! We took the play to America with 16 shows in 16 cities in 21 days. Every day she did at least one technical rehearsal before the show. She has a superb stamina. She is a director’s dream. This is the 80th show and it always goes houseful, thanks to Shabana.
You have also directed her mother…
Yes, more than 40 years ago I had directed Shabana’s mother Shaukat Azmi in a play called Shishon Ke Khilone, a Hindi adaptation of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. Shabana was six years old then and she used to come and sit at the rehearsals with her mouth open. I did two more plays with Shaukat after that. Today I am directing her daughter.
What: Broken Images, in association with t2
Where: Science City Auditorium
When: October 25, 5pm
Written by: Girish Karnad
Directed by: Alyque Padamsee
Cast: Shabana Azmi
About the play: Manjula Sharma, a not-so-successful Hindi short-story writer, suddenly becomes famous by writing a bestseller in English. The question haunting Manjula is, whether in opting for the global audience she has betrayed her own language and identity. At this point, we come to know that Manjula had a sister, who might be the original author of the novel. What is the truth? Who is at fault? Manjula’s own image decides to play confessor, psychologist and inquisitor.
Organiser speak: “This Puja we bring you one of the best and unforgettable performances by Shabana Azmi,” said Anumita Dasgupta of Medialink, which is bringing the Ace Production play to Calcutta. “Broken Images is one of the most appreciated performances in India. Come and listen to Shabana Azmi wishing us Happy Durga Puja with her play,” said Sonali Sanyal of Medialink.
Tickets: Priced between Rs 100 and Rs 3,000, available on bookmyshow.com and at Academy of Fine Arts, Girish Mancha, Hidusthan Sweets (Jadavpur), and Gupta Brothers (Elgin Road)
