MT News Service
Jammu, June 23:
National School of Drama Alumni, theatre actor, director and light designer Sajal Mondal from West Bengal expressed his thought provoking views regarding theatre in Natrang’s National Theatre Talk Show, ‘Young Voices of Theatre’ at the Facebook page of Natrang Jammu. Director Natrang, Balwant Thakur informed that this talk show which features acclaimed young voices of theatre spread across the country who have earned a distinctive name for themselves as actors, directors, designers or technicians through their outstanding contribution in the field of contemporary theatre is doing tremendous task in creating a dialogue and connecting the efficient theatre prodigy who would shoulder the phenomenal future of Indian Theatre. As per press statement issued to mercury times, Sajal Mondal started theatre from childhood. After completing his Masters in Theatre Direction from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, Sajal joined National School of Drama, New Delhi and completed his Diploma in Design and Theatre Technique in the year 2011. After that, Sajal conducted Theatre Workshops for different groups in Kolkata and abroad in Berlin, Germany etc. Worked as Theatre Instructor in Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar and was also visiting faculty in Dibrugarh University. Freelance theatre activist, Sajal Mondal, remained theatre teacher for one year in Lepcha Community School, Kalimpong and conducted many social events in Sunderban area. He created his own theatre group called Mangrove Theatre Center, Basanti, Sunderban and conducted many Theatre Festivals including Children Theatre Festivals and Baul Mela. He has acted in many plays like; ‘Spartacus’, ‘Apharan Bhai-chare Ka’, ‘Images of Faminity’, ‘Hazar Churasir Maa’ and ‘Cherry Orchard’ etc. Sajal has directed a good number of plays and a few of them include; ‘Bimal Da’, ‘Tota Bola’, ‘Golden Duck’, ‘Jibon Purer Golpo’, ‘Khenti Masi’, ‘Bhalo Monder Golpo’, ‘Banger Raja’, ‘Bono Bibi’, ’Aamar To Aamu Pambu Gombu’ etc. He has done many productions with several eminent directors including; Tarak Chakraborty, Santanu Bose, Jamil Ahmed, Sofia Step, Anuradha Kapoor and Robin Das etc. He has also got training in; ‘Chou Dance’ ‘Puruliya’, ‘Mayurbhanj’, ‘Rai Bense’, ‘Ron-pa’, ‘Kalaripaiytu’, ‘Tamasha’, ‘Bidesia’, ‘Kathakali Dance’, ‘Orissi Dance’, ‘Contemporary Dance’, ‘Yoga’ ,’Pranayam’, ‘Kudiyattam’, ‘Acrobatic Movement’, ‘Clowning’, ‘Grotowski Body Technique’ etc.
In a candid conversation with Natrang’s senior artist Neeraj Kant, Sajal narrated his journey of theatre. A diligent theatre practitioner, Sajal believes in consistent learning, and does multi-dimensional activities.
He opines that theatre fine tunes a person and makes him/her more aware about senses. Speaking about the nuances of urban and rural theatre, he informs that the different lifestyles of both the areas influence their respective theatre as theatre reflects life.
As it is believed that everything which is shown on stage is pre-planned to give a definite meaning to the stage-setting but it is also true that sometimes circumstances add a new dimension to the design. He suggests that while working with folk artists, one has to leave the rigid approach because the more flexible the director is, the more he/she can extract from them. He asserts that Technical aspect is a very important element of a play which can enhance its overall impact. Advocating the importance of children theatre, Sajal suggests that the government should introduce theatre in all the schools so that children get its immense benefits, moreover theatre also plays an important role in channelizing the energy of youth and infuses positivity and creativity in them.
Natrang’s dedicated team which is managing this national event includes Neeraj Kant, Anil Tickoo, Sumeet Sharma, Sanjeev Gupta, Vikrant Sharma, Mohd Yaseen, Brijesh Avtar Sharma, Gauri Thakur and Chander Shekhar. Theatre actor, director and trainer, Ravinder Sharma would be featured in this talk show on 24th of June, 2021.
