Last evening, me and my wife went to watch our first theatre/musical/play together. I have seen a play once as a child, but I don't remember much about it, so this was practically my first experience watching a play. The play was titled Mere Krishn (sorry for the Instagram link, but it looks like this is their primary medium of outreach) and was based on various events in Lord Krishna's life.
It was directed by Shri Rajiiv Singhh Dinkaar and chief actors were Sourabh Raaj Jain as Lord Krishna, Pooja Sharma as Radha Devi and Arpit Ranka as the antagonist Duryodhan. While everyone carried and commanded their part, it was the character and performance of Arpit Ranka who had me the most captured. Both the writing of the character and Arpit Ranka's enactment of the same were top-notch. That is what has finally snapped the threshold in me that now if any story, movie or play has a not properly written/performed antagonist then it is not getting my praise unless some other part is exceptionally well done.
While watching the play and even after, I was just amazed at what all was pulled off by the back-stage crew and the logistics teams. Some amazing stuff that comes to the top of mind:
- Costume changes of all the performers
- Visuals creating the backdrop on the LED screens behind the performing stage
- Creation of all the set-props and ensuring they are transported safely around wherever they go to perform
One thing that I felt about theatre over regular movies is that everyone is generally more intentional and present in the moment. There are no retakes if you mess up a scene, I think that separates the wheat from the chaff much better than movies usually do.
These and a lot other things made yesterday wonderful. Thank you to team Mere Krishn for this memorable experience. I would urge you folks to check out if the play is coming to somewhere near you and go watch it if you can, you can find their schedule on their Instagram page.