Seasoned theatre artist, director and producer, Sanjay Pendse, who has more than 60 years of experience in theatre, believes that theatre is historically resilient and it will thrive even in the era of internet and social media. “Theatre will never die. It well-versedly survived the advent of radio, television, film and the internet because it is the mixture of all classical art forms,” said Pendse while talking with The Hitavada. Pendse, who has vast experience in children’s theatre, is also known for stage plays on social issues.

 

To mark the Centennial celebration of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Pendse and his Ranjan Kala Mandir group are staging 75th show of “Sangh Ganga Ke Tin Bhagirathi” in city on February 23. While talking about the drama, Pendse said, “We wanted to do a play on first three Sar Sanghachalaks of RSS to mark the celebration. So we approached Bhaiyaji Joshi and he recommended us Vidarbha Sahasanghachalak Shridhar Gadge for script writing.” There are many unknown stories and incidents which should be reached to masses. Today’s youth must know the contribution of Sangh in freedom struggle and nation building, said Pendse. “Staging 75 shows of this drama in just 10 months is a big achievement for us and it is the biggest proof that the drama received tremendous response among masses. We staged the drama in five different states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand in last 10 months,” claimed the senior artist.

 

While asked him about the future of theatre in India, Pendse, with sparkled eyes and in crisper tone said, “Audience will come to see your acting when you have confidence about your performance. If you have that standard in which audience can relate themselves with the acting, then they (audience) will definitely come.” “You must have discipline. We can do drama at any platform. Just you must have the capability to transfer the message to masses through your acting,” said Pendse. ‘Bal Ranjan’, the children’s theatre group he founded fifth years ago is an important part of his life. Pendse believes that survival of theatres in India depends on our next generation’s role in this field. “Schools should conduct drama festivals regularly and should encourage students who have interest in acting. Survival of theatre depends on children. We must encourage them to practice this art form,” said Pendse.

 

“There are 50 artists are working in ‘Sangh Ganga Ke Tin Bhagirathi’ from last 10 months and half of them are my disciples from Bal Ranjan. They all have vast experience in stage play,” said the senior director. As he recalls all those years of his career, Pendse sits back and says, in effect, that children’s theater is no child’s play. It is a serious affair requiring every possible input at its best like play-writing, direction, choice of actor. If any of these inputs lags behind, the whole show loses its spark. At the end, Pendse, who was accompanied with his wife and producer of the drama Sarika Pendse, said, “The problem is that in Nagpur, there are no good theatres or places to perform good plays. Dr Vasantrao Deshpande hall is the only theatre we have which was constructed for dramas. Whereas, other hall are hardly suits the atmosphere of theatre.” The local administration should construct more theatres to encourage artists and audience to conserve this art form, concluded Pendse.