He can write, he can act, he can dance. He is an artist in the true sense, an amalgam of different sensibilities, combining a passion for theatre with the love for music, dance and literature. That is Mahesh Dattani for you, a multi-faceted artist of many talents, who was in the city today on an invitation from the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi.
The last time Mahesh Dattani was here was in 2009 when the CSA had organized a national seminar on the art of story-telling through different media. Whereas then, five years ago, he was just one of about twenty-odd invited speakers, on this occasion he was the sole invitee and he held the audience mesmerized for a good hour and a half, talking about his work, reading from his latest publication, and interacting with the audience.
Dattani's latest book is Me and My Plays, was launched at the Jaipur Literary Festival in January this year. It contains two plays written in 2012 – Where Did I Leave My Purdah?, a play about an ageing actress, and The Big Fat City, a play about Mumbai. The first play, as he tells us, is inspired by the phenomenon Zora Sehgal.
The collection also contains an important essay in which the author talks about the highs and lows of his career, and the evolution of contemporary Indian theatre, particularly in the English language. Reading excerpts from this piece, Dattani dwelt on his struggle with language, the reasons why he chose to write in English, and how he painstakingly put together a theatre group.
Holding the audience spell-bound through his reading, Dattani then invited questions from the audience and there were plenty. Questions, comments and appreciation came his way and he responded to all graciously. The enthusiasm of the audience seemed indefatigable and the Chairperson of CSA had to finally intervene so that the programme could move further.
Also on the agenda this evening was a felicitation ceremony for the award-winners of books printed in 2013. The following city writers were given cash awards for books that have been adjudged the best:
Vijay Saudai (Hindi novel)
Amarjit Amar (Hindi Short Fiction)
Narendra Shukla (Hindi Satire)
Bhupinder Brar (Hindi Poetry)
Ashwini Kumar Sawan (Punjabi Short fiction)
Charandeep Singh (Punjabi novel)
Paramjit Param (Punjabi Poetry)
Narendra Shukla (Hindi Satire)
Bhupinder Brar (Hindi Poetry)
Ashwini Kumar Sawan (Punjabi Short fiction)
Charandeep Singh (Punjabi novel)
Paramjit Param (Punjabi Poetry)
These writers, some very young debut writers and some seasoned veterans, who were given their awards by Mahesh Dattani, spoke briefly about their work.
There followed a book-signing session. Mahesh ji was surrounded by readers and fans for a long time, inscribing fly leafs, exchanging pleasantries with an appreciative crowd.
All in all, there was no doubt that this was another very successful event. The Chairperson, Manju Jaidka, announced that in the coming month a tri-lingual mushaira will be held and there is also a likelihood of bringing in another high-profile writer to the city. Details will be announced on the CSA Facebook and Blog.
Today's photos will also be uploaded on the FB
Stay tuned! Stay with us!
Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi
