Pakistani films should release in India: Naseeruddin Shah

Theatre may never become as popular as the medium of films, Shah believes

KARACHI: Currently on his Pakistan tour, Naseeruddin Shah conducted a theatre workshop at the Karachi Arts Council on Tuesday where he addressed a packed house. 

Read: Naseeruddin Shah releases memoir in Karachi 

The prolific stage and Bollywood actor, director spoke on how every artist leads a "lonely life".

 

PHOTO: HASAN ANSARI/EXPRESS

"There is no one who will grab your finger, support you and lead you throughout your entire journey," remarked Shah. Discussing his own experiences regarding how he was initially ridiculed by people for pursuing a career in drama he urged audience members to take an initiative in whatever they do.

Read: How not being 'good-looking' got Naseeruddin Shah his first acting gig

It took several years for Shah to get his big break as an actor and he cautioned students to not abuse theatre by using it as a "means to satisfy greed and reach some place" but rather do it "because you can't live without it."

He used his own example of how he, alongside his close friend Om Puri, used to perform theatre "anywhere and everywhere" as by his own admission all you need "is a text, an actor and a listener to do theatre."

Shah has been training actors for the past 25 years and used the opportunity at the workshop to touch upon the history of theatre and how people everywhere fail to recognise its importance and viewing it as a mere form of entertainment.

 

PHOTO: HASAN ANSARI/EXPRESS

"Acting and theatre didn't start because of entertainment purposes but it was used for clarity in communication. It is believed people in pre-historic times used to rehearse their hunts. Gradually this form of communication developed into the theatre we know today," the Bollywood actor noted.

He added that theatre went on to develop in temples across the world mainly in China, India and Greece as many of the older religious text and manuscripts were very difficult to communicate verbally hence they had to be communicated through performance.

Shah, being a renowned advocate of the performing arts, compared theatre to a form of communication and believed that the art would continue to survive as "people will always talk to each other."

The actor further stated that "theatre will never become as popular as film." He reasoned that the only way for theatre to become as popular as film was by doing it in the same manner as the current films were being made, something he believed no one would enjoy.

"No one would enjoy watching a play like Kick," exclaimed Shah referring to Salman Khan's 2014 blockbuster.

According to the veteran actor people don't come and watch theatre as it "forces them to think" whereas film is like an "ice-cream to the brain."

Following Naseeruddin Shah's address to the audience, the general secretary of the Karachi Arts Council, Ahmed Shah announced that they (the Council) were hopeful that the Indian actor would return to Pakistan to perform a 10-day play and conduct further workshops with students.

 

PHOTO: HASAN ANSARI/EXPRESS

Naseeruddin Shah also expressed his desire for Pakistani films to release on the big screens in India as he spoke with Roznama Express. “Indian films are screened in Pakistan and appreciated by the Pakistani audience so Pakistani films should also be released in India. Even the Indian audiences want to watch Pakistani films on their cinema screens and Pakistani artists have a huge fan following in India," he said.

A week-long theatre workshop will also be conducted by the Karachi Arts Council from March 1 onwards and will feature acting stalwarts like Sajid Hasan, Talat Hussain, Seema Kirmani and Abdullah Farhatullah.

The workshops will also include performances by musicians Fuzon and Shehzad Roy on the opening and closing days.

Fans of the actor took to social media to support the event and expressed gratitude for the artist's work.

Nasiruddin Shah is conducting a theatre workshop at Arts Council, Karachi today at 1:30. Theater Lovers must attend http://t.co/3z5bgGKM0k

— Sohail Rahi (@sohailrahi) February 24, 2015

Naseeruddin Shah is amazing.#Theatre #ArtsCouncil @ Arts Council of Pakistan karachi https://t.co/LAKdnI1Wjr

— Mashaal Hashmani (@MashaalHashmani) February 24, 2015

https://twitter.com/shahidpress/status/570480580477001729