Manav%20Kaul

“I’ve a lot time. I don’t know what to do with it,” says Manav Kaul. The author, actor, director who straddles mediums like a consummate trapeze artist, packs a lot in life that he provides each artistic soul a complicated. “I’m a traveller too,” he says, revealing his versatile persona.

He was in Delhi in his stage-avatar to launch the upcoming IHC Theatre Festival with his newest manufacturing Tumhare Baare Mein, a potent, poetic tackle modern-day relationships the place males wish to be penguins and ladies dream of changing into a chicken who can fly. It is concerning the cages males create for girls and the centuries of patriarchy and self-denial that ladies battle to interrupt free from. Provocative and poignant with dollops of sharp humour, the story revolves round a couple sitting in a cafe interacting with their previous and future variations.

Manav says Delhi has a “style for theatre” and every time he writes a new play, he’s anxious for a response from the Capital’s viewers. “More than my reputation as an actor, folks come to my performs due to my books. I really feel the social media fad will finally cross and children will return to literature.” Before he flies off to Himachal Pradesh for one more two-month journey and writing stint, we catch up with him backstage to speak about his craft and issues.

Manav Kaul in ‘Tumhara Baare Mein’

Manav Kaul in ‘Tumhara Baare Mein’
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Edited excerpts:

The play has a distinctly feminist voice. How did it take form?


I don’t know why however of late, I’ve been solely studying feminine writers. I discover them complicated, lovely, and manner forward of up to date male writers. I just lately learn The Beekeeper of Aleppo. It captures the harrowing expertise of a Syrian refugee, Nuri, who’s attempting to succeed in London. When I completed the guide, I felt I ought to learn extra books by the writer and came upon that Christy Lefteri is a girl. I mentioned thank god she gave me this mild in order that I may method writing from a gender-neutral perspective. While musing over what made her write, I began conceiving this play.

It can also be influenced by the ladies in my life, significantly my mom. They had been amazingly proficient however couldn’t do something substantial. The second I believed I used to be writing for my mom, every part fell into place. She was a proficient particular person caught in the course of nowhere. Of course, our shifting from Kashmir to her father’s dwelling in Hoshangabad had a position however it was extra about how my father was and the way in a patriarchal society a girl can solely fly throughout the partitions of the home.

When males reminisce about their moms solely due to the style of their dal that they miss, it exhibits that we’ve got decreased the ladies in our lives to the kitchen. I’ve seen grandmothers who haven’t felt the solar for weeks. The patriarchy is in my DNA and I used to be like different males after I was in my small city and used to assume that is the way in which society runs. So it’s a form of apology letter.

So, you practise what you say within the play…


These are clever actors and so they gained’t let me do that if I don’t practise it. They argue about every part. I put myself of their scenario. In a manner, the three ladies within the play inform my story. How I used to be caged on the opposite facet. It is the 2 sides of the identical coin.

You are a author, director, and actor and you’ve gotten saved two separate Instagram accounts to have interaction with followers of your literary and cinematic pursuits


They complement one another with out having a corrupting affect on each other. If you see my path on stage, it comes from cinema. I’ve a fondness for cinematic path and in contrast to the favored notion, I strongly consider that theatre is a director’s medium. My playwriting comes from literature. I don’t conceive a play after studying one other playwright’s work. These days I’m exploring how phrases can create a picture.

And performing?


After not performing on stage for 12-13 years, after I was supplied Kai Po Che, it was tough to consider myself as an actor. Before that, each time I noticed a movie script, I’d begin discovering faults in it. But, regularly, I began discovering performing therapeutic and started to take pleasure in. I have a look at performing as remedy.

Looking again, I can say performing glad a financial requirement as properly however, extra importantly, it proved to be a nice vent. It remains to be very tough for me to be directed on stage. In cinema, I fully give up. I’m strict whereas directing so I wish to be my director’s actor. However, I proceed to be picky. I take lengthy breaks to journey and write books. This is how I might say no to damaging roles after Kai Po Che and Wazir and waited until I might break the mould in Tumhari Sulu.

Now in movies and OTT collection, you might be solid reverse robust feminine actors and nonetheless make your presence felt…


Yes, Priyanka Chopra, Vidya Balan, Madhuri Dixit, and Shefali Shah! With such expertise, you simply have to face and act. I did my first play in 1993. If I don’t do issues of a sure normal, I higher depart (laughs).

Being a Kashmiri, whose household was compelled emigrate on the peak of militancy within the late Nineteen Eighties, how do you have interaction with your private home State and the altering socio-political ecosystem?


I really feel blessed that I used to be born in Baramulla, grew up in Hoshangabad, did theatre in Bhopal, and expressed myself in Mumbai. It has made me a one who can dwell wherever. In my head, my Kashmir and its perfume could be very completely different. I solely work together with my picture of Kashmir and it’s nonetheless stunningly lovely. I’ve expressed my engagement with Kashmir in my travelogue Rooh. I am going to Kashmir and work together with my mates and other people at a person degree and they’re so giving. That’s how we’re surviving.

When you journey throughout the nation, you realise we’re so bizarrely completely different however nonetheless dwell collectively. There are a lot of issues on this world that I don’t agree with however I can’t go and alter the world. I prefer to see the world as it’s. I’m right here for a quick interval and wish to inject solely love and peace by way of my work.

What’s subsequent?


I’m doing the title position in one of many craziest Netflix collection. It is extra industrial and funnier than something I’ve accomplished up to now. I normally don’t audition however right here I supplied myself to be examined earlier than taking the plunge. Then there’s a movie written by Twinkle Khanna. I’ve accomplished all of the heavy lifting with my writing, I wish to dance now!

Manav Kaul in ‘Tumhare Baare Mein’

Manav Kaul in ‘Tumhare Baare Mein’
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The line-up

The pageant options 12 performs, a guide dialogue, a 35mm screening of a movie on Indian theatre, workshops, and interactions.

A double-bill of performs by Ranga Shankara’s AHA!, EE Gida, AA Mara (This plant, That plant), and Chippi, The Chipkali 

Akarsh Khurana’s The Verdict, Shikha Talsania and Prerna Chawla’s Dekh Behen 2, and Victor Thoudam and Bimal Subedi’s The Departed Dawn. 

 Theatre veteran Makrand Deshpande’s Siachen and Jyoti Dogra’s Maas

Faezeh Jalali’s Afterflies; Saurabh Nayyar’s Golden Jubilee, and Jabbar Patel’s Indian Theatre.

( At the India Habitat Centre, LodhiRoad; September 22 to October 1; 7 pm each day)

Manav Kaul in ‘Tumhare Baare Mein’

Manav Kaul in ‘Tumhare Baare Mein’
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

. .