Darshan Purohit: “Dramatic Arts, a stepping stone to film industry”

INTERVIEW: Darshan Purohit, Associate Professor, Dramatic Arts, MSU Baroda.  Dr Darshan Purohit, Associate Professor in Dramatic Arts at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (MSU), Gujarat, India, is currently in Mauritius. Dr Purohit, who set up the very first department of Dramatic Arts in Mauritius, is in talks with the authorities for the implementation of a fully-fledged BA programme. He explains to News on Sunday the importance of dramatic arts in our local cultural policy.

Dr Purohit, please tell us about your project in Mauritius.

I left Mauritius in July 2013 after a successful completion of the first Diploma Programme in Dramatic Arts at the Rabindranath Tagore Institute. The first batch of diplomas in Dramatic Arts was awarded in September 2013 to 23 students. I am now working on how to set up a degree programme.

What was the response to the Diploma Programme?

Seeing 25 students enrolling for the first ever batch shows some enthusiasm as far as theatre is concerned. There was a good mix of men and women, between the ages of 20 and 55. This included 9 officers from the Ministry of Arts and Culture, a few school teachers, private sector professionals and young students. The duration was 2 years. However, there was no second batch. I wrote to the RTI and MGI, as in the present circumstances, it is more than relevant to pursue it. Most of the diploma holders are ready to go for the BA Degree.

But what are the obstacles then?

I wouldn’t talk about obstacles. It is a self financed course as students will be paying. The course will be carried out in collaboration with the University of Mauritius which is the awarding body. The Registrar is optimistic that this could happen and I am here to offer my services. The curriculum and the syllabus are already done. Only the procedures and the structure need to be set up.

The government wants to promote the film industry. How can Dramatic Arts help?

I am already in talks with the Mauritius Film Development Corporation and their response is very positive. Next year, we plan to shoot a Marathi film in Mauritius and we will need Mauritian actors. But drama is what can mould actors. To boost the local film industry, I think the MFDC is in a good position to provide a linkage between the film industry and the arts. After all, if you look into the history of television and cinema, you will find it is deeply grounded in theatre. Very famous Indian actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, Paresh Rawal, Shreyas Talpade, Manoj Bajpai, Ashutosh Rana or even Anupam Kher have a theatre background. The beginning is theatre and eventually you climb the pedestal to television and films. As such, theatre needs to be developed at various levels.

How will the setting up of BA programme helps?

With the BA programme, we will be having necessary human resources, well trained and capable to further undertake capacity building. For example, I note that in the Nine-year-schooling project, provision is made to teach arts and drama but we need to ensure that there are enough qualified teachers. There must therefore be training institutions. The programme is also the stepping stone to a creative arts industry.

How does Dramatic Arts contribute to society?

Theatre is a medium which can create awareness in society by bringing several issues to the fore, whether social, religious, economic, cultural, etc. Drama can be used to sensitise the youth on social ills. It also boosts individual reasoning by giving a platform for ideas. Economic development and cultural development go hand in hand. Arts is both continuity and change. Through arts, traditions continue while society changes! Drama doesn’t mean we keep reenacting what happens 200 years ago. It becomes repetitive and this is what causes the audience to lose interest, as they are being made to see what they already know. With drama, you must surprise and shock people, to initiate critical thinking. On the economic side, jobs can be created for commercial theatre. But for this to succeed, there should first be an audience for Dramatic Arts. To achieve this, we must create an interest in the minds of people. The concept also fits in the ‘Knowledge Hub’ agenda of the Government of Mauritius. In future, we can have various exchange programmes with arts institutions abroad.

How is drama different from films?

Theatre is the only medium where creation happens right in front of the audience’s eyes. Theatre experience is indeed of a different kind and remains an actor’s medium, contrary to film which is a director’s medium. Once the curtain opens, the director loses his significance and the actor is the driver.

What are your future plans in Mauritius?

I feel that the first department which has come up must continue its good work. We have to be progressive in our thinking and all institutions concerned should come together to promote theatre activities. This form of art is also important for development and communications skills in students. The aim is not only to become actors or teachers but Dramatic Arts help personal development for professionals in any field of activity. A solid foundation in dramatic arts and theatre will leverage an interesting breakthrough into the film industry, which is an emerging sector for Mauritius.

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BIO

Darshan Purohit has more than 15 years teaching experience at undergraduate and postgraduate level in the realm of theoretical and practical aspects of Dramatic Arts, both Indian and Western. He is also qualified in the Indian classical dance style Bharatanatyam. His areas of specialization are: Dramatics (Indian and Western) and Indian classical dance Bharatanatyam, Actor/Director, academician and performer/choreographer as well as Resource Person in Film Making. Dr Purohit has received various Gold Medals in his career, and also been conferred various titles and awards.