Posts tagged troupe

Sameera speaks about her ‘unforgettable’ Patna experience

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

Sameera Reddy recalls her nightmarish escape from mob fury at a live concert in Patna. The incident has also sparked off a battle between Bhojpuri actors Ravi Kishan and Manoj Tiwari

Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 21, 2010)

This was her first visit to Patna and it turned out to be an unforgettable one for all the wrong reasons. On Sunday evening the actress flew down with her entourage in a private jet to perform for a live show in the largest open-air venue in Bihar, the Gandhi Maidan.

The function was organised by a local television channel. What happened there is an experience Sameera would never forget and neither would her anxious parents in Mumbai, who kept calling her to check if she had boarded a flight back home.

The actress spoke her heart out to Mumbai Mirror. “I flew down to Patna on Saturday to perform at the channel’s show. I had never been to the city. And I must say I loved the people and the place.

At the venue my troupe and I were waiting backstage when suddenly I heard about commotion in the audience.

At first I thought they were just excited but within minutes, I was told that the situation was beginning to get out of hand.”

But the actress was still resolved to go on stage and perform until she heard that people from the audience had broken the barricade around a secluded section to get a closer look at the stage. Sameera says, “They were breaking chairs, pelting stones and setting the barricades on fire.

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I always enjoyed entertaining-Omkar Das

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2 years ago
by Fenil Seta in

Theater actor Omkar Das has come a long way from Bhilai to Mumbai bringing raw folk talent to the fore

Divashri Sinha (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 08, 2010)

Omkar Das, aka Natha, brings his raw and rustic charm to the Mumbai screens, courtesy Peepli Live. Given his pedigree in theatre, he almost sets the tone of his first feature film.

How did you start out in theatre?

I started theatre full-time in the year 2000. Until then, I was a folk singer and used to travel with my troupe of 30-odd singers in Chattisgarh. I always enjoyed entertaining, so theatre came naturally.

How did Peepli Live happen?

I was auditioning for another project in Bhopal when the writer and director saw me and wanted me to audition for Natha. I got the lead role immediately. I never expected it.

How did it feel being on a film set, with untrained actors and a big crew?

Oh, that was something! From street performances and folk songs to big lights, cameras, etc; I was very intimidated. But the director was very helpful.

She asked me to ignore the cameras and be as natural as possible. After the first day, I concentrated on everything else except the camera and soon got over the hesitation.

How popular is theatre in villages now? How much has Bollywood managed to influence its style and subject?

People usually enjoy the song and dance routines much more than staged drama.

Even though the issues may be relevant, naatak is expected to have more entertainment than anything else. There More >

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