A cornea abrasion also couldn’t stop Shreyas Talpade from looking at the brighter side of the lockdown. He is looking far down the road and has taken upon himself to revive the theatre industry. He wants it to be within the reach of the general public, especially the older segment. This would not be done only for now when people are inside their houses but also in the post-COVID-19 world. The beauty of theatre shows is that it is performed live, and Shreyas doesn’t want to destroy this essence. Hence, he plans to bring the shows online.
“For now, we will have to record the shows because venues might not be available. But later, we will live-stream, so someone living in another part of the world can also watch a local play. It might just become the new normal,” He explains.
In this initiative, he already has the support from Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, politician Vinod Tawde, and members of the Marathi film and theatre fraternity.
“They are right in being concerned about returns, but right now they are not earning anything. This way, even if they make half the money, it will be something. And out-of-work technicians and actors will also earn a livelihood, and with online exposure, they might become known names,” he reasons.
However, Shreyas is approaching things in a practical way and is ready for whatever fruit it bears. A few Marathi plays have been shortlisted, and he is now seeking permission from an auditorium owned by the Maharashtra Natya Parishad in Matunga, to record these plays. With Shreyas’s enthusiasm, the show producers would too get added in the list soon.
Shreyas says, adding that to compete with OTT shows, a multi-camera setup that will add depth and character to an otherwise one-dimensional stage, to be used. “We want theatre aficionados to remain loyal to the medium,” he sums up.
