Remember prancing around in front of the mirror, mimicking famous dialogues or even enacting scenes of the plays you studied at school? Wasn't that the best way you could learn what a character felt and why a protagonist behaved the way he/she did? Teachers who taught literature often used this technique to make students understand the various aspects of the play. Today moving beyond the confines of classrooms and school auditoriums, these very plays and those working in it have grown far more than imagined.
The club hub
College clubs and student associations have always been a hub of college life. More than in the classrooms,students are found here and more than the lectures what matters to them is the countless hours of planning, discussing and even arguing about upcoming events. Those in a drama club at any college swear by the fact that it is here where they get to meet people, both like minded and those with different opinions, but even in those differences forge lasting friendships while they become a group, working towards a common goal.
"I definitely believe that joining the drama team was one of the best things to have happened during my college years," says Monali Joshi, an ex-student of Mithibai College. "After stepping out of the secured lifestyle of school, it was with my teammates that I found comfort. The entire effort of putting together a play—beginning from which play to perform, the actors, supporting backstage volunteers; every person on the team plays an important role for a smooth running right up to the end," she explains.
All those who are and have ever participated in any drama activity will remember the pre event preparation. "Though I was not a part of the team, I would often help friends to make posters, banners etc and so got to experience all the frenzy," says Suyash Soni, a student.
The different hues
In a city like ours which had so many languages fit into itsever shrinking boundaries, colleges too boast of various drama clubs based on linguistics. The Mithibai Drama Club for instance is famous for its Hindi plays. The club has won over 17 trophies in a duration of just one year. Similarly Sathaye has its foot firmly on the Marathi stage.
Another dynamic Marathi theatre group is Ruia College's Natyavalya. Members who are students with similar interests, and the sheer love for the stage coordinate Marathi plays and take part in inter college, state and national level competitions.Both Sathaye and Ruia are regular at winning the coveted Indian National Theatre's inter-collegiate Marathi play competition. As with various clubs the drama club has gone through changes. The Sophia College English Dramatics Association (SCEDA) is one such a club. One would expect the Sceda members to participate in the different college competitions and festivals, but actually it conducts only two plays annually. "We have a different committee which looks into participation at various college competitions, so when our college wants to participate that committee conducts auditions of Sceda members and chooses the team," says Shreya Shridar, the club secretary. The club however holds a lot of workshops and sessions that include, script writing, book appreciation and so on. "What is unique is the Sceda legacy," says Shreya, "it is a book which contains lists of plays/ short plays and addresses of where you can get the published versions. This is handed over by the out going club secretary to the new one."
The days gone by... and what has changed
Swati Wagh, a professor and cultural club coordinator at Sathaye College remembers her days as a student, "I remember that when I was a student of Sathaye I was a part of the Marathi Natya Vibhag (it exists even today) and how with keenness we performed at various events." Wagh reminisces about how topics like a simple love story were a little too bold for the society then.
According to Wagh a lot has changed since the time she took the stage. "Today children are bold enough to address difficult issues in the society. Topics like homosexuality, effect of reality shows, child labour on television etc have been performed by collegians at various fests held throughout the year.
"Today I am on the other side of the fence and I realise the ups and downs that students have to face while they pursue club activities," says Wagh. Preparing for any college fest or competition needs a lot of planning and time. Students sometimes have to stay back late in the evenings, travel outstation at times, and even miss lectures. Students however are not complaining. "One can catch up with studies once you are back to academics, but the joy of performing and winning a competition is too huge to forgo," says Pranav Nair, a student.
Even as Wagh appreciates the enthusiasm of the new generation, she feels they are not able to give 100% to the task at hand. "Why only drama or any college club, today's youth is busy doing 10 things at one time. Friends, social life, television not to forget academic pressures leave little or no time for them to cultivate basic hobbies like reading even trying to write something, she says adding, "This year we have urged students to come up with original scripts for the forthcoming competitions."
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