The Enigma of Passion


By Lalit Hira

Scene from Antigone ; Image  Source: The Hindu
Apartfrom theatre and films, he had a keen interest in all arts and wanted toinitiate people into appreciating art. He once wrote, ‘Samajhne ki koshish matt kijiye, ras lijiye’ (Do not try to understandthe arts, just experience them), remembers veteran theatre artiste UtkarshMazumdar. “This ‘enfant terrible’ of Indian theatre loved to experiment and wasnever at ease with a stereotype presentation of a play.”



Somepeople one may never want to forget. How difficult is it to write about anindividual one never knew in person? Contrarily, can we really understand aperson even if we spend a lifetime together?
Scene from Pratibimb ; Image Source: Mid-Day
Itfeels somewhat strange to be penning my thoughts about a person I haveappreciated all my life; watched from a distance, admired his works fromvarious angles, bumped into him even; but never really got an opportunity totalk to him, although I desperately wanted to; but, frankly even if I had beenintroduced to him, I would have never known what to say to him. 

Scene from  Hayavadana ; Image Source: Mid-Day
Becausein my mind, I always wondered whether he was an artist or a designerperhaps?  His was a flow of creativitythat edged out the chaff from the grain and focussed on the finer aspects ofthat single grain in a manner that called attention to its existence per se. Itwas his abstractionism that fascinated me the most. Perhaps a freedom that Ihave seen artists enjoy and that I envy as a designer.

Image Source: Dvdblurayreviews.com

Iguess the stage was as much his second home, as it was his first love and hisbaby; as his profession was not just his passion but a part of his everybreath, he seemed so deep an individual... like is said, “one cannot measurethe depth of the ocean nor uncover the stretch of the horizon”. In reality theworld knew of him as a renowneddirector, actor and playwright, a strong personality from the Indian performing artsfraternity – celebrated genius Pandit Satyadev Dubeyji.

Receiving Padma Bhushan from President Pratibha Patil
in 2011 ; Image Source: PTI News
Tome, his style of storytelling was just so unusual, and always in context with‘today’, as if silently proclaiming that this man’s mind was revolving with thespeed of time. As Mazumdar reiterates, “A minimalist, he laid emphasis on wordsand performance. Girish Karnad’s Hayavadandirected by him, is an apt example of his style. This play received ravereviews. One reviewer even said that it was a colourful production; and thatwhen the play had only a black curtain as a backdrop and simple lighting designto illuminate performing areas. Such was the impact of Satyadev’s direction.”

Scene from Aadhe Adhure ; Image Source: pravingunjan.blogspot.com  
Asalways, standing one among many in the audience, I participate in the sharingof my last applause for this individual, whom I now will never know more ofthan the picture that I have in my mind.   

Late Shri PanditSatyadev Dubeyji ; Image Source: IBN Live
   
Scene from Khuda Ke Liye Mat Dekhna ; Image Source: Mid-Day


Comments

  1. When it comes to innovation, passion is certainly very important and it can be even argued that it is critical to success. Innovation is heavy lifting to produce a truly successful product.
    Passion means a high level of engagement. When engaged, we tend to be able to tap into our very best abilities, including higher levels of creativity and resourcefulness.
    Having said that, passion is hard to come by. Often people want to hedge their bets so hold back.
    Passion done right in innovation does not mean unconditional commitment to an idea. For me, it means giving it my very best while periodically checking in to see if any idea is worthy of continued effort. Passion balanced by discriminating judgment tends to be a good and successful combination.
    By Richard Haasnoot ☛ i2Ge ☛ Chief Innovator on linkedin Group:Innovation People Expert Innovators Creative Network.

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  2. Well said Richard. I have often experienced passion as the innate driving force whether for an innovation or in any creative exercise. It is indeed instrumental in determining the success ratio of a project/product whatever.
    By Lalit Hira on linkedin Group:Innovation People Expert Innovators Creative Network.

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