The life of contemporary Hindi theatre director, actor, playwright and artist Bhanu Bharti, who has to his credit over 100 productions like "Andha Yug" and "Tughlaq", is now out in a new book.
The book "The Theatre of Bhanu Bharti: A New Perspective" by theatre critic Diwan Singh Bajeli and published by Niyogi Books was launched here late last evening.
"Bhanu Bharti is the first person who comes to mind when we talk about folk art and theatre in Delhi. Now, I definitely know more his importance in the theatre scene of the country." Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit said at the launch.
The tome, traces Bharti's experiences, beginning with his poetic and theatre endeavours in the wake of political awakening in India.
Several chapters also elucidate his early life, poetic endeavours, bitter-sweet experiences at the National School of Drama (NSD), in Japan where he learnt Japanese theatre - Noh and Kabuki and most importantly his inclination to Gavari, the bheel theatre.
"Having imbibed various forms, Bharti has created his own theatre idiom. He has produced around 100 plays, of which I have critiqued more than 60," Diwan Singh Bajeli told PTI.
"Thus I had a thorough idea about the themes he focuses on in his plays" he said.
The idea to pen Bharti's experiences in theatre came as a part of a senior fellowship Bajeli was granted by the Culture Ministry three years ago.
"I knew from the very beginning that Bhanu Bharti's theatrical endeavours would be the idea of my book. He is one of the theatre personalities whose creations are imbued with a social meaning," the author said.
The book, claims to offer new insights into Bharti's works and chronologically describes his experiences, journey and growth in the Indian theatre scene.
"Bharti is an artist endowed with an intense desire to experiment, to recreate something new and relevant to the Indian situation...In 1975, he had a chance to watch a 4000 year-old tribal theatre performance while he was conducting a workshop.
"I heard the beat of a madal-the brass plate. The instruments were accompaniments of a Bheel theatre performance call Gavari. I saw some of it and it impressed me. I thought it needs an in-depth study to understand this theatre" writes the author.
What followed next on Gavari theatre was Bharti's production of "Pashu Gayatri" by K N Panikkar based on his interaction with the Bheels.
"It is a rare creative work which a synthesis between tribal theatre form and modern theatrical art to reflect contemporary sensibility," Bajeli said.
