Positive about starting his new innings on stage, years after metamorphosing as the reigning star of Tollywood, Prosenjit Chatterjee says if approached by friend-playwright-minister Bratya Basu he is ready for the 'no re-take role' before live audience.
"I had an innings on stage years back at Star Theatre. The live audience feel is one thing you never forget once you go through the experience. I am willing to start another innings under the direction of one of the most gifted playwrights of Bengal if sounded by him," the Chokher Bali actor told PTI after inaugurating the Dumdum Natyamela here.
Prosenjit, who had turned up in Bratya's debut directorial film Tara, said celluloid and stage are both performing arts but the forms may be different.
A smiling Bratya, whose 'Winkle Twinkle' first took the stage by storm followed by Ruddhasangeet, said, "I am all for Prosenjit Chatterjee coming back to theatre once again. I have to think about his roles. But I wish he could give me dates."
Prosenjit, the true global ambassador of content-rich Bengali films and passionate about the change-over, said as entwined identities, the Bengali cinema and theatre should go hand in hand and If there is a glo0balisation of Bengali films, "There has to be a globalization of our theatres." .
"As I pass through the areas, I can sense there is a buzz of festivities, events everywhere, around. This shows the resurgent image of Bengal which can turn as the entertainment hub," he said.
"But I am suggesting Bratyo host a National Drama Festival here from next year," he said.
On the prospect of Bengali theatre, the group theatre movement, taking global proportion, Bratya said "Unfortunately Bengali theatre is still region-boud, language-bound."
"Perhaps it has to do with our own mindset which fails to accord the same recognition to our playwrights as we see their counterparts getting in south.Have we been able to confer the due recognition to a powerful playwright like Arpita Ghosh (director of the widely-acclaimed Poshukhamar) .
"For the Bengali theatre getting name and fame, we first need to accord due respect to our own figures and give them iconic status," he said.
"We must accord due respect to our theatres. We must not make theatre watching free for public, Theatre like the other performing art needs a price tag. One has to pay a price for watching plays" he said
The 'natyo utsab' schedule consisted five plays - from 'Cinemar Mato' directed by Bratya, considered one of the most powerful and original playwrights of our times, to the everpopular 'Sajano Bagan' by thespian, playwright Manjo Mitrra.
