Preetam Koilpillai’s comeback to theatre is the talk of the town. “I don’t like the word ‘comeback’,” Preetam says. So we settle with Preetam “returns to theatre” with Yasmina Reza’s God Of Carnage to be staged at Jagriti. What explains his long break from theatre? “I stopped because it was getting too much. I was directing one play after another. Everything became a blur. I was losing focus and passion. It took me this much time to direct a play. I chose to direct Reza’s God Of Carnage because I really wanted to.”
Preetam has approached God Of Carnage in a considered way. “The play is similar to Reza’s Art , which I directed some years ago. With God of Carnage I held back a little. I have kept it tightly controlled. The script has very insightful satire, it is not a gag line sort of play. It’s funny in parts and almost sad in parts.”
God Of Carnage is about two pairs of parents and a scuffle between their children. The play has been made into a film by Italian director Roman Polanski, titled Carnage . Though Preetam has watched the film, he wasn’t influenced by it while directing the play. “If you are learning a piece of music, you should not get influenced by another person’s style. It’s the same with theatre.”
Known for directing quality productions, The DisposalFilthKamala Preetam says that a lot more is happening in English theatre in Bangalore than before. “When I first started out, there were only a handful of theatre enthusiasts. Now a lot of young people are doing interesting stuff in theatre, from where different productions and better styles will emerge.”
Talking about the creative process, Preetam says, “I have a talented and intelligent cast. They are sensitive and intuitive to the script. The graph of the play has been arrived at by discussing it. The process has been collaborative. ” The cast comprises Sharanya Ramprakash, Deepika Arwind, Kanchan Bhattacharyya and Rajeev Ravindranathan.
Away from theatre, Preetam pursued his other interests: music and films. “I did a documentary film Passport Photos and performed with Dr. L. Subramaniam.”
Presented by Black Coffee Productions, God Of Carnage will be staged on February 1 and 2 at 8 p.m. and February 3 at 3 and 6.30 p.m. at Jagriti Theatre, Whitefield. Tickets are available at the venue and www.bookmyshow.com.
