It began as an acknowledgment of their alumni's achievements. Now, the National School of Drama awards instituted in 2004 slowly moves to recognise aspects of theatre rarely given their due. At the recent convocation at the premier drama school in the country, four of their past students were felicitated. Interestingly, their achievements touch upon arenas which are the backbone of theatre, but largely invisible.
“The idea was to look at different kinds of distinction and contributions to the field of theatre,” says Anuradha Kapur, Director, NSD. The B.V. Karanth Smriti Puraskar were given to Kirti Jain for her contribution to theatre training and exploring “socially relevant aspects” in her works, as well as to Syed Jamil Ahmad from Bangladesh for the scholar, designer and director that he is. Manohar Singh Smriti Puraskar went to veteran actor Uttara Baokar for theatre training and acting and to Sanjay Upadhyay for his involvement in the field of theatre music and direction.
If the NSD awards to its alumni earlier focussed on fields like acting, direction and even lighting, now they show an urge to move beyond the obvious. “We should focus on areas that are the backbone of theatre but are not immediately visible,” says Kapur. Hence, pedagogy became a significant new addition to the categories considered for awards. Theatre training and methods, often discarded to the sidelines, now finds itself in the mainstream. “Theatre pedagogy, children's theatre, playwright, theatre music, stagecraft, costumes”, all come under the ambit of recognition now.
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The academic council of the school also took the decision to give away the awards during the convocation and when the annual festival is underway as it was previously done. “Then there is a degree of giving and receiving and it becomes part of looking at contributions. It also is about finding the bone structures of theatre,” says Kapur. The awards would be given every two years and carries a citation and cash prize of Rs. one lakh.
This year's award recipient Jain, recalls the major contribution made to theatre training by stalwarts like Ebrahim Alkazi and B.V Karanth. “People when looking at areas of expertise and specialisation tend to feel those who are not able to perform get into teaching,” she says. Jain has been felicitated for her contributions as a teacher as well as for her work as a director. “Theatre practise and pedagogy can go hand in hand, but it is not necessary. Like a good theatre critic need not be a practitioner. Teaching is about temperament and communication,” says Jain.
Upadhyay says the recognition has spurred him on with “new energy.” Felicitated for his contribution to theatre music and direction, Upadhyay is known for his plays like “Company Ustad' and “Neel Kanth Nirala.” The award, he says, is “a recognition of the tradition of theatre music as well as the theatre culture of Bihar.”
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