After two decades away from the footlights, Kannada film and television actor Rajesh Nataranga is returning to the stage — not merely to revisit an old love, but to rediscover himself as a performer. Years spent in the world of cinema and television had gradually settled into a familiar rhythm, and with familiarity came a sense of monotony. Theatre, however, had never quite left his thoughts. For the past few years, he had been contemplating a return, waiting for the moment when the pull of the stage became impossible to ignore.
Now, he is ready to step into the light once again with Maley Nilluvavarege , directed by Sharath Parvathavani, which is set to be staged on September 17 at Chowdiah Memorial Hall. Because we are bound or directed by the director or anybody who is navigating us through the character, “There is less space for us outside theatre, for actors especially, if you are a thinking actor, to communicate in films or television,.
Monotony drives me to do all these things,” he says, adding, “I’ve been constantly doing television work. “It gives a lot of confidence because you work in all aspects of theatre — arranging the sets, lighting, music, understanding the other actor,” he says. In an interview with Bangalore Times , he opens up about what drew him back to theatre, the challenges of performing live, and why he believes every actor should experience the stage. Excerpts: “For quite some time, I was thinking of doing a play, especially for the last two or three years. So, I just wanted to check if I still have that energy or memory power to sustain what the stage requires. His years in cinema and television have also changed his understanding of performance. The difference becomes particularly apparent when it comes to mistakes. “In cinema, you have a dubbing process. You can patch up whatever mistakes you have made. And in television serials, it’s sync sound, so we have lapel mics. The smallest of whispers are also heard. ‘I can’t choose between theatre, cinema or television’ After moving between theatre, television and cinema, Rajesh is still clear about what gives him the greatest creative satisfaction. However, Rajesh believes theatre should be part of an actor’s learning process, particularly for those starting out. “It’s a basic schooling that gives a lot of confidence when you face the camera. I urge all the young people wanting to become actors to go do theatre first. ”