Three Cheers to our Cultural Club. After one and a half years in this college I can speak of participation in several fests and events that have led to my identity as an established actor in my Institute. I thank the club for the opportunities I was given and express gratitude especially to those seniors who took the initiative to start this platform due to which we could showcase our talent and deliver classical performances on stage.
Drama has always been a passion for me and the determination to perform well has ensured I give my best on every stage I step on to. I can attribute the success in my performances to patience, perseverance and the long hours of practice with a goal to get better and better with each take. Thanks to that, Dr. Prem Khurana, Bhalu Fasad Yadav, Lala Ji and ACP Pradyuman have been successes and widely acclaimed.
Nevertheless, I cannot deny the constructive feedback and quality advices from my co-actors that have prevented me from committing many blunders. With the Institute we are bonded to for three precious years of our lives being so adamant on maintaining its ‘Scrooge’ image, it’s all left for us to do ourselves, being deprived of expert assistance that our competitors enjoy. Yet I say we can be proud of what we have achieved. With a podium finish to our name in majority of the events we have been part of, no one can deny what a talented pool we are. With the indication of how much more we can achieve if we are provided some more support from ‘You-know-who’. But we have no option rather than cribbing and continuing to be independent.
Sadly, the truth is much uglier. We have learnt in our childhood in the numerous stories and moral values lessons about looking at oneself before pointing a finger at anyone else. This is just the mistake the club has committed. While the verdict regarding the Management woes may be unanimous, and completely justified, what is the credibility of the current post holders? I strictly speak in terms of management and responsibility, not talent. Least to say is that the way the club has been running after the retirement of the predecessors is absolutely preposterous. With an astonishing number of five people at the helm of just the drama segment, with their mentalities in four different directions, we can imagine why the condition of the drama team is so pathetic.
Although the club was under constant criticism by other clubs and committees alike regarding politics and the President a deemed ‘autocrat’, no one could question the commitment of the then heads of the respective departments and the manner of function. Though still flawed in many ways, it had tied the team together and ensured that everyone gave activity the top-most priority rather than vested interests and ego clashes.
Needless to say, the day they left, so did this culture. Slowly, the club moved towards a downfall, the evidence being that the recent Delhi fest was the first time the drama team failed to qualify in any of the events. Not only was it a disappointing end to a satisfactory run of decent results given the constraints, but also a blessing in disguise for our dear old ‘well-wishers’ to take another jibe at us, that too when they crave for such opportunities.
But what else can we expect when the people at the helm are at loggerheads, so much to question one another’s integrity as well as seeking their ousting from the post? While one questions the selection of another, the other accuses the third of trying to be authoritative. Is this the attitude with which we dream of making a mark at the National level? I disagree. At a time when all should be sitting together and discussing what went wrong and planning a revival, what we see is finger-pointing and the natural blame-game.
I wonder if it is difficult to comprehend that we being part of the same contingent and traveling with a single purpose should be a united party. Things go wrong when one distinguishes his or her responsibility from another’s. And that’s when a division starts taking place.
It is disheartening to see the way things are conducted. No sensible dramatist in this world will have the slightest hope of even performing five percent of his potential if the script is not ready till the day of the performance. With such an established committee in place is it really difficult to get three scripts ready with more than a month and a half in hand? So much that work should stay incomplete till the last day and characters should be switched at the eleventh hour to accommodate last minute changes? On a normal course when teams are ready with their plans well in advance and having mastered their roles well in time for the big day, I see no reason that the situation for us to sacrifice an entire night’s sleep should arise by any means. I do not call that drama; I call it a disgraceful attitude towards theatre.
Moreover, if discipline is that integral to the success of the team and indiscipline intolerable, then why do we still see people coming up to three hours late for a rehearsal with all the excuses in the world from illness to the visit by a relative during those very hours and getting away with it and then all authority and strictness coming out on the day of the performance?
In a place where everyone is supposed to be equal, if the ones with authority take undue advantage and indulge in unprofessional behaviour, there is no reason for the others to tolerate such ill-treatment. If one doesn’t have the attitude to accept suggestions and changes that could better the set-up, such a bullish individual has no right to be given any role. I would say the same for a person who would rather exercise his or her right to stay silent; reserving all differences in opinion to be thrust once a mistake has been committed.
Whoever has the courage to accept the truth will agree that we by no means deserved to even perform at such a level, let alone dream of qualifying. There are many areas where we lack, in some cases unaware of knowledge. It surprises me that instead of working on that, more attention is paid to take up authority and have one’s way. When the newcomers questioned me as to the functioning of the club, I could hardly express surprise that the question did arise. All I could answer is they better get used to it if they are here to stay. I had decided though, that enough is enough and I wouldn’t want to be where time and energy are wasted to no avail. When they come across and ask me why I am no more to be seen at the events or auditions, the reasons are quite clear. I have not ruled out working with the drama team completely in the future, but surely not for some time now. One thing’s for sure; if we have to make a mark and get back to the good old days, we have to bid farewell to politics and ego. But if the focus lies on whose head the ‘Taj’ is, we can very well expect the sorry days to continue.
Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story.
ReplyDeleteCheers !!!
I completely agree with a lot of your points Siddhant. We can’t just go on blaming the management for all our failures. Sure, the lack of support is a graver issue than those who already have it can ever imagine, but there are things that we can make better, and we should. But I don’t think questioning the responsibilities of the drama segment leads to any answers, or for that matter, questions. You say that the way club has been running after the retirement of the predecessors, the management of the team in terms of handling responsibility has diminished? It is completely the other way round if you look at it.
ReplyDeleteWith due respect to everyone, especially all our seniors who taught us so much, and because of whom we actually have Montage, I’ll draw your attention to a very small example. If you’ve taken part in the recent fests, you’ll know that the number of people coming late has diminished. Earlier, we had our directors of the play and the lead actors turning up more than 2 hours late without any prior notice (My first ever experience at the workshop) and comparatively, this year, actors or not, at least the representatives of the team are always there. As for the mentalities of the drama team member going in four different directions, and all the politics that exists, may I remind you that it was majorly the predecessors who actually selected those heads. They didn’t jump out of their own accord, like those in our first ever Management fest have (who, and when will question their authority?).
As for the scripts, if you know how great the selection of the team is (courtesy our founders again), there are only two members of the team that I have seen who actually shoulder some responsibility and come up with scripts. To expect them alone to write scripts, direct the plays, co-ordinate as the CLs and the ACLs, I think is inhumanly unfair. Instead of writing this blog and criticising their lack of script, you could have just sat down and written one, knowing that more than half of the drama team doesn’t even care what our play is all about. We all know that scripts outside the team are always appreciated and, if good enough, executed (as we saw with magnificent result in Sympulse 2010 Street Play). And you talk about the eleventh hour changes this year? We had that last year too, with Kshitij if you remember. We won, that was mere luck!
The problem with us is that we are too busy pointing out others’ faults to try and rectify some of them, or even lend a helping hand. I would, if I had any experience at writing scripts. As for the failure in the Delhi fest compared to our last year’s performance, it was not the solid management that we lost that led us to it, it was the loss of a wonderful and to-the-brink-of-being-professional director who directed the play which was the effect. And we did win at Sophia. We performed our Hindi play brilliantly there, being eliminated only because we exceeded the time limit. Anyone who has experienced drama management last year, as well as this, will agree that this year’s team, in which I count only a couple of people is much better in managing the fest. We just lack an experienced directors, more volunteers for scriptwriters, and more enthusiasm, not only for the out station fest, but for local ones too. The problem isn’t entirely the drama team’s. It’s more with the actors, who have a passion. No, not for going there and winning it, but for enjoying a hassle free, attendance exempted vacation. And as long as we don’t change their mindset, our mindset, I doubt we’ll ever solve our problems.
Although you have given a counter-view to what I have written I would still say you have pointed out many right things. However, your view is again based on certain incidents and you haven't considered a holistic perspective. If you look back I did not defend our predecessors and give them a 'clean chit' completely. You have already admitted Kshitij 09 was mere luck for us, but in addition I would say that we can't consider K'scope and Sympulse results in comparison to Delhi.
ReplyDeleteAnd whether the current heads were selected by the predecessors or by those who were in the club from last year and took the interviews this year hardly makes a difference as the point I have tried to raise here is the dis-unity and not pointing a finger at any individual. Had you been to Delhi this year you would have seen for yourself. Also this is a feeling shared by many of the other members who have joined in recently be it the juniors or our batch-mates. And I have experienced it too to express it. For this if you ask why am I not doing anything about it instead of questioning, sorry, but "responsibility never comes without authority, and with authority always comes responsibility."
As far as scripts are concerned, before the preparations started we all used to meet to give our inputs but sadly what ultimately came out on stage a month and half later was majorly last minute additions. True we can help by lending a hand but if people think they want to do it by themselves and they don't, questions will be raised. Moreover, the fact which everyone has failed to realise is that it is not the negligence of responsibility, lack of enthusiasm, or the point you raised about
one-or-two-members who actually work (I know whom your indication is towards). Work they all do but alas there is no fruitful outcome because everyone wants their ideas to be implemented, their preferred juniors or friends to play a certain role without judging in an unbiased manner who suits what best. This is what results in the thousand changes and ego clashes, when instead, they should sit together with the mindset that they are part of the same team and all one entity rather than treat the 'Hindi play as my event and street play as yours'.
Most importantly, the point I wanted someone to raise; your second and third from last lines - "...but for enjoying a hassle free, attendance exempted vacation." - how did they gain entry into the team? That answers almost everything doesn't it?
No it doesn't answer the questions Siddhant. I know some wonderful actors in NMIMS who just refuse to work hard during rehearsals and co-operate and co-ordinate during practices. What choice do you have if you see someone perform brilliantly in the auditions as compared to others who struggle? You have to take them in the hope that they'll mould into the characters you want.
ReplyDeleteAnd I know, I was not a part of the Delhi team, so my experience with the team may be much less than yours. Maybe that's why you think my views are based on only certain incidents. That may be true. But as far as I have seen, the input we give have always been considered.
And inputs are not the same as writing a full fledged scripts, are they? Saloni last year took the initiative to write one for the street play, and we all unanimously loved it, and executed it. That was one team I had seen who was not going for a vacation, who was going for a win (save one or two members). If Saloni had thought along the same lines as "responsibility never comes without authority, and with authority always comes responsibility", this wouldn't have happened. She took the initiative, she wrote the script. And thus, she was given the authority to direct that play. You can't wait for authority to come your way sometimes, you have to seize an opportunity.
And I completely disagree with you on the fact "work they all do", because you cant help it if you work hard on a play for weeks, and the others come in last minute with their expert opinions. This ego clash is bound to come if some people realize their responsibility (a better word here would be authority) a day before their performance.
Again what you say is right but from one angle. We seem to be saying the same things but in different languages. Saloni's example and Sympulse all but justify what I initially mentioned about the seniors who may not have been completely flawless, but did command some respect and that responsibility was shared and fulfilled as well equally, given the ego clashes that existed even then. And never were we required to sacrifice our sleep or decide six hours before the performance which scenes we are going to show in the elims.
ReplyDelete"That was one team I had seen who was not going for a vacation, who was going for a win..." - I couldn't agree more on that. But here in terms of Delhi it was completely opposite. The 'authorised' parties don't give one another due respect, let alone the non-core members. The only one who did command respect was the director and writer of the Hindi and English plays given he was a third year fellow. And it is beyond doubt that the contingent for Delhi comprised of vacation-seekers and not victory-seekers. I saw quite a few deserving candidates rejected from the audition to select those who actually went. Had you seen it, probably you'd have said the same.
Well, I am bound to have different views not having been a part of the Delhi contingent, and apparently, having missed quite a lot of skirmishes. But either which way, I've always found the auditions to be very fair.
ReplyDelete"Never were we required to sacrifice our sleep". Sure you weren't. You would have had to if the level of dedication then was the same as it is right now. Remember your Sympulse Hindi play? The one and only practice without any breaks was done a few hours before the play, and that was considered as satisfactory! Every member, knowing they had come this far for the performance, should have cared. But people were too busy having fun.
Why complain when you have to work hard? True, there may have been misunderstandings, there may have been fights, but the reason you were made to practice so hard was so that you didn't do all of the past practices in vain, wasn't it?
Am I saying anything different? I am questioning the same lack of dedication and tendency for enjoyment rather than work. But in spite of that I don't take the credit away from those deserving guys (and gals as well) who had gone with an intention to win and to perform. I know there are many talented people who also are dedicated. But sadly, the misdeed of five or six are enough to disrupt the entire contingent. At this point, it becomes the responsibility of the drama heads or rather the club heads altogether to take action and not just warn. Else people take them for granted and get away. They have been getting away. When a practice is scheduled at 3, I wait till 5:30 in vain and return home only to get a call at 5:50 again to return for the practice which is finally 'starting', because my co-actors behaving like megastars cannot respect punctuality, that is unfair. When the Elims are the next day but the committee members plan a 'contingent-outing' the previous night to go clubbing and drink with the condition that practice will begin at 6 in the morning sharp for an 11 a.m. performance, with the justification that the entire contingent 'won't get a chance' to go for an outing again together, putting pleasure before business, and the same committee members proclaiming that strict action will be taken against any delay including themselves; delay which ultimately was caused by they themselves, that is not acceptable.
ReplyDeleteYou said that you didn't have to sacrifice your sleep before, which leads on to mean that the management was better the year before. I'm just defending that part of it.
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, if that's what really happened, it wasn't professional, and certainly not justified, I agree with you.
With all due respect to everyone's opinion i agree to some of the comments. and i seriously takee them as consturctive ones. There has been a lot of problems in the drama team lately and ofcourse a lot looses we have suffered. i agree that our seniors were much better coordinators then the current drama team. and i appreciate siddhant's effort to bring in light the problems faced by the drama team currently. but i would also like to get attention to some facts which have been ignored in tis effort or which have been understood wrongly.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all i really feel that drama team does not consist of 5 or 10 people i feel it consists of people who like to perform. but the main problem is that people are so busy in nmims that they just come give their CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENTS and pass by. no 1 is intrested in taking steps to help out handful of people that try to work to get the whole play together( includes people inside n outside drama team). thats what the problem is that people dont undertand that there are many factors that are to be considered to put a drama into play
1. getting permission from college (you can ignore that as it is basically as it is drama teams issu)
2. keeping the auditions: i would like to say that we consider talent and seriousness both.
every1 thinks that he/she is a good actor but its not nessesary that he/she is. we all are in learning process.
3. producing a script: sadly i can bet that this year we have participated in about 12 plays this year aand all these 12 scripts are work of just 2 to 4 minds......just 4(with a little comments ofcourse). people have sacrifised their 5 days sleep behind just 1 script and believe me script writtin is a very tuff job.(geting it approved by actors is even tuffer)
4. getting actors to come for practises: team cant go to everyone's home and get them. people has made excuses like someone is visiting me, or i have prior commitments, i have to go for other practises(i dont wanna say the name), and above on that our college doesnot give attendence for practises which leaves us withvery little time to prac.
5. making actors act: no doubt that our college has seen great actors. but these actors also have a great ego on performing certain roles.(team cant force someone to do a thing which they dont want to)
6 technical: i soory to say that but not a single actor is really intrested in technicals of the play and it is left on a single person each and every time
7 funding: not a singlr actor is ready to pay fundings required for the paly. nnormally it is left on ceratin people only
8 results: the scripts have always been appreciated (for eg: scripts at HISTONICA srcc delhi, from over 50 scripts our script was selceted among top 6), and after the drama is not selected then blame comes on the official team. i think one should learn to appreciate before they can critise
that was just the drama part
as far as delhi club incident is concerned i would like to say that for the club matter i opposed it but it was atlast left on to the whole drama contingent(voting had taken palce at the dinner time enjoying on pastas and pizzas)
ReplyDeletei was really happy when everyone had refused but alas few people convinced all of them to change their votes.
and as far as enjoying on the trip is considered i think enjoyment is important but only till a limit team cant do anything if people drink of smoke and get high. no one can stop that ofcourse, this thing has happened at delhi and at pune also.so i don't thing anyone has the right to comment on the club thing at delhi because everyone present there had agreed to it.
i feel that so far drama team has taken up each and every effort to listin to comments during the drama prepration. many have been incorporated also but not every comment can be used as it is not good enuf people dont understand that. and a major problem is that every one likes to comment but no one wants to take pain and effort to incorporate that
as per the audition are concerned team has been given a suggestion to make a contingent fixed for every fest for potential actors but the team still sticks to older way of audition for every fest so that every student has a fair chance to act.
i would like to tell an example that for street play at mood i the team was told by someone just 2 days before the play about an idea for the script(no proper script was provoded just a raw idea). team already had a script ready to be performed at that time and of course the ready was selected.(and for the late start of play team had been busy with kshtij thats why there was a delay) and that script had got a special compliment form the judges about the idea and concept. so i would like to tell them that if the idea is not taken then it is not good enough its not like that team uses their authority in a worng way. I am really very disappointed from the freshers though, as no effort has been made by them. And they do the same thing of critisising and not helping out instead.
As per the team's authority is concerned i would like to remind that APURV, DHVANISH, SALONI, KOMAL, MAYANK, RISHIE,SOHAIB, MEESUM,JUHI,KAISEEN and many other super seniors were not a part of team still they had done much for the drama in college, they had taken initiative instead of critising.
As for the team is considered the heads in MONTAGE are selected by the same super seniors. they must have thoght hard before finalising the team. i can say that team is working very hard to get better and produce better drams(for proof please checkout the mood i street play its really good as per nmims's standard)
The bottom of all this is that people should stop critising, they should comment ofcourse(there is a lot of diffrence in critising and commenting)
One should not ask for the change instead be the change.