STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Sangeet Natak Akademi’s scholarship holder, National School of Drama and Department of Indian Theatre alumni, theatre, film & TV actor/director Sunil Soni featured on Sunday at Natrang’s National Theatre Talk Show, ‘Young Voices of Theatre’.
He shared his inspirational views with the global audience at the Facebook page of Natrang Jammu.
Born and brought up in Narnaul, Haryana, Sunil started his theatre in childhood, acted in many plays under the banner of theatre group ‘Haryana Yuva Rangmanch’ and participated in Ramleela too.
Prestigious Inlaks Theatre Awardee, Sunil has worked as the acting faculty at Anupam Kher’s school ‘Actor Prepares’. Later he joined as acting mentor in the Zee Tv’s Reality show of Kids ‘India’s Best Dramebaaz-2’ and was also an acting guru in Sony Tv’s Reality show of Kids ‘Sabse Bada Kalakar’.
In an enriching conversation with Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee actor and Natrang’s senior artist Anil Tickoo, Sunil narrated his journey of theatre which started from early childhood and was influenced by ‘Ramleela’ and ‘Swang’.
As his father was also a very famous artist, he got immense family support to do theatre.
Sunil rendered the presentation of some ‘Raaganis’ of Haryana. He expressed his gratitude towards the teachers of Department of Indian Theatre and National School of Drama who compassionately imparted meaningful training to him which transformed his personality.
He differentiated the salient features of play, story and novel and asserts that he finds more liberty in the performance of a story as there is tremendous scope for an actor/director to explore his creativity as everything is not pre-written.
He shared his experience when he interestingly staged a play in a cinema hall in his town as there was no auditorium and surprisingly, the tickets were sold at higher rates than film. But believes that the lack of auditorium hinders cultural promotion in the region.
He discussed in detail about Navarasa Sadhna which he learned from Guru Venu Gopal Ji and states that acting has to be felt with all the senses, it is not mere facial or vocal expression. Moreover there is a different rhythm for every Rasa which is precisely defined in Natyashastra.
Sunil metaphorically defined the process of actor training. An ardent acting trainer, Sunil opines that acting is reflection of one’s own experience and people who are more connected with their roots and family and those who have exposure to literature, possess more experience.
He also believed that acting is a personal journey, teachers/trainers can show you the path but it is you who has to walk on it with undeterred conviction.
He also believed that to be a good actor, a person needs to be a good human being.