STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Natrang’s National Theatre Talk Show, ‘Young Voices of Theatre’, on the Facebook page of Natrang featured Recipient of Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar by Sangeet Natak Akademi, Ajay Kumar in the 48th episode where he shared his inspirational thoughts with the global audience.
Today’s guest speaker Ajay Kumar is a performer, writer, director and music composer who has earned respect for his acting as well as singing skills. His initiation in theatre began with Nirman Kala Manch, Patna in 1989 and later he joined Rang Vidushak, Bhopal. A graduate from Patna University, Ajay Kumar completed his course with specialization in acting from National School of Drama, New Delhi in the year 2000 where he worked with B.V. Karanth, Bansi Kaul, Ram Gopal Bajaj, Anuradha Kapur, Robin Das, Tripurai Sharma, Naseerudin Shah, Bhaskar Chandavarkar, Sanjay Upadhyay, Roysten Abel and John Russel Brown among others.
Ajay has travelled all over the world for his performances and has also been associated with NSD as a visiting faculty for theatre music. Music director of more than 50 plays.
In an interesting conversation with Natrang’s senior artist Neeraj Kant, Ajay narrated his eventful journey of theatre which started incidentally in his childhood. He nostalgically recalled his enlightening experience of learning at ‘Nirman Kala Manch’ and ‘Rang Vidushak’ where the methodology was almost opposite in context of the form but both proved enriching for his overall growth.
Recalling the wonderful experience of learning at NSD, he interestingly asserts that he could get an experience of 10-15 years in just 3 years of training there.
Speaking about theatre music, he brilliantly states that even if there is no song in a play, it can still be musical and we should not limit an actor’s music to just singing, it has a vast regime. For him, ‘Laya’ in body is of prime importance for an actor.
He soulfully rendered some of his musical creations also. Expressing his gratitude towards all his teachers, he specially mentioned about Sanjay Upadhyaya, B.V. Karanth, Bhaskar Chandravarkar.
Ajay Kumar who has skillfully worked to create a niche for himself while working on narrative art form of Katha-Gaayan-Vachan, where a singer-actor performs many characters, he shared experience of his two prominent works – ‘Bada Bhand to Bada Bhand’ and ‘Mai Ree Main Ka Se Kahoon’.
A resolute theatre practitioner, Ajay believes that an actor needs to practice daily, even if there is no assignment as this will keep him/her in form.