Caution: Very Long Post!
Kharagpur is known for its Inter Hall, both famously and infamously! Famously because of the fighting spirit of each of the participants, the clever innovations and the awesome performances which can only be compared to the professionals. Infamously because of the dirty politics circumscribing almost every event and the fights, big and small, resulting out of the fierce competition among the halls. The Inter Halls sometimes get so fierce that people would not even mind killing their rivals, irrespective of the fact that the concerned may be their batch mates, dep-mates or even best friends.
When I entered as a fresher in my first year, and then in my hall in second year, I would just stare with awe at the Inter Hall performers. Heavily impressed and intimidated by their performances, I became sure of at least one thing, that I might never be able to participate in such an event. Even if I do, I would do well to forget the idea of playing a substantial part in any of them.
But then, college changes people - KGP, as a matter of fact, totally transforms its students. Who would expect the shaky-legged fresher - walking down the roads of the campus with his father, not even confident enough to travel in a train alone - would actually direct an entire play for the Inter Hall event in his final months? But then, this is the beauty of KGP. It does things to you. Things, totally out of your imagination!
Yes, I did direct a play, a Bengali drama. It was called - ekti obastob golpo - an unreal story, a basic comedy with a strong social message and a tragic ending. My knowledge of dramatics, before this, was limited to playing music in the background and acting as a tree in one of the other plays. Also, I was a member of the lights team in my second year, and hence, had a fair idea of the lights. Otherwise, as far as true acting was concerned, I was poorly trained. But then, where there is a will, there is a way.
When the captain summoned me to the rehearsals on the very first day, I was not sure exactly what to do. I knew that I would be playing music in the background again, as I actually did on the day of the play. I also was aware of the fact that being a final year, I would do well to help the captain conduct the whole thing, as we were poorly enriched as far as good actors were concerned. So I went in the common room on the first day, and just sat in a corner and started watching. Before I knew, I was rectifying the diction and the connotations of the actors. I was telling them how to throw the dialogs, in what pace, where to lay stress on, and what should the facial expression be while throwing them.
With me, there was Arnab, another fourth year guy, who was really working hard to ensure that the stepping of the actors and the stage plan was perfect. He was taking care to verify that one actor was not blocking another from view, that three or more actors were not standing in a straight line. He finally did a great job, and our stage movements improved beyond our expectations. Ironically, even this person hardly had a dramatics background. He participated in dramatics and choreography in his second year, and since then, had hardly been in touch. But then, KGP does weird things to you.
Our first setback came when an actor, who was supposed to do the role of the prisoner, had to back out owing to his department fest. Also, another good actor of our hall was down with jaundice. So, even before we started, we were down two! Nevertheless, we found alternates for them, with the captain - Sonal (a guy), taking up the role of the prisoner himself, leaving me and Arnab solely in charge of direction.
For the next few days, we worked hard with the actors. We went on trying to perfect their dialogs, their movements, and more importantly, their off-dialog reactions. We praised them, we criticized them, we even kicked them! KGPians themselves, they rose to the demands of the play and finally mastered their roles, presenting a flawless performance on stage.
Our next setback came a few days later. Initially, we were alloted first day - third slot, a perfect one. But then, one more hall decided to participate, and ours became the first day - fourth slot, the last one for the day. We ran into a mortal danger of the judges falling asleep! More so, we had decided on a acting intensive play, unlike other halls going for set-intensive or light-intensive ones. This meant that one must pay attention in order to understand and feel the play. But then, this situation was not in our hand, and we had nothing to do. A bit demoralized, but still undaunted, we carried on with the preparations.
"Being a Director sucks!!" - was my feeling on the last few days. For four days straight, I had slept for not more than 3-4 hours a day. Either I was at the rehearsals, or I was in my room planning the lights and the music, or I was with Sonal and Arnab discussing scenes and effects. On the penultimate day, we actually decided to type the entire script in Bengali in order to hand them over to the judges, a common practice. That took up another 5-6 hours. Those few days were a real test for tenacity, dedication and leadership skills. Having been through that period, I am now confident of facing any stress interview on Earth!
As the event drew near, I became more and more tensed. For the first time, I was responsible for an event of such a magnitude, involving over 30 people. Every minute of the last two days, someone would come up with a brand new problem - the title page of the judges script was creating some glitches, lights team member was confused was to who he should focus on in particular scene, an actor did not have black shoe, another did not have cotton trousers - and on my end, the soundtracks were still not ready.
It was around 6.30 in the evening on the final day - our play starting from 10.00. The sets were still to be ready. I was giving final touches to the tracks, when somebody noticed (thankfully) that we did not have an introduction for the play. I ran again to the Bengali creative writing captain (Khan) to get a passage ready, and then went to the Bengali elocution captain (Tuhin) and asked him to read it on stage. In the mean time, someone pointed out that(again, thankfully) that we would be needing a red cellophane paper for the lights team. I asked the lights captain, VD, whether he had one. He assured me that he would get one soon enough. Half an hour later, I called him again, only to realize that the secretary could not be located, and so, we still did not have the paper. Finally, the BTDS governor, Suman, saved the day, for he had some in his stock!
Finally when everything was done, the cast assembled in the common room, the lights team ready and even the extras all present, there was still a major glitch. One of the main actors, Shoni, playing the pandit in the play, had gone home early that morning to get some documents, and was still not back! It was 8.00 pm, and we had hardly an hour in hand before we had to proceed to the auditorium. All three of us, me, Arnab and Sonal, was psyched beyond measure. I was pacing up and down in front of the hall, praying that Shoni be back soon. Finally he was back, with around 40 minutes to spare!
Everything done and ready, with all the costumes and sets having received the final touches, with the entire "junta" ready in the common room, there was a last ritual, called "Omkara". In this ritual, the cast sat down in a circle, closed their eyes, and chanted "Om" in an attempt to pacify the disturbed mind before the play. Thereafter, we proceeded to the auditorium, completely ready with the cast, the lights and the sets - something that hardly seemed a possibility even an hour ago.
The final performance was, in a word, Great! It was flawless. The lights was perfect, successfully creating all the effects we desired. The sets were perfect too. Our main act of innovation, the hanging of the prisoner was so immaculately done that everyone present looked at awe. The acting, as I had already mentioned, was also perfect, with the cast performing even better than they did in the rehearsals. At the end, as the lights went off, with the Jailer shouting his last line, "Hang him till death", the whole auditorium burst into applause.
What followed was a massive "tempo-shout" (Kind of like an anthem for each hall), and then the refreshment at JCB Canteen. No ending could have been more perfect.
This was perhaps my most memorable event in the entire KGP life. My first Direction! Leading such a large group, coordinating with the other directors, with the captains, with the actors and lights and music and sets - it was a serious test and an wonderful experience. At this side of the event, I am a more confident person, a better leader and of course, a better Director! And now, I do have a certain experience in Dramatics!!
