META Perspectives: The Jury – M. K. Raina

A privileged peek into theatre and the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards Festival, from META Jury Member Mr. M. K. Raina.

1. When it comes to awarding, what are the key elements that you look at?
A. There are various areas. First is the overall production design, then there is the standard of the scene, then you look at the actors acting, and then you look at the whole design. Then you look at the interpretation of the text, even what text have they picked up, why have they picked up this text on which they chose to go for production.. These are the parameters which I particularly look at.

2. What are you looking forward to in this years plays?
A.I have been part of this festival right from its inception. I want to see if there is any kind of representation of the study at work  new ideas, new explorations, new feel if they are there at all. And is this all relevant to what is happening in the nation today or in the world at large.

3. What brings you back to theatre?
A. Me? (laughs) I know nothing else but doing theatre and acting! I am not capable of anything else except theatre.

4. What do you hope to take back from the festival?
A. I would like to see more new actors, new groups coming from various parts of the country. From remote areas because, the  fact is from remote areas they have come and qualified and got an award and I would like that to happen more because the competition becomes pan-india in the real sense. It doesnt become only to qualify in cities, in representation in particular, it should be from pan-India. So you get a whole a view, a complete view of what is happening in the country and people are engaged in this.

5. What does META mean to you?
A. Oh its great fun to be in META. First It is a great set of people. It is mounted on a scale which is nowhere else in the country. The way they open, the way they close, the way they award it, they look at the play In fact, I would like to grow further more on this line so that we have a different kind of a celebration of theatre which is where the quality general groups, semi-professional groups, professional groups and the corporate join hands together. And this is the depth, which is a possibility I would say, which might also help me or theatre people in the country.