Roundtable Discussion featuring Film Industry Icon M.K. Raina from Multiple Disciplines
M.K. Raina, a renowned figure in the Indian theatre and film industry, recently graced an event at an undisclosed institution with his presence. The veteran actor, director, and filmmaker shared his wisdom and experiences, shedding light on the complexities of drama and the importance of challenging accepted notions in theatre.
Born in Srinagar, Raina moved to Delhi on a state scholarship to pursue his passion at the National School of Drama (NSD), graduating in 1970. Since then, he has dedicated his life to theatre, directing several memorable productions and making documentary films for years.
One of his most notable works is the production Andha Yug, which was performed in Berlin and the Festival of India in the USSR. Raina's innovative approach to theatre has allowed him to produce over 130 plays in 13 languages, including Jasma Odan, which he produced at Hawaii University in 1986.
During his session, Raina discussed the intricacies of drama and shared personal anecdotes from his extensive career. He emphasised the importance of adapting plays according to the local environment and culture, a concept beautifully demonstrated in his latest documentary, Sacred Dances at Hemis Festival, made for the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts.
As an actor, Raina has worked in over a hundred plays, and as a filmmaker, he has recently played a significant role in the creation of documentary films. His contributions have been recognised with numerous awards, including the Sanskriti Samman in 1980, the Sahitya Kala Parishad Award in 1981, the Best Director of the year by the West Bengal Government in 1982, the Best Director's award of Punjab Akademi, Delhi in 1987, the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 1995, the Swarna Padak from the government of Jammu and Kashmir in 1996, and the B.V. Karanth award for lifetime achievement in 2007.
Raina concluded the session with a powerful and poignant statement urging his audience to 'bang the door of mainstream theatre' for that is where the challenge truly lies. His session was not just an insightful journey through his career but a call to action for the future of Indian theatre.
