From 'Associates' to a 'Team' and to 'Friends'

I felt of writing this at the moment we formed a team. I've never written about a person or people. But this is my team and I'm a part of it and i'm glad that I write about it. 

Never doubt that a small group of thought, committed people can make wonders. Indeed, it is the only thing that has!

Such a thoughtful and committed team was formed on April 30, 2013 in First Act Workshop!

Fire Balls Production Team 

Fire Balls Production Team.

14 of us were made into a team. A team that has to give a street play about a theme. We had a Producer, Music Director, Art Director, script writer, Stunt/Choreographer, Actors, Actress and of course a director.

The producer was told a theme and a method by the admin team on which we’ve to make a play. We were asked to get approval from the producer. Our Producer was Gayathri. A good leader; may be a perfect one who never revealed the concept and made us to find it. Each and every time we make a concept; she rejected, refined the concept and sent us back till we bring out the correct theme. Her loyalty and her plan to pull us on the topic were remarkable.

I specially want to mention Shailenthrri; Shailu in short, about her dedication as a Screenplay and script writer.

Before being glad about her role, I would like to specify my role. I am the director of the play.

I was said to lead the team and I was responsible for everything. As I wrote Once, The word “Leadership” triggers a variety of meanings in each individual varying from the contributions made by heroes from the pages of history to simple acts of heroism displayed in routine and mundane affairs encountered in daily lives. Truly it is often misunderstood than understood by most individuals. This often leaves a vague impression on what Leadership is and one is often unclear as to what it entails in their respective area of influence especially at workplaces. Being a lead is not that easy that too for a team which you are not familiar with. I managed though.

I like to quote Franklin D. Roosevelt “People acting together as a team can accomplish which no individual could ever hope to bring about”. So, we decided to move on as a team, and we did it!

Our theme was CHILD LABOUR and the Method was Mime!

Coming back to Shailu, Her dedication in carrying out the script, keen in picking up the music, forbearance in accepting ideas and interactions with the team were awesome. And the Main attraction is the presence of mind in Narration. She didn’t prepare the words or phrases to be said but only the script paper. I stood next to her in the play and for every narration she was getting a word from me whether she was right or wrong. And I never used the latter word. As she was always correct!

We lacked in Time Management, as we took a long time in getting the producer’s approval, framing a trailer, building the screenplay and of course Lunch, so that we had no time to rehearse. We planned to go on with an on stage live performance! I believed each and everyone in the team and they, we did it!

The lead role was a child and Sathish did the role. Initially he was a music director and he chose to be a child as Yaswant and Shailu looked after the music department. I can simply say a word for him ‘Extra-ordinary’ acting. Even the organizer appreciated his performance.

A mime, where action speaks, needs a special work in Art direction. Our Art director is Padmajaa. She did a fabulous work in making the charts fast and those were in her own style.

Yashwanth and Saranya acted as the dad and mom of the child. They expressed their feelings of ignoring the child and crying for the loss very well. They were good.

Special performer of the team was Sounder. I know him for the past 4 years. He was the only character which has humor as well as arrogance. His timing sense and the funny side of him added more fuel to the show especially in the scene he was beaten by the police. Kudos sounder.

Sowmya and Mahendran were little bit nervous in taking the role first but they played very well. Sowmya added the Mom character’s attributes and Mahendran who played the police role framed the opening scene which describes the character of the child.

Siddharth – Sasi – Priya – Jhananee were co-operative. Though they took a small role as supporting characters and they displayed a decent performance. I wish to give a notice of their attitude of standing with a team even if they get a smaller role or so.

From the director’s point of view I’ve portrayed my team’s performance as much as I can. I never revealed the script here as it is indispensible according to the situation.

Some of the beauties of our Play are: We never named any character except the lead role. We never took any rehearsal and that was a live on stage performance – everyone took their part on their own, we selected a single music for the entire play such that the music went well with all feelings in all situations. Finally, we were appreciated as the Good performers.

Apart from taking pride over the act, we made so many mistakes and learnt from those mistakes. We learnt about Team work, co-operation, easiness and acceptance of team’s idea and so on…

We were happy, contented, and high, in tune as much as possible. As a final point, we had a Great day, we had a Great team and more important we now have Good Friends.