Let’s ‘play’ on TV. Theatre artists are now adapting their plays into TV serials. Actor, director, writer and now producer Paritosh Painter returns to TV with a weekly sitcom Shree Adi Manav which is adaption of his play See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. Painter himself acted in it.
Apart from being a theatre personality, Painter made his directorial début with the film Paying Guest. He’s had earlier written Indra Kumar’s Dhamaal. But it’s Shree Adi Manav that’s been talked about most. Painter spoke exclusively to tellychakkar at the show’s press conference. Here he talks about his show, state of theatre, why Karishma: A Miracle of Destiny flopped and more. Read on.
Your play was adapted into a film. Well Tom, Dick and Harry turned out to be a disaster. Do you think the same script will do well on TV?
I don’t compare a TV show with a film. Besides, every maker has his/her own vision about a play, film or a TV show. The makers of Tom, Dick and Harry made the show from their point of view or the way they saw these three characters. I’d had made the play on how I saw the characters. Anooj Kapoor, SAB business head, had seen the play and it was he who suggested that why don’t we make it into a TV show.
One of the reasons attributed to the Tom, Dick and Harry disaster was its poor star cast. Do you agree?
Well, that is something I can’t comment on
So, are you going to now show to the likes of Deepak how they should have gone about adapting your play?
No, like I told you before everybody have their own perception. Besides, I’d never officially given the rights of my play to Deepak (Tijori), director of Tom, Dick and Harry. Deepak had come to see my play and he picked the three characters and a few sequences from it. Deepak is a friend and that’s the reason I let him do it. At that time, I never knew that one day I’ll be making a TV show out of my play.
Kiku Sharda has kind of become monotonous. Is it a good choice to have him on your show?
Vrajesh and Kiku were our automatic choices. We had considered many for Shree’s character. Luckily, we found the best one in Vishal. He’s brilliant and must admit he looks like a blind. Coming back to Kiku, the best part about him is that the more you watch him, the more you fall in love with him. He’s has such a loveable personality and can carry off any character. Besides, the show isn’t about individual character but the but fun lies in seeing them together. Shree Adi Manav is not about three characters but they flow like one name. They don’t have different identities.
As a noted theatre person, where do you see theatre today?
Sadly, theatre is in depression now. Lack of money is the prime concern. There’s huge money in TV and films that’s where all the actors are heading. We’re also not helping our cause by charging high ticket prices for plays. If for the same 200-300 rupees, a consumer can watch a Shah Rukh film in a plush multiplex with his popcorn, why will they want to spend that amount in theatre? The government needs to do something to bring down ticket prices of plays. Besides, you have a Times of India which charges the same ad rate for film and theatre. Theatre doesn’t pay much to its actors but the ticket prices are high.
Isn’t theatre supposed to be a ground school for every actor? And shouldn't more young talent be looking to theatre first?
Yeah that’s true but presently, the ground is very shaky. Most good actors are doing television. The problem is that when you approach such artistes for a play, he/she will charge money which they draw during a single day on TV. When they are drawing 10-15 grands per day on TV why will they do plays which doesn’t offer that kind of money..
Contrary to your saying, we hardly find any good actors on television. Any Tom, Dick and Harry just turns up from his sleep; heads for an audition and the same evening they land themselves a TV role.
Well, but that’s the good thing about television. It’s providing opportunities to a whole lot of people.
But are the opportunities going in the right hands?
It’s unfair on my part to comment whether they are good or bad actors. Everyone deserves what he/she gets. Having said that, I’ll appeal to all that if you’re truly passionate about acting then you must do theatre. Theatre may not give the money but the kick, the creative satisfaction you get out of doing theatre is very enriching.
Television doesn’t offer much creativity. Do you agree?
Yes, that’s true but the problem with TV is that you’re always running against time. Initially, SAB wanted Shree Adi Manav to be a daily but a daily sitcom is not an easy proposition. Often you end up throwing anything. So, we requested SAB to let it remain a weekly. We took about three months for the scripting. The channel was willing to give us more time as they wanted everything to come out perfectly. Once we did that we were open to random shooting.
You were associated with Karisma Kapur show Karishma; A Mircale of destiny. Sadly, it turned out be another disaster. Was it a mistake on your part?
Unfortunately, Karishma was jinxed right from the beginning. There’s nothing much we could have done. More than a mistake, I’d say it was a good learning experience for us. That’s helped me in my future assignments.
They were reports of Karisma Kapur acting too pricey. Is that what doomed the show?
No, I don’t agree. As an actor, Karisma only charged her fee. She never gave us any cause of worry during the shoot. We had a really good time working with her.
Of late, all Bollywood superstars have bombed on TV. Why is that?
Well, I reckon it’s not the star per se but the formats (reality shows) haven’t worked. That perhaps explains why these shows couldn’t generate high TRPs.
What’s happening with your other project, Beach-o-beach? Is it shelved?
Frankly speaking, I myself don’t have a clue. In between they were murmurs that the channel has snubbed the show as it doesn’t cater to their target audience but that’s not the case. We’re hoping to get to get a word from the channel by this month end or early October.
What about acting in films?
Well, I’m happy doing theatre. When it comes to TV and films, I rather produce it.
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