INDIAN PEOPLE’S THEATRE ASSOCIATION

The Indian People's Theatre Association was formed during the Quit India Movement in 1942. Upon its formal inauguration in 1943-44, IPTA took upon itself the challenge to bring theatre to the people with the objective of building awareness about social responsibility and national integration. IPTA soon became a movement and swept the length and breadth of India with its socialistic and nationalistic fervour.
Born as a result of a long-felt need among writers and artistes, IPTA brought about a sea change in the prevalent concepts about Indian Theatre. It was formed to co-ordinate and to strengthen all progressive tendencies that had so far manifested themselves in the form of drama, songs and dances. Its roots lay in the cultural awakening of the masses of India, seeking to revive the cultural heritage of the country. Its initial impact was so powerful that a new form of expression took shape. It was to leave a lasting impression, making the arts an expression of the people’s yearning for freedom, economic and social justice and a democratic culture.

IPTA, is one of the oldest performing art groups in the country. Indian cinema, performing arts like music and theatre and now even television have drawn their many personalities from IPTA.

IPTA was founded by stalwarts like KA Abbas, Dr. Bhabha, Anil de Silva, Ali Sardar Jafri and Dada Sharmalkar. Over the last six decades many prominent artistes, writers, musicians, directors, dancers and singers have been a part of IPTA. These include Amar Shaikh, Shambhu Mitra, Homi Bhabha, Krishanchander, Kaifi Azmi, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Sahir Ludhianvi, Balraj Sahni, Mohan Segal, Mulkraj Anand, Romesh Thapar, Hima Devi, Annabhau Sathe, Shailendra, Prem Dhawan, Ismat Chugtai, Kanu Ghosh, Chetan Anand, Dina Pathak, Pt. Ravi Shankar, Sachin Shankar, Bahadur Khan, A.K.Hangal, Habib Tanvir, Abrar Alvi, Hemant Kumar, Adi Marzban, Salil Chaudhari, Tarla Mehta, Khayyam, Phani Muzumdar, Dev Anand, Shanti Bardhan, Chittoprasad, Harindranath Chattopadhyay, VP Sathe, Durga Khote, Keshavrao Date, Utpal Dutt, Ritwik Ghatak, Satyen Kappu, Sanjeev Kumar, Zul Vellani, Shaukat Kaifi, Manmohan Krishna, Basu Bhattacharya, Abid Razvi, M.S.Sathyu, Kuldip Singh, Ramesh Talwar, Sulabha Arya, Shabana Azmi, Farooque Shaikh, Kader Khan, Yunus Parvez, Mac Mohan, Javed Siddiqi, Sudhir Pande, Aanjjan Srivastava, Bharat Kapoor, Rakesh Bedi, and many, many others. The list just goes on and on and would read like a who’s who of Indian art and culture.

Over the past six decades we have been at the forefront of the theatre movement in the country. IPTA Mumbai till now has staged more than 100 plays in various Indian languages – Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Telugu, Kannada, and Punjabi as well as in English.

1984 saw the formation of IPTA Balmanch, a children’s theatre wing, which staged plays with young artistes from different socio-economic backgrounds.

In 1972 IPTA started its Inter Collegiate Drama Competition in memory of Prithviraj Kapoor. This competition that recognises budding talent on stage, is regarded as one of the most prestigious drama competitions in Mumbai. It has given many artistes not only to the Hindi stage, but also to Marathi and Gujarati theatre.

In recognition of IPTA’s contribution to Indian culture, the postal department released a commemorative philatelic stamp on 25th May 1994 in Mumbai. Shri Arjun Singh graced the occasion as the chief guest.

Apart from staging our Hindi plays at different venues across India and at select venues abroad, we also organise an Annual Theatre Festival every year in the month of May. Our other activities include performances by our music choir, language classes, seminars on performing arts, film screenings, workshops, theatre activities for children, etc.

All IPTA activities are conducted on a non-profit basis and all members voluntarily participate in these activities. This is a democratic organisation that has members from all strata of society.

KASHMAKASH

Translated from the original Bengali play by Debasis Majumdar, this play is about exploitation of the needy classes by people in power.

Unable to cope with the penury of his existence, the protagonist is forced by local politicians to transform himself into a freedom fighter. As he gets used to living this lie, he realizes that he has taken on more than he had bargained for, and that people in power are misusing him. Will he be able to break free? The falsehoods of today’s India and the hollowness of contemporary politics, which demeans and makes light of the nation’s long struggle for freedom, forms the background of this play.

What would happen if the bureaucracy of today, with all their systems and red tape were to be given the task of constructing the Taj Mahal? This hilarious play explores that possibility.

Our leaders have big plans and lofty dreams. But only a small part of what they dream comes true. The system is so flawed that it milks the available resources for personal gains and takes years in the process.

Cast: Aanjjan Srivastav, Avtar Gill, Sulabha Arya, Vivek Marwah & others.

Duration: 2 hrs with interval

Cast: Rakesh Bedi, Avtar Gill, Rajan Kapur, Pramod Dubey, Omprakash Sharma & others.

Duration: 2 hrs 15 min with interval

‘Divide and Rule – Religion is the Tool’. Munshi Premchand exposed this nefarious British game in the 30s in his short story ‘Satyagrah’. Strangely, the legacy remained even after their departure in 1947 and the native rulers simply stepped into the abandoned shoes of the British. In this dramatized version Safdar Hashmi and Habib Tanvir focus on the relevance of Premchand’s Satyagrah to the present Indian milieu. A dramatic farce on today’s political scenario, the play attempts to stir one’s conscience to the stark realities of the politico-religious nexus.

Biwi-O-Biwi deals with the theme of modern male chauvinism and how the modern woman stands up to and fights against it. There are prevalent values in our society that are binding, but there is a limit to everything. A middle class woman can no longer be treated like a doormat. The play revolves around the relationship between the main protagonists, Dr.Pawan Soorma and his wife Pooja.
This is a super-hit, star-studded comedy play from IPTA.

Shatranj Ke Mohre is a satire, subtly told on many levels through the protagonist Kakaji Bakshi and the antagonist Acharya Ram Bhajan. The play tells us of the values dear to both, Kakaji and Acharyaji, and how in the stream of their thoughts other characters get thrown in, are tossed about and finally resolve their struggles.
The play talks about human-pawns who revolt, as they have done all along, under complex circumstances. What is good, what is evil, is not to be decided by someone outside you and it is the duty of each one of us, to bring the less knowing to a level where he or she can take independent decisions.

AGAR AUR MAGAR, inspired by Bertolt Brecht's 'He Who Says Yes and He Who Says No' is a play in verse by one of India's leading poets, Gulzar. The play deals with the subject of conformity in a rigid, dogmatic society, and encourages young minds to question existing norms as part of their learning process.

Cast: Khushaal Pawaar, Madhav Dutt, Prachiti Kulkarni, Janit Temkar, IPTA Choir & others

Duration: 40 min
Language: Hindustani

Directed by Rajendra Gupta
Music by Kuldip Singh

Designed by M.S.Sathyu

The play is about a group of members from a revolutionary socialist party who organize an attempt on the life of a chief advisor of the head of a state. The play traces the attempt and the circumstances leading up to and following it.
Violence has been used time and again to fight against corruption, injustice and oppression. But it is not easy for the individuals behind these acts to get rid of their emotions in the most contemptible of efforts.
Recent events around the world make it all the more vital for us to understand what drives people to extremes for the sake of a cause.