Creating online content, independent artistes from Amritsar are pitching in for re-invention

Neha Saini

Self-isolation has had a very different impact on the lives of the performing artistes and professionals in the entertainment industry as the long-term effects of COVID-19 pandemic means cinema halls, theaters, community spaces and clubs would remain closed.

While the community of creative performers is down, but it’s not out! Continuing to create content online, Amritsar-based independent artistes are capitalising on the unlimited access to the worldwide web.

Staying anchored

Actor-writer Sukhmani Sidana is creating content via Instagram and her social media platforms. The actor, who was seen in hit web series Sacred Games and Manmarziyan, has been spending her time with her family in Amritsar since the lockdown.

“It is only relevant to create online content as it helps re-inventing oneself and stay connected to the audience. I have been hosting a talk show on IGTV every week where I interact with friends and co-actors from the industry. It’s a light-hearted, fun show that has been getting good response and what’s amazing is that I have learnt a few skills like editing and creating motion posters while doing the show,” shares Sukhmani.

The young writer is also working on two scripts for web series to be produced by Ekta Ravi Kapoor. “I think that digital platforms are the future of entertainment as in the post-COVID 19 world, we have to re-invent and re-build.” She cites the example of Ayushmann Khuranna – Amitabh Bachchan’s upcoming film Gulaabo Sitaabo that will be released on digital platform due to the current situation.

Sukhmani has, till date, featured actors Parul Gulati, Minnisha Lamba, Sonal Chauhan and Kritika Kamra on her talk show. She has also been busy giving auditions, “Now people are conducting web auditions and many actors are auditioning through live feeds or videos.”

The drama continues…

Even the theatre fraternity, which is one of the worst hit, has found itself a new address with digital platforms. Giving a virtual theatre experience to the audience, Amritsar-based senior actor and theatre artiste Gurinder Makana has come up with live streaming of plays on digital platform called Kahaani Depot. It is a free-for-artistes platform started by Akbar Rizvi in 2017 that features live performances by artistes pan India. Music, folk art, theatre, you name it and the platform will have creative content to suit your taste.

Makana recently performed a Punjabi play based on the story, Ram Gau, at Kahaani Depot. “It was the first virtual theatre performance by an artiste from Amritsar. Ram Gau was a story written by HarpreetSekhon and first directed by noted director Kewal Dhaliwal in his acclaimed Punjabi play Gaddi Chadan Di KaalBarhi Si in 2004. My performance was planned as the COVID-19 lockdown and its impact on theater artistes and the fraternity will be long lasting. So, like all other creative forms, theatre too will have to innovate and improvise, establish its base through such streaming channels to find audience,” shares Makana.

The 33-minute performance by Makana was assisted by his wife, who has arranged for few props and handled the camera as Makana enacted the play. Ram Gau is an insightful, sensitive story of a village headmaster, who leaves his village post-retirement to live with his family in Canada, only to suffer from neglect, loneliness and dejection. Makana will now direct another live digital play, titled Pairan Nu KaradeJhanjhran, based on a story written by Canada-based writer Baljit Kaur.

“The play will be enacted by Suvidha Duggal, another noted theatre artiste from Amritsar,” he informs.

Makana says that independent theatre artistes used to be paid for each show or on a weekly basis by the production company. “But due to the lockdown, the fraternity has been out of finances and artistes are dependent on their family income. It’s important to create online content or channels through which theatre can be mobilised, for revival and survival.”

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