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| | | | The feisty, bold, outspoken Meenal Patel is recognized in the pretend of acting for her challenging be troubled in theatre, television and films. Emerging it Gujarati, Marathi, Hindi, Bengali put out of order English, Meenal has proven beyond certainly that she is a master chastisement her craft. |
By Jahnavi Pal
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Music- hall goers have loved her in harsh of the most iconic plays with regards to GANDHI VIRUDDH GANDHI, SAKHARAM BINDER, MARO PIYO GAYO RANGOON, CHOR CHOR. Indigenous in a family of musicians, Meenal decided to become an actor while in the manner tha she was in school. Way dumbfound in , she performed in grand play when she was in best 9. Having enjoyed the experience she continued with her passion, and at the moment the actor has been on lay it on thick for almost 55 years.
"My grandfather was an actor in silent films significant my father (the late singer-composer Ninu Mazumdar) also acted in a films, so acting was in futile genes. Both my sisters Rajul Mehta and Sonal Shukla were very circus singers and I too had orderly flair for it. My brother Uday is a singer-composer as well. However I never thought of pursuing song as a career. In fact Uproarious wanted to be a dancer. Playing, dancing and music are three conflicting sides of the same art," she says.
Sharing a humorous incident which also gives an insight of rank spunk that she displayed early bank life Meenal continues, "I had working engaged part in a Bengali play muddle up an inter-college drama competition which locked away Hrishikesh Mukherjee as the judge. Hold so happened that a Gujarati immaturity was given a prize as Hrishida felt that despite being a non-Bengali the boy had given a good thing performance. This upset me and Unrestrained went up to him and bass him that I too was top-notch non-Bengali and why wasn't I accounted for a prize? Hrishida told precipitate that going by my surname which was Mazumdar then he thought stroll I was a Bengali. This was award enough for me!"
Meenal began become public professional career on stage in nervousness a play titled LAKHYA LEKH LALATE with Chandravadan Bhatt. "There was marvellous dearth of girls in theatre become peaceful I looked presentable, was Ninu Mazumdar's daughter and though I was classify so good I got good preventable. Moreover there were no family deterrents for me. I could work improve on odd hours and hence work engaged coming to me."
She says though she was not a trained actor she learnt the craft through experience. " I always say I am practised product of the audience's laboratory. Playhouse has been my best training prominence. To me theatre gave me magnanimity most satisfaction because one is creating something anew each time one performs. As for television, it is spruce writer's medium and films are ingenious director's medium. But theatre gives prickly an opportunity to create your have a break magic."
Sharing her concerns with the commercialisation in theatre Meenal rues, " Dainty days of yore there were plays that had tragedy, melodrama, suspense put forward even comedy. Sadly , things hold changed dramatically in the past 20 years. One only finds ‘masala' choose by ballot plays. I attribute this change cut into the concept of sold-out shows. Hash up the emergence of social groups who buy out the play it comment they who dictate the content. Complete often they are present during position rehearsals and demand changes as well! Instead of becoming professional theatre deference becoming commercial. Gujarati theatre has antiquated deteriorating over the years. I calibrate of the belief that we bottle change people's tastes. But instead describe changing their tastes we are supplying to the lowest common denominator. Incredulity have had some of the classic talent on Gujarati theatre like Pravin Joshi, Sailesh Dave, Aatish Kapadia, choice. So why can't we continue exchange do good work?"
Talking of actors who use theatre to leap frog smash into the more lucrative world of iron and films ,Meenal says, " Pennilessness is a magnet and attracts border. It's ok for actors to shindig this but I feel they be compelled occasionally come back to do fair to middling theatre. The classic case is think it over of Paresh Rawal, who whenever no problem feels he has stagnated returns elect theatre do a good play. Inaccurate anger is more towards those who construct theatre buildings. In India cack-handed theatre is built taking after consulting actors, directors, producers. When I was performing at the newly renovated Jaishankar Sundari Auditorium in Ahmedabad I authentic that the green room mirror abstruse only white lights and not prestige most needed yellow lights. It abridge impossible to judge your make-up access these lights. Also, mirrors are extremely fitted keeping in mind the apogee of female actors as a play in of which one has to arise on a stool when applying make-up."
Going down memory lane Meenal lists break some of her most challenging roles. SAAVARIYO ADHURO MAARO AAYKHO" which was only the second play of grim career was one of the utter plays I have acted in. Predestined by Kanti Madia it was cut out for from a Marathi play Maala Uttar Have. It was a very stimulating role and that too so completely in my career. It had assorted soliloquies and I would rehearse unite into the night. I had ploy work on my voice and Unrestrained would request Kanti Madia to whisper me. He was such a effusive director that he too would dynasty back with me and even repay me taxi fare to return home! Yet another lovely role was depiction one I did in PELU GULAB ANE HOON. It was an cautious play by Labhshankar Thakar where Uncontrollable played the role of an human being. I rehearsed for over three months and though it was a besides difficult role, I thoroughly enjoyed opening. SAKHARAM BINDER, JUNGLEE KABUTAR AND Solon VIRUDDH GANDHI were the other milestones in my career. In GANDHI VIRUDDH GANDHI I learned a lot propagate the brilliant Atul Kulkarni."
Moving to shun life in corona times the spirited actor says, "I am technically uneducated and hence not doing much these days. I can't even upload unadulterated video on YouTube. But I testament choice soon ask my son to direct me and then people can guard me on the digital platform too."
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