After two decades away from the footlights, Kannada film and television actor Rajesh Nataranga is returning to the stage — not merely to revisit an old love, but to rediscover himself as a performer. Years spent in the world of cinema and television had gradually settled into a familiar rhythm, and with familiarity came a sense of monotony. Theatre, however, had never quite left his thoughts. For the past few years, he had been contemplating a return, waiting for the moment when the pull of the stage became impossible to ignore.Now, he is ready to step into the light once again with Maley Nilluvavarege, directed by Sharath Parvathavani, which is set to be staged on September 17 at Chowdiah Memorial Hall. In an interview with Bangalore Times, he opens up about what drew him back to theatre, the challenges of performing live, and why he believes every actor should experience the stage. Excerpts:‘It feels like coming back home’“For quite some time, I was thinking of doing a play, especially for the last two or three years. Monotony drives me to do all these things,” he says, adding, “I’ve been constantly doing television work. So, I just wanted to check if I still have that energy or memory power to sustain what the stage requires.”The stage, he adds, has always offered him a different kind of satisfaction. “Theatre always renews my energy and gives me happiness.” Interestingly, he had performed this play decades ago, though in a different role and set up. “It feels like coming back home. It always feels good when you do the same play with some other perspective or improvisations. But it gives me butterflies in my stomach now,” he says.His preparation has taken him back to some of his old theatre practices, including rehearsing in front of a mirror. “Usually, I do what I used to do earlier in theatre. I used to perform in front of the mirror — and observe how I stand, how I look, how I laugh,” he says. “I’ve seen myself on screen, but it gives me a different connection altogether when I see myself in front of the mirror, acting and saying the dialogues.”Beyond the physical aspects of performance, he has been focusing on what lies between the lines. “Understanding the lines and reading in between the lines is more important nowadays. That’s what appeals and reaches the audience more.”‘Theatre is like life; you can’t go back’His years in cinema and television have also changed his understanding of performance. “There is less space for us outside theatre, for actors especially, if you are a thinking actor, to communicate in films or television, because we are bound or directed by the director or anybody who is navigating us through the character.”Theatre, he believes, allows for a more collaborative process. “In theatre, we discuss a lot. A lot of minds go into it. A lot of open minds work together.”The difference becomes particularly apparent when it comes to mistakes. “In cinema, you have a dubbing process. You can patch up whatever mistakes you have made. And in television serials, it’s sync sound, so we have lapel mics. The smallest of whispers are also heard.”On stage, there is nowhere to hide according to Rajesh. “Theatre is like life. You can’t go back. Once you make a mistake on stage, you have to move on. You don’t have one more take there,” he says.‘I can’t choose between theatre, cinema or television’After moving between theatre, television and cinema, Rajesh is still clear about what gives him the greatest creative satisfaction.“Acting fulfills me,” he says. “Because it makes me put my foot in somebody else’s shoes. Acting makes you a better person. To be a better person, you should act, because you’ll understand the feelings of some other character,” he adds.However, Rajesh believes theatre should be part of an actor’s learning process, particularly for those starting out. “It gives a lot of confidence because you work in all aspects of theatre — arranging the sets, lighting, music, understanding the other actor,” he says. “It’s a basic schooling that gives a lot of confidence when you face the camera. I urge all the young people wanting to become actors to go do theatre first.”
