(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Kicking off the Dubai Comedy Festival, which runs from October 15 to 24, is English-language Indian play The Siddhus of Upper Juhu. Coming to the DUCTAC theatre, Mall of the Emirates, for two nights, the play stars theatre veterans Rajit Kapur and Shernaz Patel.
"Any couple can identify with this story," Rajit began during an interview last week. "It's about universal themes dealing with couples caught up in the rat race. We all have stresses especially when you feel you're at a certain status and it all comes crashing down."
The Siddhus is based around a middle-income family in trouble. If their two-bedroom house in Upper Juhu, Mumbai, was not already riddled with problems - what with stinking garbage, constant construction, howling stray dogs, noise pollution and the walls being too thin to keep out neighbours' conversations - Balvinder, aka, Bubbles Siddhu, the man of the house is sacked from his job. Already disheartened with his surroundings and with these additional problems, Bubbles eventually suffers a nervous breakdown. What happens in this 100-minute play as more characters pour in, creates a comedic tale following the Siddhu's hilarious attempts to get back on their feet.
"It is very tongue-in-cheek," Rajit said. "My character is the one who is always complaining and that is where a lot of the comedy comes from. Bubbles is a gregarious, passionate Punjabi man. I have known people like him, so it was fun for me to play."
Rajit is perhaps best-known for his award-winning performance as Gandhi in 1996's The Making of the Mahatma. Film work has been consistent, but it is probably taking to the stage for which he is most renowned.
"Over the last five years I have seen an increased engagement with the youth of India and live theatre," Rajit said when asked how the theatrical landscape had changed over the years. "It used to be strictly for the over-thirties, but now we get many younger people in. That is heart-warming.
"We are giving a lot of Indian plays to the world. It used to be that we would adapt more classic plays from around the world to suit an Indian audience. Now we create our own and export them. I have performed in London, Singapore and the Netherlands to full houses with very Indian plays."
Despite increased interest from the public, Rajit laments the most difficult aspect of putting on a play is finding funding.
"In places like London, the government has specific money to dedicate to the arts, whereas we have to find producers in India. There are more and more groups forming full of talented actors, but the money and facilities do not increase. The glimmer of light I see comes from corporations. With their support we can achieve great things. We recently received funding from a company, it was not much for them, but for us it meant we put on five productions."
When it comes to facilities, Rajit says Dubai's acting community is blessed. "I'm so glad we're at DUCTAC. I have performed there before and it is perfect. I love coming here and will keep coming as long as I am asked."
The Siddhus of Upper Juhu is being performed at DUCTAC on October 15 and 16. Tickets start at Dhs100, from https://ductac.etixdubai.com.
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