- To begin with can you brief about your education and your inspiration to the field of performing arts?
Vivek: I come from a very humble background. I belong to a Middle Class family from a small town Mettupalayam, near Coimbatore. I did my Matriculation followed by Diploma and then Engineering. I did my B-Tech in Information Technology.
I have been inclined towards acting and other performing arts right from my childhood. Those were the days when I used to dress up like my school teachers at home and tried to imitate their body language. I was part of many cultural activities in my school like Dancing, Elocution and singing. Though I never took this seriously until end of my Diploma. I went through several difficult phases in my life right from my young age. At those times I used to consider performing arts as a get away from my stress and problems. At one point, around 2012 – doing theatre helped me come out of my biggest struggle in life. That is when I realized that theatre art is NOT just a mere entertainment or a getaway. It can do some magic in your mind to have a strong connect within yourself. Honestly, this aspect of arts inspired me to take this up professionally. I realised an actor has the ability to express his individuality. All this inspired me to get into this theatre arts.
- How did you balance your profession and your ambition to become a theatre performer when you were an amateur artist?
Vivek: It was a bit challenging in the beginning to balance my theatre career and profession. I would start my weekends early to attend rehearsals and audition without compromising my job. When I saw things from perspectives I realized that the challenge was not due to the tasks involved. The challenges are within. A core actor and a core engineer have totally two different mind sets. To keep switching between these is a challenge. That is when I took that big step to try full time into acting.
With all being said, I would really like to thank my parents and my employers for their constant support.
- What is your opinion about the reach of Theatre arts to the audience?
Vivek: In my humble opinion, Theatre arts has not reached completely onto the smallest towns and cities. Even when you consider urban cities like Bangalore, – there is one part of that has no connect with Theatre arts. Probably, we may have to convince ourselves that things are changing but I am afraid that is not the ground reality.
To be more analytical all art forms emerged from villages. Over a period of time, when individuals started patronizing art to differentiate between the correct and incorrect art form it lost its audience. Getting judgemental on any art gradually loses its fan base. It is the responsibility of our generation and the forthcoming ones to take all right steps to take theatre arts beyond boundaries.
- How do you differentiate Theatre Arts live performances and other productions?
Vivek: Theatre Arts live performances are absolute bliss and some kind of adrenaline rush to me. In Yogic practices, they define “Be in that Moment. “Theatre Arts are just that. To sustain there one has to just be in that moment every time. There is no retake. Once the curtain rolls be in that moment. Absorb the ambience, that pressure and just connect with the role”. Audience will connect with me only when i connect with myself. Once audience connect the instant response is achieved. They laugh and cry with the performer. That is absolute bliss. Theatre arts are wonderful opportunity to connect with oneself. Other Productions may not claim to give this bliss and joy completely. As a live performer, theatre artists win hands down. And every live performance gives so much of learning and help grow as a complete human being.
- What is your guidance for the younger generation who are entering the performing arts field?
Vivek: To begin with do some introspection and understand your honest intentions to take up performing arts as a profession. Never consider performing arts as a profession to get away from your inefficiency to handle some other career. Arts do not work that way. Never take up theatre arts because it is more glamorous and gives you more fan followers. Art does not stay long term if it is for the above intentions. So better clarity to enter this art will guide and lead to success.
Check your pocket and ensure that you and your dependants are met with all basic requirements.
I would also recommend beginners even before choosing what they want to do in theatre arts to collaborate with some theatre group and engage themselves onto the complete production life cycle. This is to understand the entire process.
Never fear failure. Even 100 failures do not mean end of it. Just see that you do not fail for the same reason every time. That is where your learning is.
Once all the said points are met, write it in your heart – “NO ONE IS BIGGER THAN THE ART ITSELF. YOU SURVIVE BECAUSE OF THE ART AND NOT THE OTHER WAY”. This keeps you grounded, extremely focused and dedicated all through your career. All the Best J
