‘Poet Soumitra helped actor Kishore Kadam to prosper’

On his visit to Nagpur, actor Kishore Kadam who writes poems under the nom-de plume, Soumitra, spoke exclusively with me. “When the actor in me gets depressed, the poet in me helps me to survive,” said the man, who had struggled a lot, worked a lot, and won critical acclaims; but waiting for a popular recognition. This interview was published in The Hitavada on February 22, 2010.

Being a part of commercial super-hit Natarang, National award winner Jogwa, and critically acclaimed Pangira is a matter of pride for Kishore Kadam; who is working in the industry since 15 years. But with selected roles in parallel theatre, challenging roles in art films, and a few commercial hits, Kadam is still waiting for the remarkable success. “I am an acclaimed actor, not a successful one,” he says.
Kishore belongs to the second generation of non-chocolate heroes of Indian theatre and cinema. He is following the footsteps of stalwart like Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri.
Young Kishore was noticed by Theatre Guru Satyadev Dubey while he was doing theatre and poetry simultaneously in college days in Mumbai. Kishore is also an acclaimed Marathi poet today. But he was groomed as an actor in Dubey’s school.
“Dubeyji taught me how to live a rich life besides how to act. He is my Guru.” says Kishore, who was introduced to Mumbai theatre with productions like Bambai ke Kowwe. However, his ticket to national fame was the role of Harilal Gandhi, the Mahatma’s son, in the play Gandhi Viruddha Gandhi.
With plays like Gandhi Viruddh Gandhi, Yelkot, Gandhi-Ambedkar and the Prof Mahesh Elkunchwar’s classic Wada Chirebandi trilogy, he caught the critic’s eye time and again. But not a popular recognition. “I wonder, how and why I was away from publicity. Due to this, sometimes you get frustrated. Many a time, you become workless, unnoticed. This phase comes in the life of every actor like me. Some leave industry, some commit suicides, but a sensitive poet in me, never let me lose my passion. I kept on working, and still working with the same enthusiasm.”

List of Kishore’s achievements is long. But his to-do list is longer. He says, he is satisfied with his work but the pinnacle he is reaching for, still eludes him. “I think, it is good. Because, if I reach the final destination, I will stop.”
Kishore was best actor in Pune Film Festival since 2 years. Won many state and national awards for stage and theatre. But, people know him as Pandoba of Natarang.
“I strive to catch the gray shade of the character. No one is completely good or completely bad. I search and highlight the salient feature,” he said.
When asked, what next after Natarang and Jogwa, Kishore smiled saying, “I am waiting for a good role to come.”

Wah Ustad..!

Ustad Zakir Hussain’s fingers are full of magic. They beat the tabla to bring out lively music out of it. Otherwise lifeless, the instrument then creates magic. A touch of his fingers, and tabla brings rain, lighting, and even the sound of conch shells on the stage. Nagpurians, on Sunday, experienced the rare magic. The tabla maestro’s concert at Yashwant Stadium organised by Sakaal Media Group and Videocon, was a sell-out success, featuring the traditional repertoire on tabla in solo and duet. The evening featured electrifying improvisations on the sitar by Niladri Kumar, and on drums by Taufiq Qureshi.
An acclaimed composer, son and disciple of the legendary tabla maestro Ustad Allarakha, and Zakir’s sibling; Taufiq started the eve with the ‘Ganesh Vandana’. He interacted in Marathi, and expressed the rhythm in breathing. Showcasing the traditional flavour and intricacies of Indian rhythm, interwoven with
contemporary world percussions; Taufiq enthralled all with his trademark style of body and vocal
percussions to create unique rhythmic motifs spanning across cultures.
With an African instrument Tabaltaal, Taufiq filled the venue with the waves of Indian folk music. With Punjabi Bhangara, he made the audience sing ‘Balle Balle’. With Gujarati Garba, he made them call ‘A ji re..’ while with Marathi Lezim, he made them shout ‘Ji Ji ra..’
Niladri Kumar, son and disciple of Sitar maestro Pandit Kartick Kumar, flashed his unparalleled brilliance with improvising style. He effortlessly created several mysterious dhuns in an unbelievable stream. After accepting several applauces, Niladri Kumar welcomed Ustad Zakir Hussain on the stage.
Listening Zakir Hussain requires highest vigilance and alertness. Because one gets transported into a time warp spiral by the relentless rhythms. The musical excursion began with the carefully selected repertoire. One of the most memorable renditions was his abstraction of the sound of Shiva’s dumroo (drum) and a magical recreation of the blowing of Shankhas (conch shells) played on the tabla!
This was followed by the rainfall-style on Tabla.
With every rendition, the applause grew louder with the finale forcing the audience to get on their feet, clapping long after the fusion had faded. The trio left the audience spellbound and wrapped the show with eternal dhun of ‘Raghupati Raghava Rajaram.’
Unfortunately, bad sound arrangement and delayed public response compromised what was otherwise an electrifying performance, distracting the audience from flowing into the mood of the rhthmic melody.
The tabla virtuoso of the highest standard, Zakir Hussain was felicitated for his contribution to both classical Indian music and cross-cultural music. Resident Editor of Sakaal Nagpur, Shripad Aparajit; Unit Head Sunil Londhe; Videocon branch head Saurabh Kumar felicitated the artists on behalf of the Orange City.