‘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.”