EDB: You were a theatre actor before you got into direction. How did this change of roles take place? Which one do you prefer or which one gives you more satisfaction?

Rajiv Krishnan: I would call this change from acting to directing natural. I was an actor for a long time and then about ten years ago I felt it’d be challenging to take up direction. Both are interesting in their own ways. Since I am busy directing plays I don’t get much time for acting but I practice occasional acting and it is very interesting.

EDB: What is your educational background? How did your affair with theatre happen?

Rajiv Krishnan: I come from a background of economics. Theatre happened by accident actually. My friends were into theatre and while helping them out I inevitably got pulled into it. I don’t have a proper formal training in theatre. I did not attend any acting school. At the start of every play we conduct workshops and they have helped me learn. Everything that I know abouttheatre today is what I have learned from experience. I have learnt it on the job.

EDB: It’s been quite a journey so far. As a director tell us about your plays and which one is your favorite? Do you stick to any genres? 

Rajiv Krishnan: I don’t have any favorite. I have directed seven plays in the last ten years. Each play is interesting – ‘Moonshine’, ‘Sky-Toffee’ and ‘Sangathi Arinhya’ are few of my previous plays. This year the biggest play has been ‘Ms Meena’ and it was a challenging one. The second play this year is a smaller three-actor-play which narrates a few folk tales from Tamil Nadu.
I don’t stick to any particular genre. If the subject is interesting then I choose it. I prefer a mix of all elements.

EDB: In ‘Ms Meena’ you made experimental use of props and even actors were used as props. What is the idea behind this unique practice?

Rajiv Krishnan: This unique practice came out of the process of improvisation. The idea behind it is that we did not want our audience to be spoon-fed. If we used props like vase and tables for a sitting room scene it would be very apparent. We wanted our audiences to connect by using their imagination; and it is also the actors’ job to trigger off the audience’s imagination so that they can make the connection.

EDB: Your comments on the theatre scene in South-India.

Rajiv Krishnan: I cannot comment on this because every state has its different identity in theatre. Television has lured away the audience but theatre still has its unique USP so some part of the audience will keep coming back for it.