Modern Hindi theatre needs strong scripts: Om Puri

Modern Hindi theatre requires strong scripts to compete with their Marathi and Bengali counterparts, feels Veteran actor Om Puri, who is back on stage after 25 years, with his directorial venture 'Teri Amrita'.
The performance will be a part of the Punjabi Theatre Festival.'Teri Amrita', a Punjabi adaptation of Tumhari Amrita by Javed Siddiqui was inspired by the play 'Love Letters' by AC Gurney.It will show Puri playing the role of Zulfiqar Haidar, while Divya Dutta will portray the role of Amrita Nigam.
"I was very nervous initially when I decided to make a comeback in theatre. I started off with theatre when I was a teenager and was spotted by directors of the Punjab Kala Manch at a college play. Now at this point of life, when I am turning 64, I want to go back to my first love. I want to continue with theatre. I want to act and will be producing theatre from now on," says veteran actor Om Puri.
When asked about his return with 'Teri Amrita' he said, "A person who knows how to swim, but was out of touch and after 25 years you throw him into deep water, he will not be able to do it. Same here, thats why I chose a simple play, there is no music, no set, nothing to learn, you just have to present."
The one-and-a half hour play stages a conversation through love letters exchanged between Amrita and Zulfiqar over thirty-five years.
" This play aims to strike a chord in the mindset of mature audience, it will touch human emotions at all levels - humour, pathos and irony at various stages of the play," said one of the organisers.