BY ARTI DAS | NT BUZZ
The third day of the Bravia Sadir Theatre Festival will conclude with the Hindi play, ‘Adhe Adhure’ directed by well known theatre personality, Lillete Dubey.

In a candid chat with NT BUZZ she revealed why she selected this play for her Hindi directorial debut, its challenges and why this 40-year-old play will be celebrated even after 50 years
During this theatre festival you are showcasing the Hindi play ‘Aadhe Adhure’. This is the first Hindi play you have directed. What was the reason behind selecting this classic?
I am not new to direction as I have directed around 25 plays. This is, however, the first Hindi play I am directing. I had seen this play during my college days in Delhi and I had directly fallen in love with the script of this play. At that time I made a promise to myself that whenever I want to direct a Hindi play, I would direct this one. The story of ‘Aadhe Adhure’ is universal and its characters are well defined. 
How easy or difficult was it to portray the role of Savitri?
Portraying this role was not difficult for me as I am used to playing the role of a wife or mother. The challenge for me was the language. The Hindi of this play is different; it is very pure. Even though I have done TV serials and Hindi movies, it was difficult for me. The play is around 1-hour-45-minute duration and has long conversations. In films we shoot for some time. For me that was the challenging part.
Is directing yourself easier rather than someone else directing you?
Now I am used to directing myself and it is not so difficult. But, when you are directing and acting at the same time, you can’t judge your own performance as you can’t watch yourself. So, then I ask my co-actors to guide me.
The play was written by Mohan Rakesh around 40 years ago. But, it still has sensibilities of today's times. What according to you is the USP of this play?
The USP of this play lies in the way it is written and secondly it has a powerful story to tell. The characters are relatable and it is realistic. It has no happy ending or permanent solutions; it is a slice of life. I think it will be relatable even in future in the coming 50 years.
You are a theatre personality and a movie actor. So which medium you prefer? Do you think the challenges are more in theatre as it is an actor's medium?
I am working in theatre for the last 35 years. I believe that theatre has more range, challenges and there are many exciting things attached with it. Cinema on other hand is commercial and thus it deals with safe subjects. But, I enjoy working in cinema also, as you come across some wonderful actors. But, my first love is theatre.
What are your comments about today’s theatre scenario in the country?
I think theatre in the country is growing strong. Now there are even awards like Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) held every year. It is a good platform for regional plays as this year around 270 plays applied in various categories. I think we have lot of potential.
Lastly, what are your expectations from the Goan crowd for this play?
We are hoping and expecting that Goan audience appreciate our play. Also this is not the first time that I am performing here, as I’ve come here before to perform. But, at the same time, I think that here people do not get lot of theatre from all over like Pune, which is quite surprising. I think more plays should come down to Goa.
Adhe Adhure is a story of a middle-aged woman, Savitri, who undergoes a crisis in her personal life. Her husband proves incapable of providing her the emotional and financial security; her son is unemployed; while her daughter turns promiscuous in her teens. The drama rips off the mask from the face of pretentious society.