MAHESH DATTANI needs little introduction. An eminent writer, director and filmmaker, Mahesh has lots of features that make him stand out among his contemporaries. At present, he is one of the most prolific writers of English drama. He can be called a ‘living legend’ as nearly all his plays are studied both by UG and PG students, besides the researchers in colleges and universities all over the country. He was the first Indian English dramatist to receive Sahitya Akademi Award in the Indian English Drama, a dramatist who commands equal respect overseas and at home, for width and profundity of images and symbols in his plays. Merinews CJ Dr Ratan Bhattacharjee had the opportunity to interview the legend during a two-day National seminar, held recently.

CJ: Some of your dramas highly controversial. What do you have to say?

Dattani: Yes, there are some gay elements in Bravely Fought the Queen. But it is a very thought-provoking social issue and we should pay some attention to it.

CJ: But this can create some trouble for you during the stage performances. Isn’t it a concern?

Dattani: Yes, in Mumbai such events happened. But I didn’t bow down. I don’t create controversies. But controversies may occur sometimes when one deals with the taboos. But they should be demolished.

CJ: Did you face any trouble anytime?

Dattani: Yes, in Mumbai last year the District Magistrate had to intervene. I am not a man to succumb to pressure groups and love to call a spade a spade.

CJ: Your popularity has increased tremendously after you won the Sahitya Akademi award.

Dattani: Or, may be that I was popular and that made me win the Sahitya Akademi (laugh).

CJ: You are the first playwright in English to have won the Sahitya Akademi award. It is simply amazing. Your plays have been directed by eminent directors.

Dattani: (in an enthusiastic tone) yes, directors like Arvind Gaur, Alyque Padamsee and Lillete Dubey.

CJ: Where did you have your schooling?

Dattani: I went to Baldwin Boys High School and then went on to join St. Joseph's College, Bangalore. You will be shocked to know that I am a graduate in History, Economics and Political Science and I had nothing to do with literature. Yes, to make you more shocked, I was a Post Graduate in Marketing and Advertising Management.

CJ: Wonderful and simply amazing. How did you choose your career as a dramatist?

Dattani: Prior to my stint with the world of theatre, you, know, I used to work as a copywriter in an advertising firm. In 1986, I wrote my first full length play, Where There’s a will.

CJ: That year my daughter Rituparna was born. You know she is the youngest female writer of Bengali literature?

Dattani: Child prodigy.

CJ: Yes, she wrote her first book of short stories, BHUTIYA at the age of 11 in 1997. It was released by the then Chief Minister Jyoti Basu in the presence of Buddhadev Bhattacharya. Rituparna enjoyed your film Morning Raga.

Dattani: O’ wonderful. I personally like that film.

CJ: But you first shot into news with your debut film Mango Souffle. Then only you made the movie Morning Raaga. When did you start working full-time with theatre?

Dattani: Yes since 1995.

CJ: If I am not wrong, your ‘Dance Like a Man’ was published in 1989 and Tara in 1991, Bravely Fought the Queen in 1991, and Final Solutions in 1993. So before 1995, nearly all your most famous plays had been written.

Dattani: (giggles)

CJ: After 1995 you wrote On a Muggy Night in Mumbai in 1998. You wrote a radio play for BBC that year?

Dattani: Yes, that year I wrote the radio play ‘Seven Circles Round the Fire’ for BBC.

CJ: I personally liked ’30 Days in September,’ which was published in 2001. ‘The Brief Candle’ was published after that.

Dattani: This year, I am a little happier. The Kolkata people love me so much and they have attended the seminar at Dum Dum Motijheel College even on the holiday of Muharram.

CJ: Yes, we were very much concerned about that. Teachers and scholars might not turn up for the seminar on the holiday. But you have a magic spell. Nearly 350 scholars and college and university teachers attended the UGC seminar.

Dattani: Yes, I liked the interactive session. I didn’t give a very long keynote address.

CJ: But the interactive session was very much engaging. It is recorded and the DVD will be available in the Kolkata Book Fair, 2012. Your speech will also be released in a DVD.

Dattani: Yes, I personally wanted Usha Ganguly to release the DVD.

CJ: We are trying to release the DVD in a befitting manner. The college and university teachers who attended the seminar from all over the country are waiting for the DVD release. How would you like the Dattani Archive and Research Association (DARA) being inaugurated by Dr. Karunasindhu Das, the Vice Chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University? He hopes that the DARA will be a national centre for Dattani Studies.

Dattani: Yes, I am very much hopeful. You can arrange for online collections and access.

CJ: How do you like Kolkata?

Dattani: (smiling) yes, very much. I came earlier to Narendrapur Ramkrishna Mission. Prof. Satyaki Pal organized everything so nicely.