Interview with a director from India, a participant in the BRICS countries laboratory

Director from India Mohit Takalkar presented a sketch of the play "Vassa" in Russian, immersing the audience in the tragic story of the "Iron Lady" - the owner of the Volga shipping company. Artists from Tatarstan theaters, including Honored Artist of Tatarstan Alsu Shakirova, performed on the stage of the new building of the Galiasgar Kamal Tatar State Academic Theater.

In the interview, Mohit Takalkar talks about his discoveries in Russian culture, the peculiarities of the Tatar people, and how his work on Maxim Gorky's play became a bridge between two cultures.

How did you learn about the BRICS Directing Lab, and what motivated you to participate in this project?

I was invited by the festival organizers, and I didn't know about the lab's existence until then. The offer was unexpected, but I was excited about the opportunity to participate in the project.

Was the choice of the play entirely up to you, or were you given a specific text?

The initiative came from the organizers. After reading the play, I was impressed by the female characters. I wanted to show their lives and stories, and how strong women were during that revolutionary time.

Is this your first experience working in Russia and Tatarstan?

Yes, I have never been here before, and it is something completely new and interesting for me.

How close is our culture to the culture of India, or, on the contrary, how strong are the differences between the countries?

From the beginning of my interactions with the actors, I realised that we are incredibly similar. At first glance, Russians may seem a bit reserved, while Indians are usually more open in their communication. However, when you start talking to Russian people, it becomes evident that they want to share their thoughts and stories. I felt as if I was talking to my Indian actors—we are truly similar.

Another thing that struck me was that we tend to think of India as a big country, but each region has its own unique culture, cuisine, and language. And of course, everyone is proud of their uniqueness. I had always thought of Russia as just one big country, but I had no idea that there was a separate republic called Tatarstan. When I came here and saw the Tatars, learned about their traditions, tried their cuisine, and noticed their love for their language and culture, it was a revelation. It shows how diverse and multifaceted your culture is. I really liked the fact that the Tatars are proud to preserve their identity. I've even started trying to speak Tatar!

That's great! What are your expectations for working on the play here in Tatarstan?

I hope that I've created a performance that will resonate with both cultures, both Russian and Indian. I want to show the audience the power and beauty of the women's stories that were relevant then and remain important today. I hope that this will serve as a bridge between our cultures and allow viewers to see the commonalities in human experiences.

What is the Indian audience's perception of Russian culture? Are they familiar with Russia's classical and contemporary theatrical traditions?

Of course, many Indians are familiar with Russian culture. Classical literature, particularly works by authors such as Gorky, Tolstoy, and Chekhov, is widely recognized and has been translated into numerous Indian languages. These works resonate in the Indian context, as they touch on topics close to our society: family relations, feudalism, class differences. When we read Russian classics, it seems to us that we are immersed in the familiar Indian reality.
Therefore, we can say that for us the Russian classics are something familiar and understandable.

As a participant in the Russian-Indian project, do you see prospects for bringing these two cultures closer through theater and other forms of art?

When I first came here, I was worried that interacting with Russian-speaking people would be difficult. But in reality, I felt like I was working with my own theater company. If there are more opportunities for collaboration, I would love to continue this work. Five days is not enough time for a deep connection. If I can stay for a longer period, it will give me the chance to exchange experiences, learn more about the local culture, and share my knowledge.

How would you rate your experience in this short lab? Did it enrich you as a professional?

I understand that it was just a small laboratory. I would have liked to work with other stage professionals – sound engineers, writers and directors. It would have given me the opportunity to hear their ideas and exchange experiences. Although the work was very intense, I hope for future collaboration.

Photo: Andrey Gromov