Kolkata: Multiple theatre directors in West Bengal have accused the central government of blocking repertory funds under a “pick-and-choose policy” vis-a-vis grant of financial aid to theatre artistes and directors.
The Union Ministry of Culture defines the repertory grant on its website as “financial assistance for promotion of guru-shishya parampara” (teacher-disciple tradition). Under the scheme, financial aid is given to drama and theatre groups, music ensembles, children’s theatre and for all genres of performing arts. For directors/gurus, aid of Rs 15,000 is paid per month and for artists/shishya, support of Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000 per month, depending on age. An expert committee reviews the grant applications annually.
The latest list of recipients of the repertory grants for FY 2023-24 did not include a number of theatre groups from West Bengal that had been previously getting the grant.
Speaking to ThePrint, theatre director Debesh Chattopadhyay said the alleged fund blockade has impacted 70-72 theatre groups across India, including 24 in West Bengal — the highest number in a state, followed by Manipur with 21 such theatre groups.
“In July this year, I received the repertory grant for 2021-2022. On 1 August, I received a communication from the Centre stating that I was no longer eligible for this grant because I am an established filmmaker and make enough money. This is both a political and personal vendetta,” he said. He also alleged that “we have heard the West Bengal BJP (unit) had a role to play (in denial of funds)”, while adding that “we have nothing to prove this claim”.
BJP spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya told ThePrint that the matter had been raised with the culture ministry and said he was hopeful the issue would be resolved soon.
According to Chattopadhyay, the grant, though a miniscule amount, was crucial for full-time theatre artists. “A shishya would usually get Rs 6,000 per month from this grant that would help with monthly expenditures. With the funds being stopped, these artists would now have to look for alternate options to earn a living,” he said.
While the repertory funds have come through for a few, they too have decided to stand up for those who have lost the safety net of the scheme.
Former Rajya Sabha MP from the state’s ruling Trinamool Congress and theatre personality Arpita Ghosh said she hasn’t faced any problem with the grant so far, but alleged that she had “never seen such a blatant pick-and-choose policy” for disbursal of funds.
“As theatre workers, we don’t have a fixed salary — it depends on factors like the number of shows, the director, the response from the audience… and now suddenly this guru-shishya fund has been blocked. This is unacceptable and shouldn’t have happened. If there was a need to revise the amount to include more groups, it should have been made clear. I do see a political bias here,” said Ghosh.
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West Bengal & theatre
In West Bengal, the history of theatre can be traced back to the pre-Independence era in what was called the jatra, where travelling troupes would depict stories of Radha and Krishna through exaggerated movements and expression.
During the time of the British Raj, Bengali theatre played a vital role in stirring anti-British sentiment among the masses and to instill in them a sense of nationality.
Explaining the complexities of a theatre production, Chattopadhyay said: “Theatre not only comprises artists and directors, but there is also stage production, backstage workers, technicians, sound engineers, light man, make-up artists, costume production, set builders, and we need to hire space and advertise our shows. So, while we are essentially producing plays, the team that works for one show itself is huge and sustenance is a worry for many.”
“And unlike theatre in Delhi or Mumbai where renowned artists from Bollywood are crowd-pullers, we don’t have that privilege in Bengal. But I must mention, the audience in Bengal is still large and theatre remains popular despite these challenges,” he added.
‘Theatre groups targeted’
According to Ghosh, the ministry of culture, through the National School of Drama in Delhi, had prodded theatre groups to perform plays on central government schemes ahead of the Lok Sabha polls this year.
“The script of the plays was almost like the manifesto of the BJP and many theatre groups had declined to perform. Most such groups have now been blocked from receiving the funds,” alleged Ghosh.
She, however, doesn’t feel that the freezing of funds would impact Bengali theatre.
“This grant was sent to one’s personal account. With or without it, theatre will continue to thrive because it is the only art form that doesn’t have any censorship, unlike the cinema or even OTT releases in the country. Theatre continues to express thoughts freely and remains a popular medium of communication which will continue to entertain and educate the masses in the face of obstacles, like it has done in the past,” said Ghosh.
Theatre personality and West Bengal education minister Bratya Basu declined to comment on the matter, saying that “if at all, the chief minister will speak about it”.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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