Obama vs. Okkak

Natya Shringar

Designing beards, hairpieces, prosthetics, face sculpting...all the excitement lies in “correcting the perfect face”. What do we mean???

We are “correcting to the perfect face”That would be making the face oval, round,elongated, removing and adding a couple of lines, eyes in almond shape, bright eyes, quiet eyes, projecting edge of the brow, coral lips, coarse lips, and sticking beard and mustache to our clean shaved actors (We assure you ..they look very handsome)

I thought make-up is easy - applying foundation, strokes of colors, eye-pencil, lip color and making hair white. On the job, I realized its not the same as applying make-up to a friend. The play plot, the actors and the face – all combined and set to emote the audience. Nitya's knowledge and experiences, the techniques, is helping us to create a character or make corrections. To transform Navjyoti as Mahamatya, Harish as Pratosh…. demands experience. Keerthi is making corrections to Rajiv's handsome face to sculpt the king Okkak and his dilemma and Sunder as the Warrior General. Nitya will create stereotypical submissive queen into a bold woman Sheelvati of the 20th century who accepts her sexuality and blatantly copes with it outside the marital relations.

Here is the expected age the actors should look on stage …...is it challenging???
Sheelvati (early 30s)
Okkak (later 30s)
Pratosh (later 30s)
Mahamatya (in 60s)
Raj Purohit (late 50s)
Mahabaladhikrit (late 50s)
Mahattarika (early 30s)
Pratihari (early 20s)

Finding the perfect foundation, color lighters, mustache, lip color....on our task list now..an arduous task for someone who has never bought make up for anyone else!!! Will keep you guys posted on our accomplishments..interested??? join us for the next make up session.

A set worthy of Okkak!?

Since the king himself has started the blog I will begin by paying my respects :). Me being one of the production crew. Thrilled and excited to be working in my first Naatak production. Bringing the sets up for this production has been fantastic. We've got a wonderful set coming up on stage at the Cubberley in Palo Alto, I'm happy to say.

Pradeepji our master planner, producer, our fearless leader in this endeavor has been nothing but on the mark with his planning and designing. The man's a wood work maestro and so is his workshop. I'm learning a lot of mad skilz on the job here. What with the wood shaving, cutting, measuring, glueing, nailing and stapling. Stuff can get pretty exciting.

We have most of the sets done by now. We have a few things for the background to be done. I don't want to reveal too many details. Come on out to our production and you'll see it in all its glory. Meanwhile a quick shoutout to all the crew of whom I'm the designated QA. If anybody has any issues with that they can take it up with me :D.

I love the character KING OKKAK!

This is one of the most brilliant script I have read in my acting career so far. Very crisp, beautiful language, no excessive dialogues (hence no need for any edits). Hats off to the playwright Mr. Surendra Verma. I am playing the protagonist King Okkak in the play. Mr. Verma has described the kings agony & love for his queen in a terrific & gut-wrenching manner. For sure, Surendra Verma has been able to put himself in the shoes of Okkak.

How would you feel if your wife whom you dearly love and who loves you back too, is forced to sleep with another man? I ask this question everyday as I prepare for this role in front of the mirror, while driving, on the treadmill ........