SPOTLIGHT
eNews edition
shines
SPOTLIGHT
on an individual (or a team) who has (have) founded and/or running an organization that impacts positively and significantly on the lives of New England residents.
This month we are shining the
SPOTLIGHT
on Jayanti Badyopadhyay - the Co-founder of Stage Ensemble Theater Unit (SETU)
I
AGB:
Welcome to the SPOTLIGHT. I thank you sincerely for finding time to chat with me during this busy holiday season. Before SETU what was your connection to Theater.
Jayanti Badyopadhyay
:
I love theater and acting. My first acting role was when I was in my 2
nd
Grade. I played the central character – a role of a boy, in a Tagore’s play –
Daak Ghar
(Post Office). Currently Subrata is planning a production where male roles will be performed by females and it reminds me that I had already done such transforming role right at the beginning of my acting career. Starting from then I did lot of theater all through my school days. After moving to United States I continued to do theater in Bengali community setting. In year 2000 I wrote and produced a Bengali movie back in Calcutta –
Shesh Thikana
(The Last Address) – I realized then that when one is passionate about something you will find right people and the right resources. It was an awesome experience working with a film Studio and many artists, some of them were celebrities too. The only downside of this experience was financially it was not a profitable venture. But when I add all the intangibles of learning and experience, it was certainly worth it.
IAGB:
Is there an event/incident/experience to which you can trace your passion to theater?
Jayanti Badyopadhyay:
I just knew I wanted to act. I did not become a professional actor (one who earns livelihood through the practice of this art) but I have no regrets since I enjoy teaching too equally and so being known as an amateur actor is still a matter of great pride for me. My mother guided me from the very first foray into acting and has been a consistent support.
IAGB:
Of the many roles you played which one you cherish the most?
Jayanti Badyopadhyay:
The role of
Sarita
in
Kamala
stands apart for me as it gave me an opportunity to display a wide range of emotions in that role. I start of as a faithful wife of the male protagonist and end as a free thinking rebellious individual. My very first SETU production was as
Sarita
in
Kamala
. But very recently I had another opportunity to reprise this role. Between these two productions I sense that I have enhanced as an actor and hence this time performing as
Sarita
was even more fulfilling. But that said, I have to mention that I loved my role as
Kunti
in Mahabharata Play especially performing the Karna – Kunti Samvaad. Finally, the role that I found most difficult to play was that of a
Malati
- a politician with centrist views in
Once upon time Not in Bollywood
. In this role I had to connect with the audience through speeches and minimally through the interactions with other co actors on stage and hence I call it the toughest role to date.
IAGB:
How have you leveraged your Business faculty experience with your art and vice versa?
Jayanti Badyopadhyay
:
The cross connection between my day job (teaching) and my passion (acting) is one of the reasons why I love acting. My every performance is different and unique and so is my experience as a teacher. The students, like the audience members react differently and uniquely to each of my lectures the same way like my theater audience. When I am teaching in the classroom I am always thinking if my students understand me, my pronunciation, my projection and so on. Additionally, I have used my experiences with theater and movie making to write few case studies which have been published in refereed journals. So, yes there is an active feedback loop between theater and teaching and I thrive on it.
IAGB:
Name one person to whom you are most thankful to in this journey.
Jayanti Badyopadhyay
:
My mother has always been the fuel of my passion. She has been helping me right from a very young age. Gautam – my husband has been a great support along with my entire family. Then of course Subrata Das – my cofounder of SETU has been a constant source of inspiration and I got to learn a lot from him. One thing I would like to add is that all of our productions have a social message and introducing Indian cultural values and system to the expatriates here is always very satisfying.
IAGB:
Your plans for the future with respect to theater.
Jayanti Badyopadhyay
:
I have a dream to work on a project with children and also write and produce a short film. I have some definite ideas, a project that will need four to five children. As I said earlier, I wouldn’t mind to call my role of ‘Sarita’ as capstone of my acting career but that said if a well written project comes along – something that is written for my age like in the movie Bucket List with Morgan Freeman, Al Pacino et al. I would certainly be up for such a challenge. The one thing I know I don’t want to do in future is to finance a full length movie again.
IAGB:
Some rapid fire round to know more about you as a person. What are you more passionate about: Accounting or Acting?
Jayanti Badyopadhyay
:
(
Laughter)…. I am more passionate about teaching Accounting but then I also feel that teaching is a type of acting.
IAGB:
What is your
p
reference: Comedy or Drama?
Jayanti Badyopadhyay
:
I enjoy comedy but I love performing in a Drama.
.
IAGB
:
What is easy when acting it out: Laughing or crying?
Jayanti Badyopadhyay
:
Crying is easier than acting out laughter.
IAGB:
Saree or Western outfits?
Jayanti Badyopadhyay
:
This is an easy question for me – I love wearing sarees and I look good in them.
IAGB:
Bengali Sweets or Fish and Rice?
Jayanti Badyopadhyay
:
I love Fish and Rice .
IAGB:
Time with grand children or time at practices?
Jayanti Badyopadhyay
:
At this stage of my life spending every moment with grandchildren is more precious. That said I like to keep my commitment on practices and would sacrifice almost anything to keep my time.
IAGB:
Thank you so much sparing your precious time for a sitting with me during your grading week and the busy holiday time of shopping and cooking. We wish you happy holidays.
IAGB interviewing team:
Sanjay Kudrimoti
