Why Prithvi is the Most Iconic Theatre in Mumbai

When a person comes to Mumbai, or just talks about it, Bollywood is one of the first things on their mind. And they are right to think so because the city’s cultural identity is ostensibly tied to the city’s extensive and extremely popular film industry. Whether that person is a hardcore Mumbaikar or a starry-eyed hopeful who comes to Mumbai in the hopes of making it in the film or the television industry. The homes of Bollywood celebrities are like temples. However, it is not just the film and television industries that give Mumbai its status but it also has a thriving scene that features the performing and fine arts consisting of enactments of popular dramas and plays in its many theatres. 

After all, if we are talking about a thriving cultural scene then it cannot be considered as complete without an active and popular performing arts culture as well. Hindi was only dominant in the cinema space whereas the theatre culture of Mumbai consisted only of sporadic and low-budget English and Marathi theatre. The Hindi language had a rich literary heritage in the form of the numerous stories and plays written by countless authors and playwrights but rarely saw the stage due to the high production costs and a small audience. This is exactly why the need for a place like the iconic Prithvi Theatre arose. Over time this little charming art colony in Juhu, Mumbai has become the go-to place for anyone looking for a fun and entertaining evening.

1Its Rich Heritage

Prithvi Theatre was founded in the memory of the legendary Bollywood actor and the patriarch of perhaps the most popular family in Bollywood history, Shri Prithviraj Kapoor by a memorial trust and a research foundation. He performed plays all over the country with his theatre company even when he was at the height of his career as a professional actor in films. When he had to stop acting and performing due to his health, he continued supporting theatrical performances by the members of his company. After his death, his son Shashi Kapoor founded the trust in 1975 as a non-profit space that provides patronage and contributes to the development of the performing and fine arts in Mumbai, leading to the inauguration of the best theatre in Mumbai, Prithvi Theatre, in 1978. 

When an iconic actor like Prithviraj Kapoor is the inspiration behind its inception, then the first performance also has to be iconic, right? The first performance ever at Prithvi Theatre was‘Udhwasta Dharamshala’. And it was performed by none other than the artists who are big names in the entertainment industry today, like Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, and many more. It was followed by a political satire called ‘Bakri’. Coming out of the political repression during The Emergency, it seemed like a fitting way to inaugurate the revival of freedom of expression.

Jennifer Kapoor, wife of Shashi Kapoor and Prithviraj Kaporr’s daughter-in-law, was one of the founding patrons of Prithvi Theatre. She was said to be a great fan of the legendary Indian Classical Musician, Ustad Zakir Hussain who performs every day on her birthday in the traditional baithak style, which is the proper way to enjoy Indian classical music, without the use of any modern electronic equipment. He continues to perform on her birthday even today after her death, as a tribute to this great patron of the arts. 

Interesting fact- Jennifer Kapoor’s death on the 7th of September, 1984 did not result in the theatre being shut down for the day. The popular expression among artists ‘The show must go on’ is said to be behind that, a beautiful expression of theatre’s undying spirit.

2Inclusive Spaces

Prithvi Theatre aimed to promote the growth of professional Hindi language theatre by providing a space that was well-equipped and managed as provided at a reasonable cost, all of which were something that were lacking in those days. It would provide employment opportunities to aspiring actors, stage managers and technicians, researchers, and many other related fields, apart from hosting and conducting workshops, providing rehearsal spaces, research and library facilities, and many more. Apart from this, one of its most important aims was that it would also provide educational and medical assistance to the theatre workers and their families.

One of the most inclusive spaces ever built for artists, it was made sure that everyone could access the theatre and its facilities easily, with provisions made for artists to stay within its premises for as long as they performed there. Respect for theatre and maintaining the sanctity of the creative space are some of the most important values that the theatre maintains. It means no entry after the 3rd bell, a strict moratorium on the use of phones during the performance, and making sure that every seat in the theatre is filled through last minute sales as well. Apart from the theatre space itself, the premises also consists of an extensive library and perhaps more popular, the Prithvi Café. An open-air space, delicious meals, its famous Irish coffees and cutting chai, this little tranquil oasis has become one of the most popular meeting spaces for artists and people in general.

3Community-driven Agenda

Prithvi Theatre, over the years, has curated a lot of cultural events, workshops and partnerships, all of which are aimed at raising the cultural awareness and knowledge base of the population. One of them is Chai&Why@Prithvi. A partnership between Prithvi theatre and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, it aims to discuss scientific issues that are in the interest of the public at large, but outside the scope of an academic discussion setting. It is giving an informal platform for discussion with people who have knowledge of these matters and connects them to people who have little to no knowledge on the subject but want to know more about. It consists of a short talk by the speaker, a scientist or an expert, followed by the informal discussion and question and answer session. 

Another partnership is with the renowned and certified storyteller, Maulshree Kalothia with Storytelling@Prithvi. She enjoys telling children stories and listening to them as well. According to her, storytelling is the best way to make a child smile as well as develop their imagination and creativity. With stories curated exclusively for children 3-5 years old and another set for 5-8 year olds, they will have much needed stimulus in the age of gadgets and electronic games. And all of these events are free of charge!

Mumbai’s premier hub for the performing arts has become one of the favourite places for Mumbaikars to hang out and enjoy in its creative and eating spaces and continues to draw people from all over. With over 500 shows and performances each year, it truly is Mumbai’s most legendary cultural hub and a fitting tribute to a city that values its artistic talent. 

Picture Credits- http://prithvitheatre.org/the-space, Prithvi Theatre

by Ritvik Agarwal

Content Writer at Things2do