When I returned to my room, I found three people sitting with Balu in the hall. They got up when I reached near them.
Balu smiled at me and said, “These are my drama troupe members. We usually conduct our practice sessions here, when nobody is staying”.
I introduced myself, smiling at them, “Hello, I am Harsh. I am a photographer. I have heard a lot about the beauty of this place. When I came here, Balu told me that I would get the chance to shoot the temple festival as well”.
They felt relieved that I did not feel any animosity toward them. They introduced themselves as Sankaran, Lalu, and Anoop. Sankaran looked like the elder of the group while Lalu and Anoop seemed to be in their thirties.
I asked, “So what are you guys planning this year? I heard it is a new story, something political. Also, don't you have any more members, only the four of you?”
Sankaran smiled, and replied, “Yes, we do have more people. Three more, in fact. Dileep, Akbar and Thulasi. They have gone to collect our costumes. We have the show in two days' time. Once we get the dresses, we are planning to rehearse in the costumes for the next two days”.
Balu added, “We were mostly doing plays based on stories from epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana till now. This year we decided to get real and thought of political subjects. Our festival committee also agreed to our idea, but we have not shown them what we have in mind”. He looked into the eyes of the other three as he ended.
I sensed some tension in the group and decided to change the topic. I asked, “So you guys would also join us for dinner right? We can probably have a campfire also, and I can see you guys rehearse. I added, “I hope you guys would not mind if I take a few pictures also. After all, that is what I am here for”
They all agreed, and I left them to discuss their play. I went back to my room and put on a jacket. It was starting to feel cold and coming from Mumbai, the climate change was drastic. There was a fireplace built into the wall facing the bed. There was a fire burning already, with small pieces of logs slowly burning. The red hot embers gave a reddish hue to the room, which was starting to get dark.
I walked over to the camera bag and took the camera out. I started flipping through the photos on the display. Some of the photos could have been better, I felt. The light filtering through the leaves in the forest had given the photo of the temple ruins a different look. I deleted some of the photos and transferred the good ones to my laptop. I decided to do the editing later.
I put the batteries to charge and walked over to the large windows. The group outside was having a heated discussion. Sankaran looked like the leader of the group, as he was talking animatedly using his arms and body to express himself. The other three were listening to him in full concentration. Anoop also got up after a while and started talking. While I could not hear them through the thick windows, I guessed that they were enacting their scenes and rehearsing their dialogues.
I put the other battery pack into the camera and went out, planning to shoot a few of their pictures. Anoop and Lalu, who were rehearsing a combination scene, stopped when they saw me.
I said, “Please continue. I just came to take a few photos of the troupe in rehearsal, if you guys don’t mind”.
They looked at each other and smiled. They started where they left off, as I walked around looking for a good angle to shoot.
Anoop: “This is not your city. The basic services and facilities which you see there are all luxuries here. Don’t come and preach to us on what we should do and what we should not. If you feel so strongly about all this, then join us and work here. Leave all your luxuries and be a common man”.
Lalu: “This is not my fight. I just told you what I saw and felt. You can consider my suggestions if you want. Otherwise forget them”.
Anoop (anger on his face): “You are educated and still feign ignorance? A foreign land does not need you, it is your motherland that needs you! (With a sigh) Anyway, it is your life, your decision. Do whatever you want!”
Sankaran interrupted Anoop and said, “Anoop, Anoop! Use your hands! The expression should be there in your body also”.
Anoop repeated his dialogues till he got the expressions right.
I got a few shots of the group rehearsing, as the light started to fade. On the other side, the forest below was reverberating with the sounds of birds and beetles who were settling in for the night. There is a constant humming around you once you are in the forest. As the day drew to a close, it reached a crescendo, as if all the birds were talking to their mates and families.
The setting sun provided a good canvas to a classic shot, as the parrots and the cuckoos flew back to their nests. Fog also started coming down, bringing a chill in the air. I walked back and sat on the chair in the veranda. I didn’t want to disturb the preparation of the troupe, and lit a cigarette. I sat lost in thoughts as the play went on in the background.