Thespo 11 Lifetime Achievement Award

VIJAYA MEHTA

On December 13th, will be the presentation of the Thespo for Lifetime Achievement to Vijaya Mehta for her contribution to theatre. Mrs. Mehta, an actor and director is well known for her work in Marathi, Hindi and English.

·         Born in Vadodara, Gujarat in 1934.

·         Noticed by Ebrahim Alkazi during a performance of Othello while at Wilson College.

·         1953 began working with Theatre Group Bombay.

·         1954 joined Adi Marzban at the Indian Academy of Dramatic Arts.

·         First tasted Marathi professional theatre in Jhunjarao in 1955.

·         Began Rangayan, a theatre laboratory, in 1960 along with Vijay Tendulkar, Madhav Watve and Arvind Deshpande. Rangayan was committed to doing limited number of shows of powerful productions.

·         In 1973 began a successful working relationship with German director Fritz Bennewitz, which resulted in her working in Berlin.

·         Has acted and directed in English, Hindi and Marathi plays.

·         Her famous productions include Hamidabai chi Kothi, Barrister, Sandhya Chaya, Shakuntal, Hayavadan, Nagamandala,

·         Was part of the Bhulabai Desai Institute along with Ravi Shankar, M.F. Hussain, Sachin Shankar, Ken Rathode.

·         In 1984 she entered the world of TV and film both as an actress and director.

·         Her award winning films include Smriti Chitre, Raosaheb, Pestonjee.

·         Her telefilms Hamidabai Ki Kothi, Haweli Bulund Thi and her TV serial Lifeline have all won National and International awards. 

·         1988 to 1992 she was the Chairman of the National School of Drama.

·         1993, appointed as Executive Director of National Centre of Performing Arts, where she is currently working.

·         Major Awards

o       1975 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Excellence in Direction.

o       1985 awarded the Padmashree.

o       1986 she won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Rao Saheb.

Anahita Uberoi, daughter: “What was interesting was that she demarcated her work life from her family life quite clearly. Once rehearsal was over she would head straight home. She hardly ever socialized with her colleagues. On the other hand, if she had to work long hours, she would politely excuse herself from any home issues. I remember that when she was directing a TV show called ‘Lifeline’ she lived on location for 3 weeks as she felt being home would distract her. This was not out of town but in Bombay! Also, when she was shooting for a film in Goa where she played a widow with a shaved head, she came back with a partially shaved head without telling any of us!”

Pratima Kulkanri, protégé: “I would never have become a Director if I had not seen Vijaya Mehta.  I worked with her for about thirteen years. It was a period of hard work. She was a task-master. I often said to her, half in jest but mainly when I was tired, that when people ask me in future, what was your stint with Bai like, I will have only one word to say- arduous! It was only much later that I told her that I never knew arduous tasks would be so joyful! Apart from the joy that being with her, working with her brought me, what kept me going was the fact that if I worked for 12 hours a day, Bai worked for 15! The most important thing she has imbibed in me is that the Director is the captain, and he is responsible for every small thing that happens from the first bell to the time the curtain comes down. She said it not in words, but by action.”