Darshan Rajendran Interview: How acting went away from being a hobby for a full career

Darshan Rajendran initially started theater as a hobby. As she is more through the medium that she realized that she enjoyed the medium completely to pursue it all the time. Over the years, he discovered other associated forms such as dubbing, voice over, theater workshops and films. Remember her singing of ‘Bawra Man’ for Malayalam film MaanadhiAmong the films that they are part of Will meet again soon, Ionum penum, Hridayam, Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey, Purusha Pritham, Heaven And Rifle clubHe has acted in the web series like CTRL ATL del And New safarRecently she has been a part of the play Goodbye bypassDirected by actor Roshan Matthew. Nostalgia-Uptoran Malayalam Play’s seven shows were embraced with enthusiasm by Kochi audiences. Sports, described through children’s approach, the ancestral house is demolished to make way for a bypass soon.

Excerpt from an interview with the actor:

I really did not think of coming back to plays because I started searching for acting with theater in 2011. At that time I had a job and it was a kind of hobby. It was some time around 2014 when I decided to quit my job and spend more time with it because I really enjoyed doing so! I was eager to spend more time with the theater. When I started doing it professionally, I realized that the theater alone was not enough to maintain itself. So, out of purely thought, ‘How do I continue it?’

Darshan in one scene from drama (third to third). Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

I started doing voiceover work and dubbing, teaching, doing theater workshops and doing films. So, films are also a part of that. I want to do all this [acting related] Somehow or in another. And I am doing all this, perhaps not so public but in my own way. I am also working with children and when I do not have a film shoot.

The purpose with the theater was always happening, but because it was difficult, logically, to perform a drama, there is not a play. We did A very common family (AVNF) In 2019, many of us are from the same group. Even during Kovid, we did a short intimate drama; We are reading together readings, and hosting home performance. I have been a part of the theater and I don’t think about coming back. But yes, like a show Goodbye bypass It is difficult to go. We started [AVNF] With a small herd of people. Today, when a show takes place, 25-30 people are working non-stop to run it. A community has come together to run it. This does not happen much often and I am very grateful for this and really excited.

Yes, we all have run inside. The process of the play took place in this way. This is the story of Roshan and it was the departure point. This was something that happened in his life that inspired him to develop it. But when we started talking about it, we realized that all thoughts are universal. We all have a house that we remember or which we have to let go or we think when we think it as a house. What is the house, but for the idea of ​​those who have your home! All this is universal.

Its (Goodbye bypass) A distracted performance: Each scene is designed by a set of actors, musicians, writers, directors. They all come together to do so. Every day in rehearsal is not that we have a written scene. We were making it together; So all the actors have played different characters in it, as I play this character called Thumbi. But I have also played other characters; We are all switched characters and were played while we were making.

Say in one scene – the three children are meeting a boy, and they become friends. We will try two sets of actors with various versions of that scene. Then we all sit together, see it, judge it and then decide what works and what to maintain. All this is shaped by artists and crew. We have all been involved with every idea. Everyone has a sense of ownership in this way; So we all have come with our stories of homes and each of them, and we all contributed. This is actually one of the associate processes that we all have really enjoyed being a part.

I am going to work on another drama with this Chennai-based group called Parach. They are reviving their game, Under Mangostine tree And I am going to join him after this game. I have been active in theater space, but as I said, being logically playing together, when most actor in Kochi is film actor, it is not easy. Managing everyone’s time and ensuring that it also happens when working as a manufacturer … just requires time for that work. This is quite a job, but now we have a group that is included in it. We have also found a small network around it, if a person is unavailable then a community of actors steps. We have actors who are stepping to the stage manager jobs, pitching to ensure that it happens and the only way that will happen in this way.

I live in many homes around the world, so L has had to say goodbye to many houses. I am not exaggerating, but of course in more than 30-35 homes. The idea of ​​the house is not home for me, but memories and stories that have taken place there. Or people you share it! This is something that I have carried forward because I think I have many houses around the world and they are not really my home. But I feel at home.

At one point when I used to do only the theater, I was closed about L, so I had the keys of many homes, many friends’ homes. When I go to Chennai, this corner of my friend’s house is mine. I crave for a house, but I feel at home in many, many places. To be able to bring these ideas, and these ideas in this drama were also very funny. We all discovered our stories with homes. I grew up in Riyadh, went to Kochi for high school, then I was in Delhi. Then London then went to my masters and then I went to Chennai where I used to work, I used to be in Bangalore for some time. I have moved many times. So it is interesting to think about all these houses, and this is a story that is not just for me, but it is something that everyone resonates.