Interview: PAPIHA DESAI OF INDIAN REVIVAL GROUP Talks About Her Play Ek Tha Raja

1. Tell us more about your latest project Ek Tha Raja. It is seaped in history, tell us what is it that you want to say through it

Papiha: It is an unusual tale of an exceptional Raja. A great son of Gujarat who was forgotten hero of India. We thought of presenting it as he led a remarkable life. The story of an engaging tale of Gopaldas known as Darbar Saheb, the beloved and just ruler of principalities in Saurashtra, who lived and struggled for a free and more just India. He was an active and courageous participant in the struggle for India's freedom and for social justice. He gave up his princely life when he joined the freedom movement. He Fearlessly proclaimed Swaraj. He remained cheerful when deprived of his possessions and was proud while receiving penalties for his political stands. He was a Tyagmurti, as he was selfless. He was devoted to help others achieve greatness and strived for social equality. In a period when women were neglected and oppressed, he protected women's rights and endeavored for women's education. We wanted to tell a story about the life and times of a leader of absolute honesty and pure patriotism. But this is also a tribute to all the remarkable individuals who lived and struggled for a free and more just India.

As an actor, why do you think performing arts is a very engaging medium

Papiha: It is engaging because it is a live performance. As compared to films and television it is a more exciting medium too. The audience is also present and you get audience response immediately. It is also a very transient medium, only there for the moment and then the moment is gone. 'Rasa' is created in the present moment. It is a 3- dimensional medium, so one can use space in different ways. What you see with your eyes is not the same as screen or any other medium.

While everyone in India talks about the struggle that comes along trying to be an actor How come no one talks about stage artists and their struggles. Tell us more about the industry

Papiha: There are many struggles of stage artists that do not come to fore as it is not a main stream profession in India. Financial and economic being one as it is difficult to earn a sustainable livelihood. Artists are poor financial managers, so in old age many face financial crisis. Those who don't have families, don't have a support system to fall back on. Professionally too there are highs and lows. For some, they don't know where their next work will come from or when they will be hired next. The young often face pressure from their families to get into mainstream professions