Mumbai: Navi Mumbai witnessed a heartwarming display of talent and inclusivity as handicapped and normal children joined forces to create a highly successful comedy workshop. The 8-day face acting workshop, organized by Sankalp Foundation and Pradham Foundation in collaboration with P. L. Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Akademi, concluded with great enthusiasm in the academy hall.
The workshop focused on the art of mime or face acting, where artists convey messages to the audience solely through facial expressions and physical movements, without uttering a single word. The event aimed to promote this essential aspect of acting and provide a platform for children with disabilities to showcase their skills alongside their peers.
The highlight of the workshop was the presentation of the comedy film ‘Beyond the Sound’ by the talented children, featuring renowned theater and film actor-director, Mr. Vijay Patkar. The audience, including numerous theater enthusiasts, showered the performers with immense appreciation. Esteemed theater director and drama guru, Shri. Shivdas Ghodke, a graduate of the National School of Drama, imparted face acting lessons to the participating children and guided them in delivering captivating performances.
The event was graced by distinguished personalities, with Mr. Vijay Patkar, Shri Sanjay Rahalkar, Secretary of Vijay Shikshan Sanstha, Mr. Suresh Shetty, Professor of the National School of Drama, and Mr. Abhay Avasak, Trustee of Pradham Foundation Navi Mumbai, being felicitated and commended for their support of the children. The program was skillfully moderated by Mr. Vidya Avasak.
Mr. Santosh Rokde, the Project Director of PU Deshpande Kala Academy, played a pivotal role in organizing this unique initiative, ensuring its success by accommodating the needs of children with disabilities. The theater performances delivered by the disabled children, alongside their peers, were so exceptional that many, including Mr. Vijay Patkar, were astonished when they learned that some of the artists were disabled.
Eight boys and girls from Pragati Karnabadhir Vidyalaya participated in the workshop, alongside their general peers. Workshop director Shri. Shivdas Ghodke expressed his satisfaction with the event, stating, “The collaboration of disabled and normal children in this workshop has produced outstanding results.” Shri. Ghodke was supported by dance guru Shri. Shubda Varadkar and costume designer Shri. Prashant Ujwane, who contributed to the artistic excellence of the performances.
The art of mime, known as “mukabhinay” in India, is unfortunately not as widespread as it could be in the country’s theater scene. Although mime is commonly seen in school, college, and amateur theater competitions, technical education in this art form is often lacking. To address this challenge, Shri. Shivdas Ghodke, with the collaboration of P. L. Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Akademi, Sankalp Foundation, and Pradham Foundation, Navi Mumbai, opened a new avenue for aspiring theater artists. This comprehensive face acting workshop not only nurtured talent but also conveyed an important message of inclusion by featuring disabled artists among its participants.
