Shantanu Bendre is an electrical engineer by profession and an actor by passion. He has acted and produced plays back in India and since having moved to Australia in 2017, he has not let this passion and hobby wane.
In fact, Bendre, who previously lived in Shepparton before moving to Melbourne just last year, would drive all the way to rehearse for plays with the Melbourne Indian Theatre (MiTheatre).
Apart from acting, this is the first time he has written and directed his first play from Australia which will be staged next month and produced by MiTheatre
The play is titled Nidra, a love story that Bendre hopes will stand out in many respects. He began working on it last August, inspired by his deep thoughts about artificial intelligence (AI) and the ongoing discussions around it.
“Being an engineer myself, I was curious and also apprehensive, almost paranoid, about whether AI would take away our jobs especially being in a first world country where human resource is scarce,” he shares.
But during this research, Bendre was struck by the idea of creating a utopian world set in the future where machines assist humans rather than replace them.
“I also wanted to show how certain things, which are inherent to human beings, remain unchanged even in the future, such as the emotion of love,” he says. Concurrently, Bendre explored the timeless emotion, drawing inspiration from ancient traditions like the Sufi concept of the seven stages of love: Dilkashi (Attraction), Uns (Attachment), Mohabbat (Love), Akidat (Trust/Reverence), Ebadat (Worship), Junoon (Madness), and Maut (Death). This contrast forms the core theme of Nidra.
“Nidra,” Bendre explains further, “is a Sanskrit word that translates to deep sleep. In the context of the play, Nidra is the name of the protagonist’s (a physicist) start-up company. He has named his company Nidra because of the service it provides. This name also signifies the state of humans after the introduction of AI robots in their lives, meaning they are not in their most conscious state due to the advent of AI.”
For Bendre, the project is a novel venture into Indian-language sci-fi theatre, presenting challenges with its futuristic elements. “Set in 2040, we’ve designed props to reflect a futuristic aesthetic,” he says.
Similarly, the actors too had unique challenges. Chaitanya Khare, who plays the character of Bob, says “I had to understand, analyse and dissect ‘what it means to be a human’, which was extremely challenging. I had to imagine the cusp of AI evolution where the robot or a mere software code will change into consciousness and become ‘alive’.
Prutha Kulkarni, who plays the character of Ibtida, adds, “The most challenging part of playing this character was portraying Ibtida by using just my voice.”
Reshma Parulekar, who coproduced Nidra and also plays the character of mom/wife) found it interesting showcasing “the slender difference in my character’s age & emotions. This is always a challenging thing to do.”
As for Bendre, who trained under noted actors such as Naseeruddin Shah in Mumbai, he showcases his prowess in playing the lead protagonist.
Interestingly, the blend of English and Marathi languages significantly enhances the storytelling in “Nidra,” reflecting a cultural ubiquity.
“In India, the blend of languages is very common. So, we have Hinglish (a mix of English and Hindi). It’s common to replace words with other languages. I thought that people would accept this as it’s a normal occurrence. Also, for the needs of the story, I believed it was okay to include scenes entirely in English, seamlessly integrating them into the stage play. This approach also helps non-Marathi audience members at MIT.
“Almost half the play is in English, and Marathi-speaking audiences can grasp the context not just from the dialogue but also from the physical acting of the actors. This creates a complete theatrical experience where understanding the language isn’t necessary; the actors convey emotions through their intonation and actions,” says Bendre
Being an experimental play, “Nidra” commences outside the stage, in the venue’s foyer, offering a thematic introduction to engage a diverse audience.
A collaboration that began with a phone call from Bendre to his friends, who were immediately captivated by his pitch, “Nidra” culminates on stage on August 17-18. His wife contributes to the production, overseeing costume design.
Theatre provides an organic experience vital for all performing arts, especially within multicultural settings. As its significance grows, Indians like Bendre are nurturing and promoting theatrical expressions, ensuring their enduring relevance and appeal for the future.
The Indian Sun acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
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Shantanu Bendre, an electrical engineer & actor, debuts his first play "Nidra" in Australia, exploring AI & love through a futuristic, bilingual sci-fi narrative, set to stage on 17-18 August. 🎭🤖❤️🇦🇺✨ #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/BjBnG9qcjH
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