At THE centre of the stage stands a tall oak tree, its leaves casting long shadows. The tree also serves as a barricade between an old haveli, replete with antique furniture, a vintage lamp and sepia-toned photographs; and a modern apart-ment boasting a large flat screen television and a plush leather chair. This is the set of the autobiographical play Under An Oak Tree by renowned theatre artiste, Padmashri Mohammad Ali Baig’s and the Qadir Ali Baig Foundation (named after Mohammad’s father, a legendary theatre personality).
Seeking answers
“Can an acorn grow in the shadow of an oak tree?” asks Mohammad, who is staging the play barely six months after the release of Tamil film, Aruvi, in which he played a cop. This question is what the plot revolves around.
The play, starring Mohammad, offers insights into the actor’s life and was written by his wife, Noor Baig, and has also been staged at Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, Mumbai, Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival, Hyderabad and in London. The playwright has woven instances from his childhood, his experiences growing up on a sprawling farm and his adult life as an advertising professional into the script to make for a compelling tale — one that throws light on the coming of age of the actor. “Everything in the plot is taken from my real life. Nothing is fictionalised. I grew up in the shadow of my father, a legendary theatre personality from Hyderabad and this play deals with my experiences and the challenges I faced,” reveals Mohammad, adding that the show is also a commentary on parent-child relationships, security and the loss of a loved one.
The two spaces divided by the tree stand for the two phases in Mohammad’s life — the haveli forms the backdrop for his childhood scenes, and the apartment, for his life as an advertising professional. The play ends with a much-talked about rain scene, in which real water is used to create the desired effect. For Mohammad, every aspect of theatre is of equal importance, so his plays often are a spectacle, thanks to his detail-oriented approach to set design, lighting and sound. Usually held in places of some historic or cultural interest, such as forts and palaces, the productions are in keeping with the standards and aesthetics
set by Mohammad’s father, Qadir Ali Baig.
What’s next
The actor is currently weighing his options when it comes to films, but shares it is too soon to reveal the details. Talking about his debut in Aruvi, he says, “If you’re a seasoned theatre artiste, films will be a cakewalk for you, because the medium has so many technical advantages in cinema. In theatre, everything is live and you have to be able to nail it every single time.”
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