'All we need is an opportunity'

“I’m acting from the heart,� says 14-year-old Zaffar, the lead actor of NGO Akanksha’s musical Operation Khazana.
He’s one of the 150 Akanksha kids who’ve been bitten by the acting bug. Their enthusiasm on stage is apparent as they sing their lungs out, rehearsing the What a Feeling! set — the play’s finale.
The two-hour song-and-dance extravaganza is a project undertaken by Akanksha and Indicorps (a US-based fellowship programme) to maximise the creative potential of slum children in Mumbai and Pune. Directed by young Harvard graduate Krishnan Unnikrishnan, it revolves around children trying to find hidden treasure so as to save their Akanksha centre.
Says Shaheen Mistri, founder of Akanksha, “I had always wanted to do a musical for years, to bring out the creative potential in underprivileged children and show the city what they can achieve.�
The city’s creative minds have lent a helping hand. The musical has been choreographed by Shiamak Davar and Dodo Bhujwala, costumes done by designer James Ferreira, Sheetal Design Studio and Kalpesh Dresswala.
The kids’ dedication is enormous. Lead actress Priyanka (aka Razia) remarks, “I finished my history and english exams and ran for the technical rehearsal.�
Though Krishnan has done theatre and performed in plays, directing Operation Khazana is a whole new experience. “At first, all we did was run to Akanksha centres, to audition over 800 kids. We picked up anyone who had the slightest singing or dancing talent,� he says.
Initially, getting the cast to act and get the desired expression on stage was tough. Says Krishnan, “The kids would never look into each other’s eyes. So for a few rehearsals, all I made them do was stare at each other for a few hours!�
Acting apart, to give a Bambaiyya feel to the show, the play incorporates tunes of songs such as Aati kya Khandala, You are my sohniya along with songs from Flashdance, Westside Story and Sound of Music. And the songs have lyrics both in English and Hindi, painstakingly written by Akanksha teachers. For them, bringing 150 kids on stage was nothing less than a Herculean task. Especially since some of the young actors are from Pune. Says Shaheen, “For technical rehearsals, we brought the children down from Pune. They were quite dazed since for most it was their first train ride out and then they had to come on stage, in front of the lights and asked to dance.�
The kids are simply proud of Operation Khazana. Pleads Prashant, in a hand-painted monster’s costume, “We want to perform more shows. Just give us an opportunity.�
Operation Khazana will be held on February 4 at Nehru Centre and on February 9 at Kala Ghoda Art Festival