Atul Kumar brings Taking Sides to Chennai, a courtroom drama about Hitler’s favorite conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler

Atul also tells us that although he plays the character of the artist, he is internally completely convinced by the political reasoning of the other character (the Major), “and that is a wonderful dichotomy to play with because I play the role of an actor.” Who actually supports the fact that art can be made for art’s sake, that it serves a higher purpose, a more spiritual purpose, when it can touch thousands of lives, and that it can be done outside of any set of politics lies? However, given my current political stance, I am very sure that it would not be easy for me to take that stance today. I can’t possibly say that I make art to serve a higher purpose; I find it very important and very urgent for me to make art that questions the political, socio-economic situations around me. And it’s very difficult for me to sleep at night if I don’t voice my opinion against some kind of oppressive rule.”

Finally, we ask Atul if the play allows the audience to take sides when the curtain falls. He replies: “I hope that people never find answers so that the struggle remains within us constantly. It’s dynamic. It keeps us on the edge. It keeps us alert, a vigil for our own consciousness. And I think that’s more important than anything else.”

Tickets for INR 499.

Available online.

October 19, 7:30 p.m.

At Medai – The Stage, Alwarpet.

Email: [email protected]

X: @rupsjain