Madhav Mohan – Feedback on Level 1 Workshop (2023/2)
Email – madhavmohan90@gmail.com
How Vishal Nayer’s Acting Classes Sparked Fire in My Soul
Consider this: It’s 11 a.m. Rains are beating down hard at Versova Beach, Mumbai. I stand by the shore, with my arms flung open, asking almighty: “How will I become a skilled actor? Why does my acting not show progress? As I watch the waves get choppier, the intensity of my thoughts deepens. A sensation of numbness envelops my body and a lump falls in my throat. Immediately, I sensed a strong impulse to get into the water. The moment I took a few steps, Nazar, my theatre friend, appears in the sky and said, “Macha, Vishal is organizing a workshop next month that will polish your skills and break your pattern.” I always had a fixed pattern of tilting my head towards the right, raising my eyebrows and delivering dialogues/ monologue. On the other, I used to give stock expressions. This was becoming a big pain in the vain, and a strain on my brain. Never eye-pleasing to watch!
Nevertheless, I booked my tickets to Bangalore and attended the workshop. Every moment in this workshop was worthwhile and ‘paisa vasool’. Several reasons contribute to this assessment:
One, the six-weekend workshop was structured in chronological order. The class started with the basic elements of acting: mind, body and voice. And in each element, there were many sub- elements. For instance, in the case of voice, there is rhythm, volume, pitch, accent and tone, and other elements follow suit. This has helped me to make my foundation strong.
Two, intricate stage technicalities were covered in detail. This, in turn equips you with the terminologies and terms that will leave no room for regret, when engaging in conversations with theatre maestros. There have been occasions during discussions with theatre veterans, where I had shamefully nodded my head, feigning familiarity with theatre jargon. However, I didn’t know Jack shit. Now bring it on man! All thanks to Tyler Durden from fight club, a.k.a Vishal Nayer! Hallelujah!
Three, there will be hand-holding when you stumble and fall. For instance, during scene work, if there is an issue with your volume or pitch, Vishal has a unique signal- a clap of his hands once (Codeword):p. Heartfelt apologies, Vishal, for letting that slip.
Four, you will shed all your inhibitions while acting. For example, when I had to play the character of a prostitute in a red light area—the mere thought sent shivers down my spine and haunted my dreams. However, I mustered courage, prayed to god and performed reasonably well, under Vishal’s expert guidance. And now a revelation that might annoy him a lot: “Actor’s Magic”. Ever wondered why Shahrukh Khan exudes grace while delivering his lines along with a slight chuckle, “Bade bade deshon mein aaisi choti choti baatein … hoti rehti hai”. Weren’t you mesmerized by him? Well, hold on. There is good news. Vishal is here to unveil the secrets behind casting that enchanting spell of charm and magic, provided you adhere to all the norms and regulations, such as being punctual or refraining from making a pass at men or women in the class.:P
Finally, there won’t be an iota of boredom in the class, thanks to the abundance of interesting assignments and group activities with co-actors. For instance, there was an assignment that needed everyone to be blindfolded, and navigate the streets with assistance from co-actors. I was shitting bricks, but it turned out to be an eye-opening experience that made me realize the value of listening to one’s co-actors.
Additionally, I have become more confident in giving auditions as there is a sense of maturity, calmness.
All said and done, don’t think twice about attending Vishal’s workshop. You will come out as a well-trained actor with several acting tricks up your sleeve, leading to Actor’s magic. After Thaliava’s reign ends in Kollywood, your innings may begin.
Bottomline: Rise and Sign- up for his classes. Cheers!
Warm regards
Kevin
Drinks on the rocks ONLY for you my man!