Feedback from Theatre Internship-31 Batch

Since my childhood, I dreamt of being an actor and was active in school plays. Life threw some family challenges my way, leading me off course. Despite doing a few projects with friends, I wasn't satisfied. Cinema Hall was my initial film school, but I yearned for a theatre group. That's when I found RangaRatha❤️. I joined RangaRatha to gain confidence, overcome stage fear, and enhance my acting skills. Aasif Sir and Shwetha Ma'am not only taught acting, energy equations, breathing patterns, NataYoga, Vocals but also many life lessons. What sets RangaRatha apart is its ability to impart not only acting but also invaluable life lessons. Now, I proudly say that RangaRatha boosted my confidence and improved my acting skills. It's not just about the destination, as RangaRatha says, but the journey. I'm thankful to Aasif Sir and Shwetha Ma'am for being wonderful guides on this enriching path🙏🏻. - Sachin Kumar

Be like a blank paper! Child like innocence! Be Vulnerable! The methodical approach to unlearn, shed your identity, to be consumed by the character and eventually rediscovering yourself in this whole process at Rangaratha was enlightening. Being a non native Kannada speaker, it was not easy for me to be part of a Kannada play, but the faith our mentors show in each participant and their approach of imparting the skills gave me the confidence to take up the challenge and overcome the language barrier. Smiling through the numerous mistakes we made, multiple demonstrations and sitting through long hours every day, our mentors Aasif Sir and Shwetha Ma'am have the patience of a saint! They made it look easy. Their meticulous attention to details is unparalleled. An exhaustive package which covers all aspects of performance arts: fitness, music, personality, technicalities of a set and the attitude of a performer. The whole process was rigorous, intense and fulfilling. It felt like going through a book, written just for you! I also got an opportunity to know and learn from some really great folks who were part of our batch and the Rangaratha team. Thanks and lots of love to all! It is not just an internship program, you become and belong....The Rangaratha Tribe! ~ Anal Rai (Ranchi - Jharkhand)

Stepping on to the stage for the first time can be incredibly daunting , yet it is a moment filled with immense growth. Over coming those initial fears the uncertainty of how to perform and the swirling thoughts about the entire experience is a significant achievement. Asif sir and Shweta have not only helped in building my confidence but also nurtured the courage to embrace the stage- turning the nervousness into excitement and fear into exhilaration . Their guidance was pivotal in making that leap , enabling us to discover a newfound sense of confidence and passion for theater - navigating the intricacies of acting. I extend my gratitude to Asif sir and Shweta for their patience, dedication , support and expertise ❤️ ~ Ashwini Rajesh (Teacher for Specially abled Children & Madhubani Artist)

The month long training in acting was a beautiful experience and has created some cherishable memories in me. Aasif sir and Shwetha mam not only taught the basics of acting but the basics of spiritual being which is the core of who we are. When I was given a specific character for the play, it was clear where Raksha had to stop and my character had to begin. It was an amazing unlearning journey where I let go of some unconscious biases and inhibitions, which also brought me closer to the other humans in the play who I could see from a completely different perspective. I enjoyed every bit of it and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in acting, directing, storytelling or just want to spend some time discovering themselves :) ~ Raksha Ravimohan (Spiritual Practitioner and Blogger)

For years, the fear of insecurities and societal expectations held me back from exploring my passion for the creative industry. Despite knowing my niche, I hesitated to take the plunge. Destiny led me to RANGARATHA, a place I now consider home. Here, I discovered the courage to pursue my artistic dreams. Rangaratha became the guiding force I needed for my initial steps in my journey. Aasif sir and Shwetha ma’am, the two pillar of Rangaratha not only taught us acting but imparted holistic skills ranging from NATAYOGA to voice training. Thanks to Rangaratha, I have discarded all insecurities and boosted my self-confidence. Theatre is a long journey but with unwavering support and mentorship from Aasif sir and Shwetha ma’am, I am confident in my journey. A major takeaway from this internship, one I will always carry through life is “Be a blank paper. Only a good human can become a good actor”. ~ Visishta ( Corporate employee and artiste)

My Theatre Internship at ‘Rangaratha’ has been a great experience that brought me closer to my professional aspirations. This opportunity has not only improved my acting skills but also provided invaluable insights into the Theater world. Thank you Aasif sir and Shwetha ma’am for helping me in this process and improving me in my destined career. Rangaratha has a supportive environment and Theatre Internship Program has undeniably been a transformative journey, propelling me towards a fulfilling and successful career in acting. ~ Dheeraj (Corporate Employee)

Feedback from Team members

ಶರತ್ ವಶಿಷ್ಟ (Sharatha Vashisht - Software Engineer): ಪ್ರತಿ ನಾಟಕದ show ಒಬ್ಬ ನಟನಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ಬದುಕು ಇದ್ದ ಹಾಗೆ. ಅವನು ಪಾತ್ರನಾಗಿ ಹುಟ್ಟುತ್ತಾನೆ, ಬೆಳೆಯುತ್ತಾನೆ, ಮೆರೆಯತ್ತಾನೆ, ಎಡವುತ್ತಾನೆ, ಏಳುತ್ತಾನೆ ಹಾಗೂ ನಾಟಕ ಮುಗಿದಾಗ ಸಾಯುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಮುಂದಿನ ನಾಟಕಕ್ಕೆ ಪುನರ್ಜನ್ಮ ಪಡೆದು ಮತ್ತೆ ಪಾತ್ರವಾಗಿ ಹುಟ್ಟುತ್ತಾನೆ... ಹೀಗೆ ನೋಡಿದರೆ ನಟನಿಗೂ ಆತ್ಮಕ್ಕೂ ಏನಿದೆ ವ್ಯತ್ಯಾಸ? ಜಗತ್ತೆಂಬ theatre ನಲ್ಲಿ, ಬದುಕೆಂಬ stage ಹತ್ತಿ, ನಮ್ಮ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳ ನಿರ್ವಹಿಸೊ ಒಳ್ಳೇ ನಟ (ಆತ್ಮ) ರಾಗಿಸುವ ಶಕ್ತಿಯಿರುವುದು ರಂಗಭೂಮಿಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ. ಇಂತಹ ರಂಗಭೂಮಿಗೆ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಪರಿಚಯಿಸಿದ ಆಸಿಫ್ sir ಹಾಗು ಶ್ವೇತ ma’am ಗೆ ಯಾವತ್ತೂ ನಾನು ಚಿರಋಣಿ. ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲವು ಕಡೆ ಎಡವಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಕ್ಷಮೆಯಿರಲಿ. ಮುಂದಿನ ನಾಟಕಕ್ಕೆ ಮತ್ತೆ ಮರುಜನ್ಮ ಪಡೆದು ಹೊಸ ಜೀವವ ತುಂಬುತ್ತೇವೆ. (28-12-2022)

Nagendra Prakash Ambati - Software Techie: It was not even a dream for me to perform on such stages. Even before dreaming about it I have experienced it in reality. Who gets such an opportunity? Thank you Aasif Sir & Shwetha Madam for identifying the potential in us, guiding us, tuning us & taking us to the platforms like Vyoma and Rangashankara. Friends, thank you for the co-operation and togetherness during this process. This could have not been possible without support of our families… special thanks to all of them. Definitely lot of scope for improvement and will display that in next opportunities. (27-12-2022)

Atharva Bhat - Software Techie: I came to Rangaratha with very minimum education on acting. Once I started my training under renowned theatre and film personalities like Aasif Kshathriya and Shwetha Shrinivas, my actual journey as an actor took off. I began to embrace acting as an pure art-form. I started with basics of acting like voice training, intonation, body movements, emotions, dialogue delivery, character development, expressions etc. Moreover, I learnt that acting is an inward journey into myself. I realised it is more about observation and an emotional connection with people and nature around us. Having compassion towards people around us, understanding them by stepping into their shoes and observing the world in their perspective.

Aasif sir always tells us that “To become a good actor, one must become a good human first”. Once I started applying these into practices, I began noticing an overall positive change in myself. The theatre education has not only helped me to improve my acting, but also helped me to become a better person. Theatre encourages one to become a disciplined, hardworking and focused individual overall. I have been fortunate enough to work along with Aasif sir, Shwetha ma’am and the co-artistes in Rangaratha. (26-12-2022)

FEEDBACK OF THEATRE INTERNSHIP STUDENTS

Adithya (Internship - 24): Aasif sir and Shwetha madam only u both can tolerate us. I think we all are very lucky to get a Guru like u both . Thank u so so much for everything my lovely Teachers. You both are the best always. May Rangaratha live long and continue to guide theatre enthusists. (16-10-2022)

Manohar (Internship - 24): Aasif Kshathriya sir and Shwetha madam, you two created such a beautiful environment for beginners like us in Internship program. RANGARATHA indeed is a chariot which carries all of our precious dreams of becoming a better person thereby good Actors. I don't have the words to describe the gratitude I have for you two, learnt so many little things just sitting beside you and listening to your precious experience, thoughts and teachings. Thanks for the opportunity Aasif sir and Shwetha madam. Love you both. (14-10-2022)

Sharath Vasishtha (Internship - 23, 24): The coaches, Asif Kshathriya and Shwetha Srinivas, teach us the ins and outs of theatre. Apart from acting, we also get to learn skills such as script writing, character analysis, stage design, costume design, and stage production. For the first few days, the sessions mainly focus on exercises, breathing patterns, body conditioning etc. During this stage, we are evaluated for our strengths and weakness. The next stage is to brief us on the script and assign characters based on the evaluation done. After that, every day we start working on scenes and learn how blocking is done, how dialogue should be delivered, how our body language should be, how stage design is done, and how the costumes are designed. Rehearsals are gruelling, and the coaches - Asif Kshathriya and Shwetha Srinivas focus on minute details and correct us in each step. I also made a lot of friends during the journey. We went to watch other plays, lunch, and costume shopping together. I cherish every moment of the workshop. Thanks a lot, Rangaratha for providing me with such an opportunity and helping me become a better actor and more importantly a better human. (13-10-2022)

Anush Krishna, Mysore (Internship - 23): I've been a student of RANGARATHA - Indian Performing Arts Company, since July 2022.. And the journey has been amazing..! Shwetha ma'am and Aasif Kshathriya sir mould us in every way possible and show us the right path. The theatre internship has changed me both as a person and as an actor. So for those of you who want to improve your acting skills, I suggest you to join this aptly designed, unique Theatre Internship Certified Course. (10-10-2022)

Om Jai Praveen (Internship - 24): Thank you for your blessings and encouragement Aasif Kshathriya sir and Shwetha madam. I never thought I could ACT on stage. I was so shy and fearful. It was very difficult for me to face audience. I wonder how you both changed me within no time !! I still cant believe !! I never knew what is expression, what is intonation and what is voice modulation. After learning all these i felt now actually I started living my life. Never before I experienced a worthiness in me. This Internship made me locate my inner strength and taught me how to love life. My thousand pranams to my teachers Aasif Sir and Shwetha Madam. This course has given me an identity within me and in society. My transformation has made my parents proud of me. What more want Thank you. (06-10-2022)

Atharva Bhat (Internship - 24): (03-10-2022) I am extremely grateful to you both- Aasif sir and Shwetha ma'am for giving me an opportunity to perform on platforms, as big as Rangashankara and Vyoma. It's always a feeling of exuberant when representing the team Rangaratha. Thank you for the love and support that you are giving me by holding my hands, on my journey as an actor. 🧡

Feedback on our Children’s Acting Workshop by their parents

One of the best decision I made it by joining our son Skanda Maiya to the kids theatre workshop. We are really impressed by the Content of the workshop. It was designed in such way that not only they will learn the theatre aspects but they also can apply them in real life too. The sessions were so effective that we could see the positive changes in my son’s behavior too. The small assignments after each session were so fun and creative that they really helped my kid in many ways. We are so happy that my son had put a little step towards the vast sea of art under the guidance of very talented personalities Aasif sir and Shwetha madam. Thanks a lot for organizing it so systematically. We would be looking forward for the upcoming workshops. Thank you. ~ Raghavendra Maiya G.S. (Firmware Engineer at ITRON, Inc.) (30-08-2021)

I am glad I put my son Shamanth for this workshop. In last month I see that he has learnt a lot which is never taught in his school or for that matter at home also. As I have observed, since one month, he has developed good listening skills. He now observes, waits patiently for people to finish what they are saying before talking. He has developed a sense of responsibility and now he takes the ownership of his actions.  I am loving to see this difference in him. Thank you so much. You have really contributed a lot in grooming him in such a short period. He just loves and respects you and Shwetha madam so much that I see that admiration in his eyes whenever he speaks about you both. Thank you so much. ~ Smt. Shrividya (Domestic Engineer) (27-08-2021)

The course was very good. We did find punctuality in your sessions and the sessions were very informative. My daughter Charvi was always eager to attend the sessions though they were online. Charvi is very ambitious to become an actor through this course. After attending this Acting Workshop, she has overcome stage fear and shyness. Request your support in future in fulfilling her small wish. Once again thank you for your efforts. ~ Mrs. Sheela Satish (Teacher - EURO KIDS, J.P. Nagar, Bengaluru) (26-08-2021)

I would say this is the best workshop for kids, where they enter a different world of involvement, learning and Joy. Initially I was doubtful whether online classes work for these kinds of courses. But it was very well organized and conducted. Thanks to my friend Mrs. Sahana Maiya for referring this to me. Otherwise my daughter Medini would miss a great chance of meeting her ‘favorites’ Aasif sir and Shweta madam. My daughter really enjoyed to the core and she was eagerly waiting for next session always. From getting ready early in the morning, waiting for clock to turn 10 AM, till, waiting for Sir to post homework by again and again checking for what's app message shows all the interest workshop has created. Many thanks to this workshop, which has boosted the confidence and boldness in my child. I would look forward to many more such workshops by Aasif sir. Will definitely refer to my friends (already done). Thanks again. ~ Mrs. Chaitra (Lead Quality Specialist at SAP Labs) (25-08-2021)

I am very much happy that she is interacting very well in her academic online classes. Before she used to mute the mic and switch off the video to hide herself. Now she is very bold and interactive. I will give 100% credit to Aasif Sir and Shwetha Madam. ~ Mrs. Chaitra (Lead Quality Specialist at SAP Labs) (23-08-2021)

I want to thank Aasif Sir and Shwetha Madam for successfully conducting the online acting classes. It is not easy to keep the children engaged for 2 or 2 and half hours online. My son Agastya enjoyed each and every class and it really helped him to understand the importance of expressions when acting. The classes did not just focus on acting basics but also emphasized on personality development aspects. These classes do bring a lot of changes in the kids and I recommend these to others as well. We are eagerly waiting for the next advanced classes. Thank you so much Sir and Madam. ~ Mrs. Kusuma (Customer Success Specialist at Appify Systems Pvt. Ltd.) (21-08-2021)

This was a very interesting workshop. My son Anish enjoyed the classes very much. He enjoyed Tenali Rama act very much. Thank you for giving this opportunity during this pandemic. Thank you so much Aasif Sir & Shwetha Madam. Definitely he will join the Advance Acting Workshop. ~ Mrs. Pushpa (Homemaker) (19-08-2021)

Dear Aasif, Thanks to you for the workshop. My son Chaitanya liked it very much and is keen to attend more! While it's not as easy as in-person, your enthusiastic and energetic approach engaged him well. Emphasis on Kannada and soft skills was very beneficial. Would have been nice if MIME was done as part of the course it self. We would like to talk to you on anymore specific feedback you may have. Thank you. ~ Mr. Suneel Joshi (I.T. Professional at ORACLE INDIA) (15-08-2021)

ASSORTED FEEDBACK FROM THE SENIOR’S BATCH

Read & study, Allow yourself to unlearn, Never expect results, Get used to rejections, Always create an aura within, Resonance, Accomplish inward journey, Think laterally, Have health and never hurry, Analyze characters… So many things learnt… Thank you Asif sir and Shwetha mam. I took you as example for simple but extraordinary. You inspire us to shape ourselves as actors but more...... to be a good human being. Lot more to learn from you ~ Nirmala Hulmani (Human Resource Manager) (26-06-2021)

This well designed workshop called Acting Theory & Practice brought a light of hope to pursue my dream of becoming a professional Actor. The syllabus was not limited to acting but it covered most of the subjects essential for our personality development. The idea of ‘Education through Performing Arts’ itself is unique and wonderful. The course taught us how should our thoughts be, history of performing arts, speech science, Gesture Engineering, Mind Movement, Chemistry of Emotions, Dasha Rasa, social responsibilities of Actors and few other things. Thanks to Aasif Sir and Shwetha Madam for enriching our knowledge and preparing us to become Good Actors. The society needs teachers like them. Proud to be working with great artists like you both ~ Vinay Gowda (Civil Engineer & Theatre Actor) (21-06-2021)

I came out of many illusions of Acting and Life after attending the course - Acting Theory & Practice. I was in a misconception that Acting is all about telling dialogues boldly with gestures and body movement. No, not really. Acting is a huge science of Life in itself. It shapes you up as a good human then makes you an Actor. Million thanks to the workshop directors Aasif Kshathriya Sir & Shwetha Madam ~ Ajay Shrinivas (Kalari Coach) (19-06-2021)

The teaching methodology and the content of the syllabus is awesome and very unique. It will help all upcoming Actors in true sense. I have never seen and experienced this kind of wonderful teaching anywhere. Especially the concepts of Rasaabhinaya was wonderful. I am thankful to the wonderful actress of our times, Shwetha Shrinivas Madam, who has trained many Kannada Movie Actors and our beloved, popular movie and theatre actor & director Shri. Aasif Kshathriya Sir who is a store house of knowledge and reasoning. ~ Arunesh Gowda (Kaadgal Resort) (13-06-2021)

Thanks a lot for imparting knowledge Aasif sir and Shwetha ~ Sahana R. M. (Odissi Dancer) (17-06-2021)