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A Brief History
History
Prithvi Theatre was originally the brainchild of Prithviraj Kapoor, the pioneer of Indian cinema. He spent a lifetime anchoring the Indian cinema, and showed similar efforts towards drama as well. He founded 'Prithvi Theatres' in 1944, which originally consisted of 150 members and was set as a travelling troupe. The aim was to stage productions all across India. It debuted with "Shakuntala", a classical work, and later on presented about 2,662 plays. Prithviraj Kapoor always wanted to have a permanent theatre set up. He even succeeded in getting a land for lease in Juhu, but sadly, his health deteriorated, leading to his death in 1972. Years later, when the land was up for sale as the lease expired, Prithviraj Kapoor's son Shashi Kapoor and daughter-in-law Jennifer bought the land. Finally, the Prithvi Theatre was inaugurated on 5 November 1978.
After The Revival
Prithvi Theatre was an immense boost to the Hindi theatre in a time when English dramas had begun to prevail. The members of the theatre took all the necessary steps to support Hindi drama through this rough phase. Jennifer Kapoor, dedicated her whole time promoting and reviving Hindi theater. Prithvi Theatre allowed amateur performers, directors and artists to experiment with new styles and showcase their skills. This in turn attracted many art enthusiasts to join Prithvi Theatre. Slowly, the theatre was recognized as a place of creative genius. After Jennifer's death in September 1984, her daughter Sanjana and son Kunal Kapoor took charge of the theatre. Now, Sanjana has gone a long way following the footsteps of her mother and has become the driving force behind the activities of the theatre. She has come up with the concept of theatre for little children, which she calls 'Little Prithvi Players'.
Events
The events in Prithvi theatre are held throughout the year. It remains closed only on Mondays. An annual 'Prithvi Festival' is held every year, in which many famous artists and maestros participate from all across India. Now, Prithvi Theater has broadened its scope for art lovers of all backgrounds.
Prithvi Theater has become one of the major talent hubs for those interested in acting and drama. It continues to motivate and brandish the theatre society, by recognizing their prodigies and sharpening their skills before showcasing them. Though many theatres have come up lately, yet Prithvi Theater has its own standing.