Veenapani Chawla died on November 30, at the age of 67.
Veenapani Chawla, a pioneer in the field of theatre, was engaged in research towards creating a performance methodology. She had been teaching her craft through a number of workshops and performances at Adishakti Laboratory for Theatre Arts & Research, a performing arts company which she founded, on the outskirts of Pondicherry in 1981. She passed away on 30th November 2014 at the age of 67 leaving behind a rich legacy.
Veenapani's work constantly reflected her own cross cultural training. A spell with the Royal Shakespeare Company in London, a theatre company in Denmark and then back home to teaching and performing in Mumbai and rigorous training in Chhau, Kalaripayattu, Kudiattam and Kathakali amongst others.
Our interview with Veenapani more than a month back was for a report on a new book published on her work by Shanta Gokhale. That the report should now act as an obituary is simply tragic.
'The Theatre of Veenapani Chawla' written by Shanta Gokhale combines a range of writing from play reviews, essays, interviews, performance texts to Veenapani's own papers. It's a book that becomes even more invaluable now that this force in theatre is no more.