Not many know that talented actor Pankaj B Singh, who recently quit his show Shapath, owns a theatre group called Stage Pplayers Productions, along with his wife Prinal Oberoi Singh (Pyaar Ka Dard). The two apart from being a happily married couple have been successfully producing plays all across the country.

Their team recently staged their popular play Baramasi, at the Mood Indigo fest conducted by IIT Mumbai. The noted fest had the actors performing with their 26 member troupe amidst a huge crowd.

But the theater group did not have a good experience at the venue.

Recounts Pankaj, “We sent our requirements to stage the play, in terms of logistics, much in advance.  But when we went there everything was unorganized.  There was actually no stage and we were provided with soft drink empty crates to set up a platform. We had asked for black cloths to cover the stage and were instead given dusters to manage with. There was no sound system and the lights too were organised by us. All these difficulties did bring disappointment but we performed with full heart. Finally applause from the audience pacified our hearts.”

If these troubles were not enough now the team has been asked to wait for payment that was due on 30 December, two days post their performance (28 December). Informs Pankaj, “The payment for our staged performance was to happen post our act. It has been more than a week now and we are yet to hear from them. The authorities have not been responding to our calls and messages; it’s really disheartening to be treated this way.”

When we spoke to Apratim Sinha, one of the core members of Mood Indogi, he said: “The invoice they had sent us was incomplete and that has caused the delay. I would ask them to be patient as the cheque is in process and will be given to them in sometime.”

When we passed on the information to Pankaj he said, “If that happens it would surely be great. I am actually appalled as to why people take theatre for granted. If it was to do something with TV or a film promotion the treatment would had been much different. It is high time people give due respect to theatre and artists.”