Vijaya Mehta (b. 1934)
Actress and director born in Baroda, Gujarat. Graduated from Bombay University; studied theatre with E. Alkazi in Delhi and with Adi Marzban. Was Durga Khote’s daughter-in-law, then widowed at 27 and re-married Farrokh Mehta who was active on the English amateur stage. Became a major figure in 60s Marathi experimental theatre. Founder member of Rangayan (Est: 1960) with playwright Vijay Tendulkar, Arvind Deshpande and Shreeram Lagoo. Stage production of C.T. Khanolkar’s Ek Shoonya Bajirao (1966) is a landmark in contemporary Indian theatre. Claims to have introduced Brecht into Marathi theatre with adaptation of Caucasian Chalk Circle (Ajab Nyay Vartulacha), and Ionesco with Chairs (1962). Helped launch the 70s Chhabildas theatre movement with her Mahesh Elkunchwar plays Sultan, Yatanaghar and Holi (all 1970). Collaborated on Indo-German theatre projects with German director Fritz Bennewitz including a traditional performance of Bhasa’s Mudrarakshasa with German actors. Except Pestonjee, most of her work consists of film and TV adaptations of her stage plays: Haveli Bulund Thi adapted Mahesh Elkunchwar’s play Wada Chirebandi, and Rao Saheb is from Jaywant Dalvi’s play Barrister (1977).
FILMOGRAPHY (* also d): 1980: Kalyug; 1983: Smritichitre* (TV); 1984: Party; 1986: Rao Saheb*; Shakuntala* (TV); 1987: Pestonjee (d only); Sher Shivaji; Hamidabai Ki Kothi* (TV); Haveli Bulund Thi* (TV); 1990: Lifeline (TV).