Doyen of drama

Sitting in the hall of Rati Villa, his home in Surat’s Bhavnagri Street, surrounded by his photographs and those of his family, many floral bouquets, possibly from the four-hour felicitation event, multiple plaques and awards he has received in his seven-decade career on the Gujarati stage, Karanjia spoke to us about the early days over mint tea and patrel. When he is not on stage or thinking about it, Karanjia teaches at and is principal of The Cambay Institute of Commerce, founded by his late father Naoshirwan, that runs coaching classes for undergraduates. "Drama is not my profession… it is my hobby," he averred.

"I do not know whether I am an actor or a director… I have directed all the plays that I have acted in," he said of the Yazdi Karanjia Group’s productions. The thespian said it is difficult to get an exact count of the number of times he has been on stage, but stated that his most popular comedies are Kutra ni poochhri vaanki (The dog’s tail is crooked) with between 800 and 850 shows, Behram ni sasu (Behram’s mother-in-law) with 750 stagings, and Chhupo Rustom (Secretive Rustom). Of the plays and musical revues he has staged, Yazdi lists only two as having not been successful: Hip Hip Hurrah and Parsi Pandavo. "They ran for only eight to 10 days," he rues.

The dramatist reminisced about why he stages comedies only. An elderly woman who he did not know came backstage after one of his early performances. Recently bereaved, she told him that she had enjoyed the show thoroughly and had a light moment after a long, long time. "Hamésha hasto réhjé né hasaavto réhjé (Keep laughing always and make others laugh)," she both blessed and exhorted him, advice which he took seriously. He said he has attempted only one serious play midway during his career, an adaptation of Norman McKinnel’s The Bishop’s Candlesticks. "As soon as I came on stage the audience started laughing," he said.

Appreciative of Naoshirwan’s support at the start of his career, Yazdi narrated that the senior gentlemen caveated, "Natak karjé pan kala né véchvani nai (Go into theater but do not sell your art)." Profits from all the Group’s shows go towards charity, he said. The proceeds of the Parsi New Year 2019 show in Bombay, for instance, were sent to a Nasik-based family that appealed to him for funds to treat their son’s heart condition. "We have helped victims of droughts and floods over the years," he stated in a matter-of-fact tone. The performer is proud of the fact that his troupe is the only Gujarati one that performs round the year. "Other Parsi theater companies only do it around March and August… But I see a lot of enmity within the groups… Feel thaya karé (I feel bad about it)...

Film actors Raj Kapoor, Charlie Chaplin and Sanjeev Kumar are some whose dramatic skills he appreciates. Kapoor is reported to have commended Karanjia’s "sense of timing" as being "wonderful" after seeing him in action in Behram ni sasu, stated his daughter Maharukh Chichgar. For the longest time the ring tone on his mobile phone sang out "Kisiki muskurahato pé ho nisar… jeena usika naam hai (To sacrifice oneself for someone’s smile… that is life)," a song picturized on Kapoor in the movie Anari. You see shades of the matinee idol’s film Mera Naam Joker (My name is Joker) about a sad clown when Yazdi remarks: "Baddha hasta chéhra sukhi nathi hota… bija né hasta rakhvani koshish karé chhé (All smiling faces are not happy… they try to make others laugh)." He considers meeting the Hindi superstar at his R. K. Studios in Bombay the high point of his career. "I don’t know why I loved him, but I did," said Yazdi.

"Maharukh is my jewel," said Yazdi, to which Veera added, "She is always looking out for him… Shehzad is the more practical one…he looks after the administration at Cambay." Completing the train of thought, she added: "We love them all equally."

"I have let go of many opportunities because I put my family first," stated Yazdi. Veera, his wife of 59 years, appreciated that the "secret" of the cohesiveness of their extended family is "Yazdi’s nature." She said, "I gave him his space… for many a Navroz Day, he would be in Bombay observing Gujarati plays… I never once complained or told him ‘take me with you.’" The families of Rohinton and Mahernosh live on the upper stories of Rati Villa. "We never thought we would never be a joint family," said Yazdi. His mantra for cohesiveness, which he said he practices in all spheres of his life: "Say sorry if you are in the wrong; forgive, if you are not." Veera narrated that on the rare occasion he "scolds a student at Cambay he will go out of his way to smile at him the next day."

Yazdi took his troupe on tour outside of Surat for the first time in 1961. His drama teams have since then performed in most major Indian towns and cities with a Gujarati speaking majority, and in the UK, USA, Singapore and Pakistan. Veera joined him on stage by and by as did his brothers and later his children, nephews and nieces, and now even his great grandchild, Maharukh’s two-and-a-half-year-old grandson, Yazaan Variava.

Veera recalls performing near a windswept beach in Porbunder. "I was holding on to my sari all the time," she laughs. Twenty years ago when she fractured her hand during a fall just before performing in Bicharo Burjor in Bharuch, she "did the whole play with my hand by my side," she reminisced. "And remember the time I got that gash on my hand from a door knob while performing in Parsi Pandavo?" queried Yazdi. "Yes, my love, like it was yesterday," trills Veera, adding that his wedding ring had to be removed surgically later. But for the Yazdi Karanjia Group, the show must go on. Veera narrated that they received news that Dabu’s home in Pittsburg was damaged in a fire two hours before the curtain was to go up for a play in Surat. "Prayer kari né drama karva gaya (we said a prayer and went to perform)" said Yazdi. He philosophized: "Jé musibat ma thi maja mélvé, téh khara manas (the one who derives joy from troubles is a true man)."

Yazdi’s CV lists over 20 honors and awards, big and small, from the Gujarat government and many nongovernmental organizations, including the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India, Zoroastrian Trust Funds of India and WZO (World Zoroastrian Organisation) Trusts. "I have no more space in my showcases for his trophies and certificates… Every newspaper man wants them taken out to be photographed and I have to then put them away," says Veera. But you soon realize that she is quietly proud. First cousins who went through an arranged marriage, Veera says, "I am so happy that my bapaiji (paternal grandmother) arranged this, otherwise I would never have known such fame." Yazdi brushes it off with: "Everything is designed by God."

As we leave, we notice his famous cycle parked just inside his front door, a vehicle Yazdi uses for his various errands around the city. A trustee of the SPP, Yazdi has also held trusteeships of schools and memberships of managing committees of hospitals. He is known to be a swimmer and a trekker too. "I could not complete the last trek two years ago to Mount Abu," he admits.

"I don’t have any advice for the new comers to the Parsi stage…Who am I to offer advice? It is I who has to learn from them: newer techniques in sound management, lighting, choreography!" he says, as Parsiana took his and Veera’s leave.

The previous evening, March 8, the arrival of Yazdi and Veera at the Sanjeev Kumar Auditorium for his felicitation was somewhat reminiscent of a wedding procession. With actor and chief guest Boman Irani holding on to the diminutive Yazdi’s arm, and flanked by guests of honor Udvada High Priest Dastur Khurshed Dastoor, Surat mayor Dr Jagdish Patel and WZO Trusts chairman Dinshaw Tamboly, the Razak Band played upbeat tunes, including the Parsi song Shubh ghadi, shubh din aaj mubarak (Felicitations on the moment and the day). A screen behind the stage relayed the arrival to those already seated in the nearly packed-to-capacity 1,108-seater hall. After a welcome with achhu michhu (traditional Parsi welcome) at the entrance to the Auditorium by past PPM president and wife of SPP president Jamshed Dotivala, Yasmin, the procession walked slowly through the venue. Fans of Irani were earlier told by comperes Bennaifer Engineer and Dilnaz Besania not to crowd him for selfies, yet keen hero worshippers did! The star of the evening, the chief guest and guests of honor lit the traditional lamp, after which Surat High Priest Dastur Cyrus Dastur led the assembly in a humbandagi. Parsiana observed some members of sister communities in the audience, a few with their heads covered with handkerchiefs, attempting to mouth the words to Yatha Ahu Vairyo and Ashem Vohu.

"I have a long, long way to go…we all have a long, long way to go" to match up to Yazdi’s humility, gushed Irani. "He has taken the elevator and reached right up, but his feet are firmly on the ground… I need to learn from this man," appreciated Irani. "There is no way one can be taught comic timing…Yazdi has it in him… People should start smiling when a comedian comes on stage… but one has to be a good human being… then people will laugh even if your timing is slightly off… Being humane always works," stated Irani, who was accompanied by his wife Zenobia. Yazdi, "a true Parsi, spreads goodness as enjoined in the religion," he said. Likening him to a lump of sugar (from the sugar-in-milk fable), he signed off with "I bow to you." The chemistry between Yazdi and Irani was on display when they were on stage, with much holding of hands and kisses on each others’ cheeks and the backs of palms. Acceding to requests from the audience, Irani rendered Frank Sinatra’s My Way. Earlier, ZWAS advisory committee member and wife of late Mahernosh, Perin, ran though Irani’s CV in highly glowing terms.

A four-foot-tall scroll of honor with a sketch of Yazdi and signed by the presidents of the four host organizations was brought on to stage by Surat resident and Guinness World Record holder for martial arts Vispy Kharadi. The citation, penned by Rohinton in stylized Gujarati, was read out by SPG managing committee member and Jamshed’s son, Cyrus. Yazdi’s brief thank you in response was the signal for representatives of approximately 25 Surat based organizations, the anjumans of Vadodara and Bilimora, and umpteen individuals to swarm the dais to offer felicitations.

Indian dances by performers of Behnaz Todiwala’s Utkarsh Dance Academy had kicked off the evening’s entertainment, followed by Shehzad’s rendering of Yazdi’s favorite song Kisiki muskurahato pé… An innovative skit with dances and audiovisuals strung together the dramatist’s onstage journey over the decades, starting with his forays as a two-and-half-year-old Lord Krishna, as an adolescent in a few women’s roles, and his first time ever on the national stage in Moogi Stree (Dumb woman) at an interstate university competition, a year before he founded his drama group in 1959 at age 22. This segment included snippets from a 50-minute documentary on him titled The ever-smiling personality Yazdi made by the Gujarat government and ended with a comment, "The show will always go on…The Yazdi Karanjia Group and the Parsi community promises the show will go on." The actors for this segment included Chichgar, Shehzad, Farzan Karanjia, Mahazarin Variava, Danesh Bhathena, Aanoash Chichgar, Kevin Besania and little Yazaan.

In his welcome address Jamshed commended Yazdi’s righteousness, his contentedness and his jaat méhnat (hard work). Success is not the key to the dramatist’s happiness, happiness is the key to his success, he stated, paraphrasing German-French thinker Albert Schweitzer, and called upon the youth to follow him as a role model. PPM president Mahatab Bhatporia, ZWAS president Delnaz Katpitia and SPG president Zawareh Wadia felicitated Yazdi thereafter.

The introductions to the guests of honor were almost as flowery as those for Yazdi and Irani! Dastoor, who was introduced by Maharukh’s husband Zubin Chichgar, a member of SPG’s banquet committee, referred to Yazdi’s integrity, his ability to positively affect people around him, and his frugality. The thespian looks the same as he did when Dastoor watched him on stage four decades ago, "only with a few more wrinkles." Calling him an entertainer with a heart, he stated that Yazdi sees compassion in others. "There is a great deal to learn from him… to be humble… to take care not to hurt anyone… May he always keep his humor alive," Dastoor said.

ZWAS member Farzana Kharadi who introduced Patel referred to his efforts at keeping Surat clean. "Why should only the Parsis felicitate Yazdi? He belongs to the city, the state, the country," stated the mayor. Yazdi "cycles and he makes people laugh…they keep healthy…so I had to give up my practice as an ayurveda consultant," joked Patel who said he was felicitating him on behalf of the six million people of Surat.

Head of SPG’s banquet committee Shehraz Hilluwala who introduced Tamboly referred to the WZO Trusts’ work among South Gujarat’s marginalized community members. Tamboly said that Yazdi has "perfected the art of not only being happy but to make others happy… In honoring him, we honor the whole community." The WZO chief was accompanied by his wife Bachi. Referring to Veera’s constant support for Yazdi’s endeavors, he quipped that "perhaps women are not as successful as men as they do not have wives behind them!"

A note from Cyrus Dotivala to Parsiana listed the behind-the-scenes support for the event from Piloo Bhathena, Tanaz Vesuna, Afrin Patrawala, Nilufer Bawadam, Gulshan Master, Zinobia Dotivala, Firozi Karanjia, Shailendra Wadnere, Freddy Variava, Sharukh Patel, Daisy Patel, Manjarbhai, Kamleshbhai, Nikunj Mamarawala, Aman Sukhadia and Maheshbhai.

While waiting for Yazdi’s entourage to arrive at the auditorium, Jal Langrana, Yazdi’s buddy, college mate and co-actor narrated stories of their joint experiences and adventures down the years: a mouse clambering up a prompter’s shorts; spilling gravy on the impeccably dressed hotelier Jehangir Cama; almost being beaten up by hefty Punjabis during a youth drama festival. Student Azmin Gandhi narrated her experiences of Yazdi as a teacher of accounting, as did Hilluwala.

A contributory dinner at Tammna ni Dharamshala that went on till the early hours of the next day brought down the curtain on a show of love for and pride in one of Surat’s most known community members.