In the 2020 Netflix film Yeh Ballet, Nizamuddin J Shah played the brother of the ballet dancer who supported him in a big way. In real life too, he can be found training a bunch of slum kids in street theatre under the Vashi Flyover or the Wadala Park in Mumbai.
Street plays are powerful message amplifiers and 25-year-old Shah is gearing up with his team to perform in the villages around the metropolis to talk about vaccinations. “We mix local language, film songs, humour and social message to entertain audiences,” he says.
Maharashtra was in lockdown earlier this year, suspending street plays. Street theatre needs people coming together to watch. “We plan to recruit volunteers who will ensure that social distancing is followed. After all, we are trying to create awareness about Covid facts,” he adds.