Rayees Mohi-ud-din, an emerging theatre artist of Kashmir, has earned name and fame both at regional as well as at national level. Rayees has worked in Bollywood film Harud and has also played lead role in newly released film ‘Paartav’
In an Exclusive interview with The Kashmir Scenario, Rayees Mohi-ud-din talks to Kaiser A Mir
A brief introduction about yourself?
My name is Rayees Mohi-ud-din. I belong to Pulwama district. I got my schooling upto higher secondary level from a local government school. I belong to a well educated family; my parents are working in education department. After 12th class examination I came to Srinagar for entrance coaching, later on I joined Islamia College for pursuing BCA. After completing BCA, I did MCA from Kashmir University.
How has your interest developed towards world of acting?
I was interested in the acting art from childhood. I used to watch Tv serials like Alif Lala and Chandrakanta that were famous those days. In school I used to participate in different events and always loved to express my talent. Even in my childhood I would mimic news readers (DD national news), Imam Sahib of local Majid and even some of my teachers.
Tell us about your starting journey of career?
2000-2009 was an important phase in my life, in 2003 DD Srinagar announced about the audition for announcer. Subsequently, I appeared in audition there I met some famous personalities. I passed this audition and joined DD. During 2000-09 I passed BCA as well as MCA in this period. In 2005, I passed two more auditions viz. CBS radio Kashmir general announcer and radio Kashmir news drama announcer. Then, in 2009 I heard that Broadcast Engineering Consultations India Limited (BECIL) are hiring broadcaster and for first time conducting interview for Radio Kashmir Srinagar news editor/ reader recruitment. I applied for this post though I had very little experience but I thank Allah interviewing panel was well impressed with me and I was selected.
During my college days I had association with cultural wing of Kashmir University. In one of the cultural event I meet Arif sahib who was then director radio Kashmir director. He was much impressed with my talent and then offered me to do a live programme on radio. I started it in April 2008 and was named as ‘filmi chakkar’ it was 1 hour long and it was broadcasted for 3 years. It created huge audience and made me famous. I regard this programme as foundation of my career.
Since you are MCA student, how you managed to choose a different line?
As I told you that I was working with radio and Tv during my academic field. I was continuously thinking that Am I in right field? Even my friend would tell me ‘Rayees MCA is not for you”. But I think its all fate or destiny; anyways I am happy now with my decision.
How has been the support from your parents?
Every parent want to see their child well and mostly in Kashmir parent’s think government job is only best option to be well settled. Even in my case too I faced some opposition from parents for sometime during my career but ultimately they did respect my decision and supported me.
As you have done radio programme for students, why youth here find difficult to decide about their career?
I think our students lack right counseling at right time. Once in Kashmir University I observed that students are choosing streams vaguely, this thing worried me and I thought to do something for it. Then I meet Arif Sahib and proposed a counseling programme for students and eventually the programme was approved and proved a great hit among youth.
How you made it to reality Tv show India got talent?
I have also worked as Assistant cultural officer in Kashmir University. In 2010 NAAC team visited Kashmir University, we organized a cultural event and in that show I played as King Akbar`s role. In those days India got talent team were here for audition and they had captured our show. After the end of our show a person came and told me I am Chirag from color TV Mumbai and he appreciated me. He also told me we would display your video in Mumbai and if selected we will call you to Mumbai.
After few weeks, I received a call from Chiraj and he said my video has been selected among 1700 videos. Eventually I went to Mumbai. A girl from Kashmir was also with me in that show. We both did well and made it to semi-finals due to less number of SMS voting we could not went through finals. We received votes from Australia, Pakistan but as you know SMS`s are banned here people did not vote. But irony is such SMS could be done as they are server based.
How has been your experience in the Kashmir’s work culture?
Well it is naked truth that Kashmir is now famous place for corruption. Here Corruption kills talent and you will find very less voices to appreciate. When I was doing programme on FM and on news room both belonging to radio Kashmir. I was forced to choose either one of them.
My another bitter experience was the one while I was working in Kashmir university. After quarter finals round I came back to Kashmir. Afterwards we came to know that were we are among the semi finalists. VC of the university was very happy and congratulated us. As we have to again move to Mumbai, some officials in Kashmir University objected to it. However, V.C Mr. Talat granted me permission but when I went to Mumbai I told by University official that I have been suspended from job on ground that I had not informed the department.
Tell us about Pied piper theater group?
ANHAD a NGO invited theater groups for participation in a theater festival that was held in Tagore hall Srinagar. I also thought to participate in it. Till that time I did not had any theater group. We were few friends and we decided to participate in it. Ultimately our theatre group Pied Piper theatre group was formed. I wrote a script titled as ‘Bijli choor’, it was full of humor and highly lauded . This play won five awards i.e. best actor, best play, best script writer, best comic and best actress awards.
Do you think your theater group will depict real picture of Kashmir?
I choose to name my theater group as Pied piper because it is said that Pied Piper was a person who dragged all rats from a place. Similarly I believe my theater group will work to pull all vices from the society. We have started by showing issues about society, corruption etc.
How do you look at success of Harud movie?
Harud was a movie in which director tried to portray a true picture of Kashmir. Though many things were removed in it after censorship but still I think film depicts the message. Such films have lot of scope and I think such more films would be made in future.
What are your future plans?
I have started my own event management company namely Funtoosh along with some friends. We started with jeshne chillai kallan it was a big hit and then also did Jeshne bahar . I am hopeful about Funtoosh and InshaAllah expect good.
Your message:
To youth I would like to say that to achieve success in life it is important to identify your goal, to Parents my message is that they should allow children choose their own way and finally to people who work with theater groups I want to say that beside paper work, it is high time to do some work on ground.