JOHN KOTTOLY
I’m a Samahaarian because “I believe I have a hint of all talents.”
From having his first acting experience while he was still in UKG, to being appointed a cultural director at his college, John Kottoly has only continued his ascent and now has several full blown theatre productions and a few short films behind him. And he never has had to look back once.
After graduating in B.A. English literature, he went on to finish M.Sc. in Psychology and now works as a design co-coordinator with Delloitte. He also continues to act in theatre productions. Now if you think we are done listing out the qualifications and talents, you are so, so wrong… Not only is he an actor, but also dabbles in the fields of photography, writing, sketching, digital art, short videos and music (a lesser known fact about him that he was the part of a college band who called themselves ‘Silent Players’). By this point, a humble request was made for him to stop listing out more of his activities as the space was totally running out. (Psst: The actual fact, though it would never be admitted, is that it was the doing of the great green monster whom some of us know also as Envy …~insert evil laugh here~)
On a serious note, John’s motto is ‘Live Passion, Live Life’. While saying this, he also maintains that acting is not his passion. Confused? It is very simple, for acting to be his passion, he would have to view it as a separate entity altogether. But whereas for him it is a way of life and has ingrained into him so, that the separation seems illogical almost. To him acting is simply replicating life.
His Samahaara chapter started when he was introduced to the group by a friend of his. He has done a couple of plays with them and loves working with them. He views Samahaara as a group who has been honest to what it does. And he finds the man behind it, Rathna Shekar Reddy, simply brilliant and passionate to the core. Also, the fact that the group being accommodative of his hectic schedules and time constraints and helping him deliver his best on stage, makes working with them easier. John has also been a part of the Samahaara Theatre Festival in various capacities.
He wishes for Samahaara to continue to spread and bring theatre to a level where it becomes a source of living for those who are and wish to be full time theatre practitioners. He knows it is still a long and difficult course but believes not impossible for Samahaara to achieve.
With his grounded nature and balanced outlook, and his multi-talented self, he truly is a Samahaarian as the name means ‘a culmination of arts’ which he is.
I’m a Samahaarian because I believe I have a hint of all talents.