Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Mahesh Dattani 's Final Solutions at Epicentre,Gurgaon


Asmita theatre Group presents
Final Solutions
Written by: Mahesh Dattani
Director:
Arvind Gaur
Translated by: Shahid Anwar
Music: Sangeeta Gaur

20th & 21st September,2008, 7.30pm
Epi centre, Apparel House, Sector 44, Opp.
Power Grid Residential Complex, Gurgaon

Contact-9899650509,9911013630

Starring
Susan Brar, Amita Walia, Rashmi Singh,Viren Basoya,
Bajrang Bali Singh , Samina & Shilpi Marwaha
About the Play
"Final Solutions" has a powerful contemporary resonance as it addresses as issue of utmost concern to our society, i.e. the issue of communalism. The play presents different shades of the communalist attitude prevalent among Hindus and Muslims in its attempt to underline the stereotypes and clichés influencing the collective sensibility of one community against another.
What distinguishes this work from other plays written on the subject is that it is neither sentimental in its appeal nor simplified in its approach. It advances the objective candour or a social scientist while presenting a mosaic of diverse attitudes towards religious identity that often plunges the country into inhuman strife. Yet the issue is not moralised, as the demons of communal hatred are located not out on the street but deep within us.
The play moves from the partition to the present day communal riots. It probes into the religious bigotry by examining the attitudes of three generations of a middle-class Gujrati business family, Hardika, the grandmother, is obsessed with her father's murder during the partition turmoil and the betrayal by a Muslim friend, Zarine. Her son, Ramnik Gandhi, is haunted by the knowledge his fortunes were founded on a shop of Zarine's father, which was burnt down by his kinsmen. Hardika's daughter-in-law, Aruna, lives by the strict code of the Hindu Samskar and the granddaughter, Smita, cannot allow herself a relationship with a Muslim boy.
The pulls and counter-pulls of the family are exposed when two Muslim boys, Babban and Javed, seek shelter in their house on being chased by a baying Hindu mob. Babban is a moderate while Javed is an aggressive youth. After a nightlong exchange of judgements and retorts between the characters, tolerance and forgetfulness emerge as the only possible solution of the crisis. Thus, the play becomes a timely reminder of the conflicts raging not only in India but in other parts of the world.
Reviews
Mahesh Dattani's final solutions in its Hindustan avatar sound and look much better than it did in the original English. Translator Shahid Anwar and director Arvind Gaur have made major improvements – and not merely of the cosmetic kind – to reveal the communal passions that scar our collective subconscious…the plot is straightforward.
Mobs are on the rampage in the city in the aftermath of an attack on a rathyatra passing through a Muslim locality…in a daring departure, Arvind gaur invites the audience to participate in a debate at the end of the play. And people have been staying backing large numbers to discuss the communal aspect of the drama…though there are the usual status quoits, strong voices have been raised for and against the treatment of the "guilty" majority and the "persecuted" minority.
With the screaming, stomping, sinister mob in thebackground of this high charged interplay, we have a dramatically explosive play on boards….Arvind Gaur pitched and kept the action at a level on high tension. .....
-Kavita Nagpal (Hindustan Times)
Final solution was first performed in Bombay under Alyque Padamsee's direction. It evolved through a workshop after the Ahmedabad riots, and gained relevance post the Mumbai riots; it has consistently been associated with them. Written in English final solution found an audience that normally chose to disassociate itself with the harsh realities of life and pretend that certain situations did not exist.
An audience that went to the theatre to be entertained was suddenly confronted with its own reality…there was a negative anger with the audience. It was an anger towards being made to feel apologetic for one's own being, one's faith. There was resentment at being portrayed as "the enemy"…Shahid Anwar has translated the script in to a simply written but highly forceful and evocative Hindustani script for Asmita. Directed by Arvind gaur, the first Hindustani version of final solutions premiered in September 1997. an intense play it confronts a situation where Hindu Muslim animosity develops in to chaos…what eventually come across (apart from the larger fact of communalism) is that all the characters are victims of circumstances and social conditioning and what was a personal experience for them , gains the enormity of a larger perspective.
The chorus is something that drew a lot of comment … here the design is straightforward. Its continual presence, its hovering proximity and its occasionally threatening, occasionally silent almost oppressive nearness, constantly comments upon and envelops the action inside the Gandhi household. Shifting from the two communities it also comments upon the fact that a mob has no name, no loyalty. If the price is right so is the cause. The play is powerful, the production intense, the subject difficult, the response good.
- Smita Nirula (Review)
Play, that looks at India - now and henceforth; both forceful and relevant…communalism? One community hates another. One community is in the majority, the other is in the minority. Consequently, the two communities are at loggerheads, living in a atmosphere of conflict and acrimony. The 1990's have seen a number of films, plays and dissertations, which have tried to lift the cover off this contemporary scourge. And some where in the volley of questions and answers. There comes forth a reductive analysis, which reduces a complex phenomenon to a series of cause and effects. Rarely do we come across serious attempts that go beyond the superficial lesions and talk about the problem with all its complexities.
Mahesh Dattani's is that rare look at the socio-political problem that defines all final solutions. In Dattani’s view, Hindus and Muslims are not just two cardboard communities who clash when a procession is stoned, a pooja is disrupted, a mosque is dismantled. These for him, are just the jagged tips of an ominous iceberg. One that threatens to freeze the entire landscape into polarized communities that live by intolerance and hate in place of harmony…more important is the iceberg an amorphous mass that glorifies the credo of unity in diversity without actually understanding the meaning of diversity…the play looks straight in to the heart of fundamentalist and the liberal and tears down the prototypes…
Asmita's Hindustani adaptation of the play (by Shahid Anwar) , under Arvind gaur 's competent direction, managed to retain the philosophical import of the text, without losing out on the visual appeal . The inter-cutting passage through time was handled innovately by keeping all the three generations of the Gandhi family on stage for the play. The constant presence of the shadowy mob at the back with its hysterical chants represents the ongoing scourge of communalism, which has persisted since partition. Intense, topical, artistically mounted, Asmita's final solutions brought back memories of Habib Tanvir's rendition of jis Lahore nahin dehya and Saeed Mirza's Naseem, two other meaningful attempts to address the issue of communalism.
-Nikhat Kazmi (Times of India)

Good play , good acting…finds a chord with the audience…Mahesh Dattani’s 'final solutions'( a title derived from Nazi pogroms) is a commendably bold play in that it closely studies the communal virus which took centre stage in Indian society culminating in the Ayodhya demolition and the horrific bomb blasts in Mumbai. Though the Bangalore based Gujrati playwright had Ahmedabad extended spells of communal violence in mind when he wrote " final solution' his analysis of the problem was tellingly applicable to the post-Ayodhya situation…Asmita and Arvind gaur did well to pick up the thread from Padamsee with a fine Hindustani translation by Shahid Anwar…gaur's forte is powerful crowd scenes accented with physical action and emotional dialogue calling for histrionic and declamatory skills of a high order the play has plenty of both. A yelling menacingly muscular chorus line is the ugly face of majority communalism. It also doubles as the more subtle but also more sinister visage of minority fanaticism…in all an enjoyable play worth every minute of it. Mahesh Dattani script adhered to faithfully, adds to the pleasure.
- Drama critic.

Something to reflect upon…Asmita's production is simple and intense. The feeling of a pro-Muslim or a pro-Hindu bias was happily not there. The director invited the audience to stay after the play and conduct a dialogue with the team. Some of the responses from the audience were humbling. Two elderly gentlemen felt that they has given them something to reflect upon and had proved that there was hope for the future; Babban's last line "if you are willing to forget, am willing to tolerate" gave them food foe thought. When asked about biases, the audience was quite clear in its response: "the production is balanced "…chorus drew a lot of comment… shifting between the two communities, it also comments upon the fact that a mob has no name, no loyalty. if the price is the right , so is the cause, cash is king…that the Asmita company has worked very hard on this not-so-easy production is obvious…communal angle comes across loud and clear…something you can take home with you to think about.
The play is powerful, the production is intense, the subject difficult,the response good..
-Smita Narula (The Pioneer)

Off with the language barrier…proved its mettle Dattani is India's leading contemporary English language playwright…final solutions bares the ugly face of communalism. It took moral courage , in the immediate after math of the Babri masjid nightmare, on the part of Dattani to write the the play…mercifully the communal temperature now a days is more normal… nonetheless , staging of the play has moral merit and Asmita can take justifiable pride in maintaining its tradition of socially relevant theatre …final solution moves from partition to present day communal tension…the Asmita production scored over padamsee's English original in that power dialogue came across as more realistic and authentic…gaur's innovation of a background chorus by turn , violent Hindu and Muslim mobs are effective.
-G. George (The Statesman)

A show not to be missed…final solution makes a point: look for communal hatred not on the streets but deep inside ourselves…Dattani’s best play so far and as in some of his other plays, he takes the family unit as his locale and "moves between the past and the present."
The playwright takes three generations of a middleclass family as his base and through undercurrents that effect its members , explores the psyche of his characters in these days of communal strife…quite a few plays have been written on the communal theme but 'final solutions" is perhaps the only one so far which, instead of moralizing and raising hollow slogans for communal harmony , examines the issue from the point of view of a sociologist and says "communal hatred is located not out on the street but deep inside ourselves," the play holds a mirror to the society we live in…the director Arvind gaur has done away with hackneyed masks or other paraphernalia to identify the mob for they are lumpens – sometimes Hindus ,sometimes Muslim.
We recognize them only through there slogans and war cries their comments and questions. It is money that collects the crowd, and as the mob outside the house disappears: Javed says" may be they aren't paid overtime"…what a beautiful play, beautifully translated, and beautifully directed…"final solutions" is a demanding play and the cast as a whole tries its best…the response was overwhelming, particularly from the younger generation .the message had gone down well.
The play holds a mirror to the society we live in. …
-Romesh Chander (The Hindu)
On a more contemporary note, Mahesh Dattani's FINAL SOLUTIONS directed by Arvind Gaur easily stood out as one of the few truly satisfying experiences of this eleven day treat (9th national theatre festival, Nehru Centre,Mumbai) for the senses. As the dramatic tension (neatly orchestrated by a chorus) rises in the play, the subterranean psyche of each character is laid bare.Abuses are hurled, raw passions are evoked, attempts at reconciliation are made and prejudices and fears are acknowledged The beauty of the script indeed lies in its ability to relentlessly and sensitively question. Its urgent need to use 'dialogue' as a remedy for a socially pressing issue such as communalism, is the play's underlying theme. Arvind Gaur's direction is commendable. While the front of the stage is peopled by the principal characters who are psychologically exorcizing themselves, the back part of the stage has a chorus whose role is as symbolic as it is instrumental in furthering the action in the play when required.
Solution’ has successfully highlighted the partition-related malaise, which is not just prevalent in our society until today, but fast spreading its tentacles. It raises all those questions, which either remain unresolved or have not been addressed so far…. An honest effort towards actually restoring communal harmony has yet to be made…Summing up, the play was successful in holding the interest of the spectators and keeping them involved.
-Vikram Prajapati (Navbharat Times)

Acrobatic performance…Communal frenzy knows no bounds.
It can touch any extremes; yet human compassion holds high n stays aloft. This truth has been depicted by Mahesh Dattani’s English play ‘Final Solution’, translated into Hindi by Shahid Anwar…The storyline is quite deep and touching and forces people to think many times and truly shows a new and relevant path.
-Jag Mohan ( Dainik Hindustan Times)
Successful staging of final solution…Arvind Gaur directed play ‘Final Solution’ depicts the travails of a middle class family after the communal riots. The riot scenes were quite impressive.
-Nagar Samvadata

Experimental direction…Final Solution has been a presentation, which is not just seen in the auditorium, but the issue stays with the viewers, to be taken home and pondered & mulled over… Arvind Gaur’s pragmatic direction casts its spell on the viewers. For those who have not seen ‘Final Solution’, it is like an opportunity gone by….
- Gulush Swami (Deshbandhu, Jabalpur)

Its dark reflections hover in the thought-strands, movements, perceptions and rationale. Mahesh Dattani’s ‘Final Solutions’ is a play that presents such a nightmarish phase, which haunts in different forms all through the life…The roots of communalism are not just entrenched in the society, but have also rooted/lodged themselves as decisive elements in our psyche/thought processes. Though the characters have pointed out at the causes that disrupt the peace and harmony and lead to unrest, through their expressions and body-language, Arvind has projected the socio-psychological tides and trends/dynamics through the use of chorus, which is magical with its harmonious blend of sounds and dialogues…Shahid Anwar’s Hindi translation of ‘Final Solution’ is based on the background of Gujarat riots.
The entire gamut of its dramatic possibilities has been well projected by Arvind Gaur, during its recent presentation at India Habitat Centre…Revolving around three generations, the events in the play unfold at a swift pace, weaving the post-independence partition riots, with the communal riots of today in a common strand. Memories are the focal-point of the play…
Arvind’s experiments with the technique and fabric have been much appreciated. He is quite a matured and visionary theatre personality. Overall, the flawless presentation, direction and performances draw you to the play over and again & give it a repeat-value.
-Rashtriya Sahara

There come those moments, when situations compel an individual to introspect, understand and restrain oneself so-as-to avert disastrous consequences…all this is brought out by Asmita’s recent presentation ‘Final Solution’, directed by Arvind Gaur. Asmita and Arvind are synonymous and thus inseparable…
The play moves at a furious pace, and comes to a point where man is forced to introspect, for communalism is not outside but within. One needs to feel and understand this. If each individual of every community thinks right then he would know that communalism germinates and blossoms within. The weed of Communalism eats us inside out, and benefits none. It is like a wild growth in a field, which eats up the crop itself…Various possibilities and strains emerge on watching this play. Events unfold fast, keeping the viewer completely hooked. The team of seasoned artists, add to the natural flow & fluidity. The direction is taut and none escapes the director’s keen eye. The set was handled, by Tribhuvan.
-Dr Prem Sharan Sharma (theatre review)

Mahesh dattani opens up a lively debate on communalism in the play final solutions, translated in to Hindi by Shahid Anwar… fine performances and a powerful chorus added to the play force.
- Indian express

Promoting theatre of substance…aesthetically innovative and socially relevant theatre…"final solution has a powerful contemporary resonance as the central issue of communalism is of the utmost concerns of our society," says Arvind Gaur the director. Presenting different shades of communalist attitudes prevalent among Hindus and Muslims, the play attempts to underline the stereotypes influencing the collective sensibility of one community against another.
Moving from partition to the present day communal riots.
Final solutions examines the attitudes of three generations of a gujrati business family…he says, ' memory plays an important role in the play as reminiscences of the characters develop the plot. I have used a chorus to perform the visual element and images. Not only that, the chorus also turns into props or represents society or becomes the audience with in the play."…" all the characters stay on stage throughout.
There is no formula of entry and exit," explains Arvind. "This is a technique of alienation as the actors not involved in the action stand in one corner to divert attention and alleviate the audience response to the stage activity."…
Arvind does not believe in using theatre as a medium to merely titillate or incite revolution but as a means to increase awareness…he says, "I don’t want to impose my biases on the audience. let them as they are aware, decide for themselves…
Asmita is known for long post performance discussions with the audience and also for incorporating the suggestions in subsequent stagings…naturally, continuous training and development is Asmita's major concern…the concept of a born actor is being eroded, directors realize that training is indispensable…we may be celebrating fifty years of freedom but theatre is still not free" says Arvind…"serious theatre exists and so does the will to carry on which is evident in the number of productions coming up, not only by professional groups but also by college dramatics societies."
-First city magazine
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Director's Note
'Final Solutions' touches us, and the bitter realities of our lives so closely that it becomes a difficult play to handle for the Indian Director. The past begins top determine the outlook of the present and thus the earlier contradictions re-emerge. No concrete solutions are provided in the play to the problem of communalism but it raises questions on secularism and pseudo secularism. It forces us to look at ourselves in relation to the attitudes that persist in the society. Since it is an experiment in time and space and relates to memory, it is a play, which involves a lot of introspection on the part of the characters in the play and thus induces similar introspection in the viewers. I have attempted to experimentwith the chorus. It has been used in a style, which I would like to call 'realistic stylisation'. The chorus represents the conflicts of the characters. Thus the chorus is a sense is the psycho-physical representation of the characters and also provides the audience with the visual images of the characters' conflicts. There is no stereotyped use of the characterisation of the chorus because communalism has no face, it is an attitude and thus it becomes an image of the characters. The sets and properties used in the play are simple. This has been done to accentuate the internal conflicts and the subtext of the play. Theatre for 'Asmita' and me isa method of reflection, understanding and debating the contemporary socio-political issues through the process of the play. We hope the play will also have a lasting impact on the audience.

Ramkali-Good Woman of Delhi


Zenith presents
Ramkali
The Good Woman of Delhi
(Based on Bertolt Brecht’s Play “The Good Woman of Setzuan)
Musical -Dance Theatre
Adapted in Hindi by Amitabh Srivastava
The Choreographer – Sooraj Katoch
The Producer - Ritu Soni Kapoor & Sooraj
Lyrics by Piyush Mishra
Composed by Dr.Sangeeta Gaur
Music design/arrange by Sandy
links-
1. "Brechtfast in Ballimaran" - Time Out
Starring
Shilpi Marwaha (Ramkali / Ramlal), Susan Brar(Raju Sexena)
Viren Basoya,Rishi Soni,Bajrang Bali Singh,Ritu Soni ,Puneet Verma, Radhika Soni,Geeta Tamta,Rajender Saini Rinku,Surjeet Bansal Hrithik,Reema Katoch ,Sonam ,Shivangi
Shilpi Marwaha (Main actress-Ramkali/ Ram Lal)
Active in D.U.Campus theatre.Known for her social activism,talented & intelligent young actress. Associate editor ATR (news letter).Core member of Asmita's Street theatre group,coordinating theatre workshops. known for her performances as chameli Jaan in Moteram ka Satyagraha,Rambha in Girish Karnad's Rakt Kalyan & Narayani Amma in Unsuni,based on Harsh Mandar's book & scripted by Mallika Sarabhai.
Susan Brar (Hero of the play-Raju Sexena)
Susan Brar is Role model for young stage actors. Energetic & committed young actor.known for his performances as Javad in Mahesh Dattani's Final Solutions,Mama in 30 days in September,Surat Singh in Swadesh Deepak's Courtmartial & Indra in Doodnath Singh's Yama-Gatha. Recently he acted in Film Summer 2007 with Sikender Kher.Arvind Gaur's favourite young Actor.Working with Asmita theatre from last eight years.
Viren Basoya ( Main supporting actor-waterseller,Bachan Singh)Incharge & coordinator theatre workshops of Asmita Theatre group. Intelligent , talented & honest young actor.famous for Jagadava in Girish Karnad's Rakt-Kalyan, Kabir in Bhisma Sahani's play, Inspector Pahuja in Operation three star,adaptaion of Dario fo's Accidental death of an Anarchist,Jatin in Unsuni ,& Major Ajay Puri in Courtmartial.Active in Street theatre movement.
Bajrang Bali Singh (Supporting hero-Sabbir miya)
One of the best actor in Delhi.Delhi audience know him as Bikash Roy in Courtmartial,Basvanna in Rakt-Kalyan,Babban in Final Solution,Nikose in Log- bag, Bhura in Amma Tujhe Salaam & Inspector S.P.Verma in Operation three star. Powerful speech & excellent diction.Basically he is director's Actor.
Rishi soni (Police Inspector-supporting cast)
Energetic Actor & Choreographer of Asmita Theatre.associated with Zenith Dance Academy.known for his performances as drownmanin Log-baag , Dr.Gupta in Courtmartial & Harlayya in Rakt-Kalyan,Basically he is also director's Actor.
Puneet Verma (god-star of the play)
Energetic actor known as walking talking encyclopedia of Theatre.famous for his performances as Moteram in Premchand's story, Subedar Balwan Singh in Courtmartial,Madhubaras in Rakt Kalyan & Swami in Unsuni.Core member of Asmita's Street theatre group & coordinating theatre workshops.
Ritu Soni Kapoor (god-star of the play)
Actor / Producer A finance consultant by profession.She is a talented actress,dancer & Choreographer.Delhi theatre walla knows her as Moteram's wife in Moteram ka Satyagraha,street girl in Nag Bodas's Amma Tujhe salaam,sabziwali in Unsuni,Lalitamba in Girish's play Rakt-Kalyan.Ritu is also a winner of the famous Sony Boogie - Woogie award.
The Adaptaion – Amitabh Srivastava
A post graduate from National School of Drama, Amitabh “Bobby Bhai “ has been involved in the world of theatre for over 25 years.He has worked with some of the great theatre directors like E. Alkazi, B.V. Karanth, Fritz Benewitz (Germany), Barry John, Ranjit Kapoor, Amal Allana & D.R. Ankur.Apart from being a theatre & film writer and director,he is also a talented actor and has acted in over 75 plays. Amitabh, or Bobby as he is better known,is the Founder Member of Delhi’s prestigious theatre Sambhav.
The Lyricist-Piyush Mishra
Piyush Mishra is an actor,playwright,lyricist,script & dialogue writer and a well known film actor.After his graduation from National School of Drama (NSD),In1986,Piyush Mishra started his career as a theatre actor and went on to write and directed several plays as a part of Act one group.In1996 he joined Asmita Theatre Group and performed around 200 shows of his energetic & brilliant one man show- An Evening with Piyush Mishra.He wrote lyrics for Asmita's popular plays-Operation Three Star, Caucasian Chalk Circle, Madhavi (solo by Rashi Bunny),Kanpur ki Aurat bhali etc.Piyush also acted as Maniac in OTS, an adaptation of Dario Fo's play Accidental Death of an Anarchist directed by Arvind Gaur.Piyush isalso known for his life-time performance in Swadesh Deepak's Court Martial as Surat Singh, first with Ranjeet Kapoor(1991) and later under the direction of Arvind Gaur(1996)

The Composer – Dr.Sangeeta Gaur
Dr. Sangeeta Gaur,disciple of late Mahadev Govind Deshpande,late Bhai ji Vinay chandra Mugdal,Mrs.Krishna Bist & Pt.Sukhdev Chaturvedi, is truly an epitome of Indian music M. Phil. in Brij Sangeet & doctorate on ‘Hindustani Classical Music and Changing Aesthetic Values’.Trained classical vocalist,specialized in Haveli Sangeet,Thumri, Chaiti, Hori and Sufiana-Kalam and recipient of Ministry of HRD’s Fellowship for research in Haveli Sangeet. As music director with Asmita,She has been composing theatre music of all the shades,Some of these plays traveled many cities of USA, Australia,Russia,UK,France,Edinburgh Fringe festival and also invited to performed in Bharat Rang Mahotsava (NSD), Sangeet Natak Academy National Festival,Old World Mahindra Theatre Festival and Nehru Center Festival.
Music design/arranger- Sandy
Santosh kumar Singh known as Sandy is Freelance young Music designer and sound arranger. He design theatre music for all major organizations of India like National School of Drama & Sri Ram Centre for arts . Recently he did music for Rosomon,Aurangzeb,The Traitors,Rabia etc.His sound Design for City of Djiin's was appriciated.He worked for films -Ammu(National award for best film.2005) & Latent lava.Now sandy is designing intresting & innovative music for Arvind Gaur's new play Ramkali.
The Choreographer- Sooraj
Sooraj the Dance Magician has been practicing for the last sixteen years.Innovative and showman of the Dance world. Internationally fame young dance Choreographer Sooraj is a born dancer.A few of the big names in Bollywood choreographed by Sooraj includes-The Big B: Amitabh Bachchan, Anil kapoor, Boman Irani for Bollywood ka Boss, Koena Mitra. Isha Kopikar ,Malaika Arora Khan and many more.The man who is the face of Zenith. He is who; many refer to as the dancing bone of the academy. A fire ball of energy and guru of freestyle dancing, Over years Sooraj has led his team of choreographers and the academy and has given it the much required impetus. He has developed his own style Of dancing and is looked upon by all his students & fellow choreographers. Sooraj has choreographed all the songs in the play with his versality, innovative ideas & inexplicable natural talent.
Director’s Note
“Long have I looked for the truth about the life or people together, that life is crisscrossed, tangled and difficult to understand; and when I had done so, I told the truth as
I fount it ..”
Ramkali- The Good Woman of Delhi is an adaptation of the play “The good woman of Setzuan” a Bertolt Brecht’s play that won appreciation and high morale regard from the critics of theatre. While this is just an attempt to bring out more contemporary issues through the medium of a thought provoking play, it has not just been an experience but – a never ending long lasting memory at Zenith.
The reason of selecting such a challenging play (both-for actors and the director) is the fact of being able to find a new interpretation & meaning to this powerful play every time I happen to do it. Also, it sets new parameters of thinking- for an actor to be able to bring out a character in its truest form. It also train an actor through a powerful speech work, energetic body movements and also creating a blend of the physique and the psyche of the character on the actor.
During the three months of workshop, there were debates on bringing out the Brecht’s alienation theory in a more organized manner, which was later incorporated in the process of the play.
Like any didactic play it raises the question of deciding who is the wrong and
the right and who is worthy of happiness and who isn’t. Brecht’s most powerful concept of immediate distraction and then sudden balance, makes the play even more interesting, To conclude this play is energetic, innovative, sharp, contemporary and full of music & dance.
Brecht leaves the ending open to the audience-

“What is the answer?
Nothing’s been arranged.
Should men be better? Should the world be changed?
Should we have better gods?
Or should there be none?
Ladies and Gentlemen, in you we trust:
There must be happy endings…
there must, must, must !”
To those born later …
You who will emerge from the flood Which we have gone under.
Remember When you speak of our failings The dark time too
Which you have escaped. For we went, changing countries
oftener than our shoes...
Through the wars of the classes, despairing
When there was injustice only, and no rebellion.
Think of us…”

Monday, May 5, 2008

Asmita Summer Theatre Festival
10th May - 29th June 2008
(Weekend show)

10th & 11th May, 7.30pm
Swadesh Deeapk's
Court- martial
India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road
Tickets Rs. 50 /
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17th & 18th May , 7.30 pm
Dario Fo’s Comic- Satire
Operation Three Star
Hindi adaptation of Accidental Death of an Anarchist
Adaptation in Hindi -Amitabh Srivastava
Lyrics-Piyush Mishra
India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi
Tickets Rs. 50 /
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24th & 25th May, 7.30 pm
Girish Karnad's
Rakt-Kalyan
(Tale danda)

Hindi Translation-Ram Gopal Bajaj
India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road , New Delhi
Tickets Rs. 50 /
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1st June,7.30 pm
Unsuni
Based on Harsh Mandar's Book- Unheard Voices
Script - Mallika Sarabhai
Translation - Arvind Gaur
India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road , New Delhi
Tickets Rs. 50 /
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7th & 8th June, 7.30 pm
Mahesh Dattani's
Final Solutions
Music by Sangeeta Gaur
Translation by Shahid Anwar
India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New
All plays directed by Arvind Gaur
Other plays in Festival – June,
(Wait for more new announcements)
Mahesh Dattani's
30 Days in September
Hindi translation by Smita Nirula
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Neil Simons's Comedy play
based on Chekhov's stories
Log-Baag
Adaptaion-Sunil Jasuja, Sadia, Aparna Singh & Asmita
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Munshi Premchand’s Musical satire
Mote Ram Ka Satyagrah
Adaptation -Habib Tanveer and Safdar Hashmi
Music by Sangeeta Gaur
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Other activities of Asmita Theatre
Street Plays on 31st May, 2008
4.30pm -7pm, IHC
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Theatre workshop 15th -25th June
Contacts-9911013630, 9871934326, 9899650509
asmitatheatre@gmail.com

Monday, October 15, 2007

Mahesh Dattani 's 30 Days in September









Directed by Arvind Gaur
Translation in Hindi By Smita Nirula
27th October,7pm
Shri Ram Centre, Mandi House,New Delhi
Contact-9899650509
About the play
A play about love and betrayal, 'Thirty Days' treats the sensitive and generally taboo issue of child sexual abuse. 'Thirty Days' endeavors to lift the veil of silence which surrounds child sexual abuse and addresses the issue unflinchingly.It builds on the trauma of Mala who lives with the haunting memories of her abused past.
Her abuser - her uncle “ subconsciously lives with her all the time, as part of her dirty reflections. He damages her natural growth, deters her from pursuing her love interests beyond the ominous 30-day period and scars her soul every now and then. As Mala withers under the psychological pressure extorted on her by the abuser, her mother watches silently, living her own pain - suffering mutely.
Exploring the painful problem, Mahesh Dattani raises valid concerns and structures a world of optimism where the wrongs can stand corrected and resurrection of brutalized faith is possible. But none of this happens without another man's willingness to help the two women bury their traumatic past and find ways of rejuvenating their present. Deepak, Mala's boyfriend, becomes the agent of change here. He dares to unmask the evil, even at the cost of his love.
He hits the women hard until they hit the rock bottom. Finally, there is no way but to come up - face the wrongs and dare to correct them, notwithstanding the challenges the process of correction entails. By marking a daring departure from norm, the play ensures that we, as a society, no longer take comfort in the routine of uttering word "incest" in gutless undertones.The play also brings us closer to the reality of abused children -pleasure does form a part of their pain, but finally the consequence of dangerous games can only be dangerous. Our only way to fight danger is to recognize it and crush with generous doses of brutality lest we are ready to condemn innocence to lifelong death.
Arivnd Gaur's "30 Days in September" is worth watching. Mahesh Dattani builds his play around child abuse and tries to lift the veil on the hush-hush subject…..Lifting the veil ....ROMESH CHANDER, The Hindu
About Translator
Smita Nirula has been involved with theatre since her college days. She has a Master's degree in theatre from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA and a Bachelor's degree in theatre and journalism from McPherson College, Kansas, USA.She has been a theatre critic for the Indian Express,The Hindu and the Pioneer newspapers over the last 15 years. She has written extensively on theatre for various websites including ICICI's Café Dilli. She has worked in numerous productions both onstage and offstage(light design, set design, stage management) in India and America.
She has written plays which have been produced and published. Currently she is busy translating some of Mahesh Dattani's plays (including Dance Like A Man and Seven Steps Around The Fire) from English into Hindustani, and studying Vedanta.
About Mahesh Dattani
Mahesh Dattani, born in Bangalore on 7 August 1958, studied in Baldwin’s High School and St. Joseph’s College of Arts and Science, Bangalore.He has worked as a copywriter in an advertising firm and subsequently with his father in the family business. His theatre group Playpen was formed in 1984, and he has directed several plays for them, ranging from classical Greek to contemporary works.
In 1986, he wrote his first full-length play, Where There’s a Will, and from 1995, he has been workingfull-time in theatre. His major plays are Dance Like a Man, 30 Days in September, Bravely Fought theQueen,Final Solutions,Tara, On a Muggy Night in Mumbai.Dattani is also a film-maker and his films have been screened in India and abroad to critical and public acclaim.
His film Dance Like a Man has won the award for the Best Picture in English awarded by the National Panorama.In 1998, Dattani won the Sahitya Akademi award for his book of plays Final Solutions and Other Plays, published by East–West Books Chennai, thus becoming the first English language playwright to win the award.
Dattani teaches theatre courses at the summer sessions programme of Portland State University, Oregon, USA, and conducts workshops regularly at his studio and elsewhere. He also writes plays for BBC Radio 4.
‘[Dattani’s work] probes tangled attitudes in contemporary India towards communal differences, consumerism and gender… a brilliant contribution to Indian drama in English.’—Sahitya Akademi award citation

Spl. thanks to Dr. Manoj Kumar

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Asmita Theatre Festival

















15th September, 7.30pm
Swadesh Deepak's
COURT-MARTIAL
India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road
Tickets Rs. 50 /
__________________________
16th September,7 pm
Mahesh Dattani's
30 DAYS IN SEPTEMBER
Hindi translation by Smita Nirula
Sri Ram Centre,Mandi House
Tkt Rs.!00/ & 50 /
___________________________
21st September,7pm
Neil Simons's
Comedy play based on Chekhov's stories
LOG-BAAG
PSK, Laxmi Nagar, Vikas Marg ,Entry free
___________________________
22nd & 23rd September,7.30 pm
Neil Simons's
Comedy play based on Chekhov's stories
LOG-BAAG
India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road
Tickets Rs. 50 /

29th & 30th September, 7.30pm
Late Shri Nag Bodas's
Musical Comic- Satire
AMMA TUJHE SALAAM
Music by Dr.Sangeeta Gaur
India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road
Tickets Rs. 50 /
__________________________
6th October, 7.30 pm
Dario Fo’s Comic- Satire
OPERATION THREE STAR
Hindi adaptation of Accidental Death of an Anarchist
Adaptation in Hindi -Amitabh Srivastava
India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road , New Delhi
Tickets Rs. 50 /
__________________________
7th October, 7.30pm
Munshi Premchand’s Musical satire
MOTE RAM KA SATYAGRAH
Adaptation by Habib Tanveer and Safdar Hashmi
Music by Sangeeta Gaur
India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road , New Delhi
Tickets Rs. 50 /

All Plays directed by Arvind Gaur
Contact-9899650509

http://www.indiantheatre.blogspot.com/

Court-Martial
When respect is denied to a man for the only reason that he is borne by 'low-caste' parents, the offence cannot simply be termed as a social violence. It assumes larger proportions of crime against humanity and society at large. Yet by the turn in situation the murderer becomes a winner whereas the victim is unforgiving.The culprit may receive severe punishment at the hands of the law but, in fact, it is the society which is put in the docks. Court Martial, written by Swadesh Deepak, is a story of recruit Ram Chander who is tried for murdering one of his officers and injuring another.
The Court Martial is presided by a war veteran. Col Surat Singh who has witnessed many 'life –and –death' situation. But this trial puts him in a queer position, so far unknown to him, and during the course of interrogation he realize that the issues at stake are much larger than what meets the eye. Realizing that the Indian army is the only government agency in which reservation on caste basis is not permissible. Court Martial presents a combination of legal and poetic justice.

Swadesh Deepak is a popular Indian playwright, novelist and short-story writer. Deepak has been active on the Hindi literary scene since the mid 1960s and is best known for
Court Martial, a path breaking play that he published in 1991. Deepak's most recent book is Maine Mandu Nahin Dekha, a volume of memoirs. Deepak's work has appeared in all major literary periodicals of India, and he has more than 15 published titles to his credit. Several of his works have been staged and made into television programmes.Deepakji holds masters degrees in both Hindi and English. For twenty-six years, he taught English literature at Ambala's Gandhi Memorial College.

CRITICS SAYS
"Tight pace of Swadesh Deepak's Court Martial... not to be missed." - Kavita Nagpal ,(Hindustan Times)

"Arvind Gaur's hard hitting realism... his intelligent approach... strong play by Swadesh Deepak."
- Aruna Ahluwalia, (E. News)

"Kudos to Court Martial... a drama that goes beyond the limits of drama." - (The Indian Express)

"The Asmita team has created a marvelous piece of theatre out of a wonderful script... don't miss it. The time spent watching the play is well worth it." - Smita Nirula, (The Pioneer)

"Stealing the scene with revolt as the theme... Court Martial is an engrossing display of theatre for social awareness."
- Sushama Chadha ,(The Times of India)

"Excellent Performance by Deepak Dobriyal as Captain Vikash Roy... Swadesh Deepak's brilliant script... memorable production by the Asmita team and Arvind Gaur."
- Romesh Chandra, (The Hindu)

"Impressive Presentation: The much-talked about play Court-Martial, directed by the eminent young theatre director Arvind Gaur, was successfully staged here at Gandhi Bhawan Auditorium, on the first day of Shahjehanpur Theatre Festival. Court Martial is probably the first Indian play, wherein an effort to expose the rot rampant in the Indian army has been made."

"Mirror of the Society: Court Martial is not just a play, but more aptly the real picture of the Indian society that brings us face to face with the caste-based feudalism, despite the constitutional & legal objections of the democratic procedures…Indian Army is one such government institution, which does not permit caste-based reservations. The play presents the truth very much prevalent in the Indian society. That, a person with merit, is traumatised just because of his low-caste origins. Can we march into the 21st century with such a narrow mindset? This is an important question that seeks an answer of us. Can we answer this question in this 50th year of our independence? Perhaps not!"
-Amit Kumar ,Rastriya Sahara

"Court Martial, scripted by Swadesh Deepak and directed by Arvind Gaur was staged at the Sriram Centre, on the first day of the ‘Asmita Theatre Festival’ organized by Asmita Production. The play is based on the caste-based discrimination rampant in the Indian Army. The strength of the play lies in its powerful dialogues that take it forward."

"Not Just a Play: ‘Court Martial’ is not just a play written by Swadesh Deepak, directed by Arvind Gaur & enacted by Asmita-artistes. It is a burning truth of the Indian Society. Sensing that Indian Army is the only government institution, which does not permit caste-based reservations, ‘Court Martial’ presents a mixture of natural and legal justice, which is not only the truth of the Indian Army, but that of the whole Indian Society. That, despite all his qualifications, an individual is traumatised because of his low-caste origins is not merely social violence, but a crime against humanity. The monotony of the long court-trial was pre-empted by the seasoned performance of the Asmita artistes. This Asmita-presentation has proved to be a soothing experience, after many years, for Swadesh Deepak who created a countrywide flutter through this play. "
Excellent acting, live and memorable…..worth visit.
- Ajeet Rai (Nav Bharat Times)

30 DAYS IN SEPTEMBER
A play about love and betrayal, 'Thirty Days' treats the sensitive and generally taboo issue of child sexual abuse. 'Thirty Days' endeavors to lift the veil of silence which surrounds child sexual abuse and addresses the issue unflinchingly.
It builds on the trauma of Mala who lives with the haunting memories of her abused past.
Her abuser - her uncle – subconsciously lives with her all the time, as part of her dirty reflections. He damages her natural growth, deters her from pursuing her love interests beyond the ominous 30-day period and scars her soul every now and then. As Mala withers under the psychological pressure extorted on her by the abuser, her mother watches silently, living her own pain - suffering mutely. Exploring the painful problem, Mahesh Dattani raises valid concerns and structures a world of optimism where the wrongs can stand corrected and resurrection of brutalized faith is possible. But none of this happens without another man's willingness to help the two women bury their traumatic past and find ways of rejuvenating their present.
Deepak, Mala's boyfriend, becomes the agent of change here. He dares to unmask the evil, even at the cost of his love. He hits the women hard until they hit the rock bottom. Finally, there is no way but to come up - face the wrongs and dare to correct them, notwithstanding the challenges the process of correction entails. By marking a daring departure from norm, the play ensures that we, as a society, no longer take comfort in the routine of uttering word "incest" in gutless undertones.
The play also brings us closer to the reality of abused children -pleasure does form a part of their pain, but finally the consequence of dangerous games can only be dangerous. Our only way to fight danger is to recognize it and crush with generous doses of brutality lest we are ready to condemn innocence to lifelong death.

Arivnd Gaur's "30 Days in September" is worth watching.Mahesh Dattani builds his play around child abuse and tries to lift the veil on the hush-hush subject. Lifting the veil
-ROMESH CHANDER, The Hindu

About Translator
Smita Nirula has been involved with theatre since her college days. She has a Master's degree in theatrefrom the State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA and a Bachelor's degree in theatre and journalism from McPherson College, Kansas, USA. She has been a theatre critic for the Indian Express,The Hindu and the Pioneer newspapers over the last 15 years. She has written extensively on theatre for various websites including ICICI's Café Dilli. She has worked in numerous productions both onstage and offstage(light design, set design, stage management) in India and America. She has written plays which have been produced and published. Currently she is busy translating some of Mahesh Dattani's plays (including Dance Like A Man and Seven Steps Around The Fire) from English into Hindustani, and studying
Vedanta.

LOG-BAAG
Depicting lives of everyday mortals "LOG-BAAG" reveals myriad of moods, class distinctions and various shades of mind and attitude. A play with eight short stories of
chekhov woven together, each individualy depicting a slice of life. Yet, the common thread that binds them together is the essential conflict between "What should be" and "What is" and also the typical Chekhovian end that undercuts each story as a very first last moment.The stories can be seen as seemingly transaprently simple yet with great subtlety Chekhov undercuts mammoth institutions like, Bureaucracy , parenting , marriage , medicine ..... yet at the same time chekhov goes behind social institutions and with great sensitivity revelas glimpsis of human emotions of insecurity, namelessness, confusion , pain .......The playwright Neil Simen has brilliantly selected the short stories such that each one dipicts the complex facets of the writer in the play. The writer's conflict at penning down his experiences as stories, itself is an organic story in the play.

Critics says
LOG-BAAG" one of Gaur's best play ... Best play of the year award...classy play of high standards.
-The Hindu

Real life stories ... Effective Satire and Comic
-Rashtriya Sahara

Interesting and Encapsulating..... Effective -Jan Satta
Competently witty direction..... Pleasant and entertaining evening
-Pioneer
Amusing play.... Built in fun.... Outstanding theatre
-Hindustan Times

Amma Tujhe Salaam
Amma Tujhe Salaam written by the late Shri Nag Bodas is a social satire centred on the lives of beggars, a class of people who have been made outcasts by a consumer-centric society that rejects its own children in their hour of need. The play exposes the hypocrisy of social rules and norms, through the story of Bhura, a handicapped mechanic who loses everything when he is betrayed by those closest to him. In spite of the harshness he faces in his new world, he maintains his integrity and continues to dream of small joys. When he runs into Chhalni and her two children who have never known a world outside beggary, he teaches them to do the same.
In the meantime, Jaggi "Boss" and his two sidekicks Tanny and Teja, who are aspiring underworld dons, portray another facet of social disharmony.
Their story reflects the frustration of having un-met needs, and the other side of social impact: a struggle for power and finally emergence into a mirror image of the system itself, symbolizing ambition and ruthlessness.
The issue of trafficking of women and children also forms a sub-plot of this play. The horrifying transformation of innocent childhood joys to mental instability and lifelong scars is worthy of thought, and adapted well into the main storyline.

Operation Three Star
(Hindi adaptation of Accidental Death of an Anarchist)
Grounded in a very specific, disturbing political reality the Operation Three Star offers a scathing comment the real events which are criminal and obscene in their brutality: Crimes of the state .With his seemingly insane logic the maniac is instrumental in unmasking the criminal folly of the law enforcing agency in its attempts to cover up heinous action. He persistently ridicules the police's shaky case and forces them to re-enact the situation in that led to the 'suicide' of a 'terrorist' under their custody.
Subsequently, they contradict themselves to dismantle the whole issue of half-truths and non-sequiturs.
An escalating series of impersonations and misunderstandings extend a particular viewpoint. The jerk from comic gags to a fuller awareness of serious issue becomes a potent device as the crude violence of the power-that-be is recognized.

Mote Ram ka Satyagrah
the play is a comic-satire with all the elements of a musical. On the surface, the play appears to be a simple story about a Brahmin from Banaras . The town of Banaras adorns itself to receive a Vice Roy, as per the directions given by the Magistrate- Sir William Parkinson. Pandit Mote ram Shastri, the protagonist seems to have bitten more than he can chew, and agrees to go on a hunger strike to stop the people of the town from declaring a "Hartal". Whether or
not the pundit succeeds in controlling his hunger brings the play to its comical climax. There is more to this play then meets the eye. It deals with larger issues of the relationship between Religion & Politics. The play Wright, intricately
weave the threats of this rather sensitive subject into a cohesive and entertaining play.
The issues raised are as relevant and contemporary now, as they were under the colomset's rule.

Thanks for your kind support to relevant theatre.
Viren Basoya

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Photographs of Operation Three Star

















Dario FO’s
Operation Three Star
Actors
Inspector Vajpayee-Pusparaj Rawat
Havaldar-Sunil Rawat
The Maniac-Sandeep Srivastava
Inspector Pahuja-Sailendra Bist
S.P.Varma-Girish Pal
fatima Abasi-Jyoti Varma

Hindi adaptation of Accidental Death of an Anarchist
Adaptation in Hindi -Amitabh Srivastava
Lyrics-Piyush Mishra,
Main Park, DA flats, Timarpur,
Delhi-54, Free Entry
15th April,9 pm

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

April plays-Court martial,30 days in September,Operation Three Star,Mote Ram ka Satyagrah


Asmita arts group
April 2007, Theatre Calendar


14th April,7pm
Swadesh Deepak’s

COURT-MARTIAL
Sri Ram Centre, Safdar Hashmi Marg,
Mandi House,
Tickets Rs. 50 / & Rs.100/

15th April,7pm
Mahesh Dattani's
30 DAYS IN SEPTEMBER
Hindi translation by Smita Nirula
Sri Ram Centre, Safdar Hashmi Marg ,Mandi House New Delhi
Tickets Rs. 50 / & Rs.100/

15th April,9 pm
Dario FO’s
Operation Three Star
Hindi adaptation of Accidental Death of an Anarchist
Adaptation in Hindi -Amitabh Srivastava
Lyrics-Piyush Mishra,
Main Park, DA flats, Timarpur, Delhi-54, Free Entry

21 and 22nd April,7pm
Swadesh Deepak’s
COURT-MARTIAL
India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road , New Delhi ,
Tickets Rs. 50 /

28th & 29th April,7 pm
Musical satire
Mote Ram ka Satyagrah
Adaptation by Habib Tanveer and Safdar Hashmi ,
Music by Sangeeta Gaur
India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road , New Delhi ,
Tickets Rs. 50 /
All Plays directed by Arvind Gaur

Court- martial
When respect is denied to a man for the only reason that he is borne by ‘low-caste’ parents, the offence cannot simply be termed as a social violence. It assumes larger proportions of crime against humanity and society at large. Yet by the turn in situation the murderer becomes a winner whereas the victim is unforgiving.The culprit may receive severe punishment at the hands of the law but, in fact, it is the society which is put in the docks. Court Martial, written by Swadesh Deepak, is a story of recruit Ram Chander who is tried for murdering one of his officers and injuring another.The Court Martial is presided by a war veteran.Col Surat Singh who has witnessed many ‘life –and –death’ situation.
But this trial puts him in a queer position, so far unknown to him, and during the course of interrogation he realize that the issues at stake are much larger than what meets the eye.Realizing that the Indian army is the only government agency in which reservation on caste basis is not permissible. Court Martial presents a combination of legal and poetic justice.
About Swadesh Deepak
Swadesh Deepak (1942- ) is a popular Indian playwright,novelist and short-story writer. Deepak has been active on the Hindi literary scene since the mid 1960s and is best known for Court Martial, a pathbreaking play that he published in 1991.
Deepak's most recent book is Maine Mandu Nahin Dekha, a volume of memoirs.
Deepak's work has appeared in all major literary periodicals of India, and he has more than 15 published titles to his credit. Several of his works have been staged and made into television programmes.Deepakji holds masters degrees in both Hindi and English. For twenty-six years, he taught English literature at Ambala's Gandhi Memorial College.
Where is Deepakji ?
In early 2006, Deepak showed symptoms of acute depression related to
bipolar disorder. He had suffered a cardic attack in 2004, but had
shown considerable improvement eversince. On June 2 2006, Deepak left
home for his routine morning walk, and went missing.
All attempts to trace him have shown little results.
Deepakji
Pls Come Back...
We Need
YOU....
WE ALL
LOVE YOU ...
YOU PROMISE TO GIVE
YOUR NEW
PLAY TO ASMITA GROUP ....
PLS COME BACK...
CRITICS SAYS
tight pace of Court Martial….not to be missed
.- Kavita Nagpal (Hindustan Times)
Gaur’s hard hitting realism…..His infinitely intelligent approach….strong play.
- Aruna Ahluwalia (E.News)
Kudos to Court Martial….a drama that went beyond the limits of drama.
(Indian Express)
the Asmita team has created a marvelous piece of theatre out of a wonderful script….don’t miss it. The times spent watching it is well worth it.
-Smita Nirula ( The Pioneer)
Stealing scenes with revolt as the theme ….Court Martial was an engrossing display of theatre for social awareness.
-Sushama Chadha (Times of India)
Excellent acting, live and memorable…..worth visit
-Ajeet Rai (Nav Bharat Times)

30 DAYS IN SEPTEMBER
The play about love and betrayal, 'Thirty Days' treats the sensitive and generally taboo issue of child sexual abuse. 'Thirty Days' endeavors to lift the veil of silence which surrounds child sexual abuse and addresses the issue unflinchingly. It builds on the trauma of Mala who lives with the haunting memories of her abused past. Her abuser - her uncle - subconsciously lives with her all the time, as part of her dirty reflections. He damages her natural growth, deters her from pursuing her love interests beyond the ominous 30-day period and scars her soul every now and then. As Mala withers under the psychological pressure extorted on her by the abuser, her mother watches silently, living her own pain - suffering mutely. Exploring the painful problem, Mahesh dattani Dattani raises valid concerns and structures a world of optimism where the wrongs can stand corrected and resurrection of brutalized faith is possible. But none of this happens without another man’s willingness to help the two women bury their traumatic past and find ways of rejuvenating their present. Deepak, Mala’s boyfriend, becomes the agent of change here. He dares to unmask the evil, even at the cost of his love.
He hits the women hard until they hit the rock bottom. Finally, there is no way but to come up - face the wrongs and dare to correct them, notwithstanding the challenges the process of correction entails. By marking a daring departure from norm, the play ensures that we, as a society, no longer take comfort in the routine of uttering word “incest” in gutless undertones. The play also brings us closer to the reality of abused children -pleasure does form a part of their pain, but finally the consequence of dangerous games can only be dangerous. Our only way to fight danger is to recognize it and crush with generous doses of brutality lest we are ready to condemn innocence to lifelong death.
Arivnd Gaur's "30 Days in September" is worth watching. Mahesh Dattani builds his play around child abuse and tries to lift the veil on the hush-hush subject. …..Lifting the veil ….ROMESH CHANDER, The Hindu
Operation Three Star
(Hindi adaptation of Accidental Death of an anarchist) Grounded in a very specific, disturbing political reality the Operation Three Star offers a scathing comment the real events which are criminal and obscene in their brutality: Crimes of the state .With his seemingly insane logic the maniac is instrumental in unmasking the criminal folly of the law enforcing agency in its attempts to cover up heinous action. He persistently ridicules the police's shaky case and forces them to re-enact the situation in that led to the 'suicide' of a 'terrorist' under their custody. Subsequently, they contradict themselves to dismantle the whole issue of half-truths and non-sequiturs. An escalating series of impersonations and misunderstandings extend a particular viewpoint. The jerk from comic gags to a fuller awareness of serious issue becomes a potent device as the crude violence of the power-that-be is recognized
Mote Ram ka Satyagrah
the play is a comic-satire with all the elements of a musical. On the surface, the play appears to be a simple story about a Brahmin from Banaras . The town of Banaras adorns itself to receive a Vice Roy, as per the directions given by the Magistrate- Sir William Parkinson.
Pandit Mote ram Shastri, the protagonist seems to have bitten more than he can chew, and agrees to go on a hunger strike to stop the people of the town from declaring a "Hartal". Whether or not the pundit succeeds in controlling his hunger brings the play to its comical climax. There is more to this play then meets the eye. It deals with larger issues of the relationship between Religion & Politics. The play Wright, intricately weave the threats of this rather sensitive subject into a cohesive and entertaining play. The issues raised are as relevant and contemporary now, as they were under the colomset's rule.
Contact-9899650509, 9871166607

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

30 Days in September















Mahesh Dattani's


30 DAYS IN SEPTEMBER

Hindi translation by
Smita Nirula


Directed By
Arvind Gaur


18th March, 7pm
Sri Ram Centre,Safdar Hashmi Marg
Mandi House,New Delhi
Contact-9899650509, 9871166607

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Asmita March-2007



















Musical satire
Mote Ram ka Satyagrah
Adaptation by Habib Tanveer and Safdar Hashmi.
Music by Sangeeta Gaur
10th March,7pm
Sri Ram Centre, Safdar Hashmi Marg
Mandi House, New Delhi
Tickets Rs. 50 /,100/

Dario Fo’s
Accidental Death of an anarchist
(Operation Three Star)
Adaptation in Hindi -Amitabh Srivastava
Lyrics-Piyush Mishra
11th March ,7pm
India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi
Tickets Rs. 50 /

Mahesh datttani's
30 days in sept.
hindi translation - Smita Nirula
18th March,7 pm
Sri Ram Centre, Safdar Hashmi Marg
Mandi House, New Delhi
Tickets Rs. 50 /,100/
contact-9899650509, 9871166607
All Plays directed by Arvind Gaur


Mote Ram ka Satyagrah
The play is a comic-satire with all the elements of a musical. on the surface, the play appears to be a simple story about a brahmin from banaras. The town of banaras adorns itself to recieve a Vice Roy, as per the directions given by the Magistrate- Sir William Parkinson. Pandit Moteram Shastri, the protagonist seems to have bitten more than he can chew, and agrees to go on a hunger strike to stop the people of the town from declaring a "Hartal". Whether or not the pundit succeeds in controling his hunger brings the play to its comical climax. There is more to this play then meets the eye. It deals with larger issues of the relationship between Religion & Politics. The play wright, intriciately weave the threats of this rather sensitive subject into a cohesive and entertaining play. The issues raised are as relevent and contemprary now, as they were under the colomset's rule.
Accidental Death of an anarchist
(Operation Three Star)
Grounded in a very specific, disturbing politicl reality the Operation Three Star offers a scathing comment the real events which are criminal and obscene in their brutality:Crimes of the state.With his seemingly insane logic the maniac is instumental in unmasking the criminal folly of the law enforcing agency in its attempts to cover up heinous action. He persistently ridicules the policie's shaky case and forces them to re-enact the situation in that led to the 'suicide' of a 'terrorist' under their custody. Subsequently, they contradict themselves to dismentle the whole issue of half-truths and non-sequiturs. An escalating series of impersonations and misunderstandings extend a particular viewpoint. The jerk from comic gags to a fuller awareness of serious issue becomes a potent device as the crude voilence of the power-that-be is recognised.
30 DAYS IN SEPTEMBER
A play about love and betrayal, 'Thirty Days' treats the sensitive and generally taboo issue of child sexual abuse. 'Thirty Days' endeavors to lift the veil of silence which surrounds child sexual abuse and addresses the issue unflinchingly. it builds on the trauma of Mala who lives with the haunting memories of her abused past. Her abuser - her uncle - subconsciously lives with her all the time, as part of her dirty reflections. He damages her natural growth, deters her from pursuing her love interests beyond the ominous 30-day period and scars her soul every now and then. As Mala withers under the psychological pressure exterted on her by the abuser, her mother watches silently, living her own pain - suffering mutely. Exploring the painful problem, Mahesh dattani Dattani raises valid concerns and structures a world of optimism where the wrongs can stand corrected and resurrection of brutalised faith is possible. But none of this happens without another man’s willingness to help the two women bury their traumatic past and find ways of rejuvenating their present. Deepak , Mala’s boyfriend, becomes the agent of change here. He dares to unmask the evil, even at the cost of his love. He hits the women hard until they hit the rock bottom. Finally, there is no way but to come up - face the wrongs and dare to correct them, notwithstanding the challenges the process of correction entails. By marking a daring departure from norm, the play ensures that we, as a society, no longer take comfort in the routine of uttering word “incest” in gutless undertones. The play also brings us closer to the reality of abused children -pleasure does form a part of their pain, but finally the consequence of dangerous games can only be dangerous. Our only way to fight danger is to recognise it and crush with generous doses of brutality lest we are ready to condemn innocence to lifelong death.


Asmita Art GroupPresents
SWADESH DEEPAK’S
COURT-MARTIAL
25th February,7pm
Alliance Française,
72, Lodhi Road ,New Delhi

Direction - Arvind Gaur

ABOUT THE PLAY - COURT-MARTIAL
When respect is denied to a man for the only reason that he is borne by ‘low-caste’ parents, the offence cannot simply be termed as a social violence. It assumes larger proportions of crime against humanity and society at large.Yet by the turn in situation the murderer becomes a winner whereas the victim is unforgiven.
The culprit may receive severe punishment at the hands of the law but, in fact, it is the society which is put in the docks.Court Martial,written by Swadesh Deepak, is a story of recruit Ram Chander who is tried for murdering one of his officers and injuring another.
The Court Martial is presided by a war veteran.Col. Surat Singh who has witnessed many ‘life –and –death’ situation. But this trial puts him in a queer position, so far unknown to him, and during the course of interrogation he realize that the issues at stake are much larger than what meets the eye.
Realizing that the Indian Army is the only government agency in which reservation on caste basis is not permissible. Court Martial presents a combination of legal and poetic justice.

CRITICS SAYS
Tight pace of Court Martial….not to be missed .
- Kavita Nagpal (Hindustan Times)
Gaur’s hard hitting realism…..His infinitely intelligent approach….strong play.
- Aruna Ahluwalia (E.News)
Kudos to Court Martial….a drama that went beyond the limits of drama .
- (Indian Express)
The Asmita team has created a marvelous piece of theatre out of a wonderful script….don’t miss it. The times spent watching it is well worth it.
-Smita Nirula ( The Pioneer)
Stealing scenes with revolt as the theme ….Court Martial was an engrossing display of theatre for social awareness.
-Sushama Chadha (Times Of India)
Excellent acting, live and memorable…..worth visit.
-Ajeet Rai (Nav Bharat Times)

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