13 March,2010 09:27 AM IST | | Aditi Sharma
Dhon Hiyala and Ali Fulhu, star-crossed lovers from the island nation, will play out the epic doomed love story in Mumbai this weekend
Dhon Hiyala and Ali Fulhu are protagonists of a centuries-old love story that is native to the Maldives Islands. The folklore is a popular story among Maldivians and has been converted into a book, film, and even inspired several love songs. This weekend, Dhon Hiyala and Ali Fulhu have travelled across the Indian Ocean to represent their country at the ongoing South Asian Theatre Festival in Mumbai.u00a0
Researchers date the Dhon Hiyala and Ali Fulhu story to 1442 AD. It is said that Dhon was as beautiful as a nymph and lived on the island of Buruni in Thaa Atoll. Her father worked for the Sultan as a reader of the Holy Quran. Dhon was in love with Ali Fulhu (described as a goldsmith/silversmith/blacksmith in various versions), native to a nearby island. The two lovers got married secretly but trouble brewed when the Sultan fell for Dhon's beauty and asked for her hand in marriage. The adamant girl was dragged to the Sultan's palace in Male.
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Ali followed his agents and somehow managed to rescue his beloved. The lovers are chased by the royal army.
In desperation, they decide to jump off the boat and unite in death.u00a0
It's not clear whether the Dhon and Ali story is a folk legend or a true story. Many Maldivians believe the events described in the folklore did actually unfold, but years of oral tradition have embellished it with melodramatic nuances.
Twenty year-old Thoiba Saeedh and her theatre group decided to perform Dhon Hiyala and Ali Fulhu when they were invited to participate in the ongoing theatre festival, because they believed it was a theme international audiences would instantly connect with. "As a theatre group, our aim is to promote the culture of Maldives through our popular folklore," Saeedh said over the phone, before the group was set to perform in Delhi.
Although the folklore is popular back home, it hasn't inspired any stage productions, the director says. "Locals perform short skits based on the story during festivals but this is the first time that the story is being narrated with professional theatrical effects," said Saeedh. The group will perform the play in English, not Divehi (the official language of Maldives) as they normally do, for the comfort of Mumbai audiences.
On: March 14, 7 pm at Tata Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point. For free passes call 22813572 / 22813302
A slice of Afghanistan
Salsal and Shahmama, a play from Afghanistan, is another production to look out for at the festival. The story of two sisters who live near the Buddha Statues of Bamiyan, progresses to depict the destruction of the world heritage site. On: March 16, 7 pm at Tata Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point.
