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Home > News > India News > Article > Mahabharata is the mother of Indian Folk theatre

Mahabharata is the mother of Indian Folk theatre

Updated on: 04 March,2010 09:09 AM IST  | 
Swati Kumari |

And other interesting facets come undone at the ongoing run-up to the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards

Mahabharata is the mother of Indian Folk theatre

And other interesting facets come undone at the ongoing run-up to the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards

They will not roll in moolah, but theatre artistes, for once, will collect awards, just like their filmi counterparts. The ongoing Mahindra Theatre Festival, which started on March 2, brings together 10 plays from across the country, focusing on a range of social issues. The weeklong festival will see some of India's best theatre productions being awarded in categories such as Best Play, Best Director and Best Actor in a Leading Role, among others.



Act and tact
Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) promises a gala award ceremony on March 7, to honour the best productions and the people behind them. "Because the key focus has been on cinema and film awards, this very important performing art has been relatively ignored. META is an endeavour to reward and recognise excellence in this field," says creative director Ravi Dubey, airing his concern.

His enthusiasm manifests in the 230 entries that have come in from various parts of the country.
"What's more, it is not just the number of entries that has increased, but the quality ofu00a0 productions that have shown a remarkable improvement," he smiles. "Having established a framework over five years in India, the need to create an international exchange with similar institutions overseas has now become vital." He hopes that in the sixth year, the festival will re-invent itself on the global platform.

Sex, folk and scriptures
The finalists this year include Bharat Katha by Kasba Arghya u2014 A research-based production on the folk theatres of our country centering on the Mahabharata. It is a theatrical performance exploring the energy source of those folk theatres, and embedding it within eastern classical music,u00a0 nevertheless retaining the crudity of the forms.

Sunil Shanbag, who has been nominated for Best Director for Sex, Morality and Censorship, explores the most-loved controversial issuesu00a0-- morality and censorship. "This play is about the play Sakharam Binder, which created stirred up a storm when it was staged in 1971." Dubey feels there was no reason for the uproar. "There is absolutely nothing wrong with the subject of sex being addressed through drama or dance or any other form of the performing arts. I also believe that any and all issues pertaining to human life should be addressed by theatre."

The organisers also have plans to make theatre more mainstream, with workshops to train teachers all round the year. "The workshops are something that are concurrent with existing theatre, but what will follow will be special classes for theatre training." All about reach, don't preach.

Mahindra Theatre Festival
Ticket prices: Rs 100
Book tickets on
www.buzzintown.com
Call: 26011430-32

Schedule
Thursday, March 4

5 pm
White Lily Anna Night Rider
Sriram Centre
It's a contemporary playu00a0-- a black comedyu00a0-- based on a man and woman in their forties. The play raises innumerable questions and confusions about the fundamentals of relationship and companionship.

7:30 pm
Spinal Cord
Kamani Auditoriumu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
It narrates the story of a murder and its tragic consequences in a township.

Friday, March 5,
5 pm
Guti Phulor Gamusau00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
Sriram Centreu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
A primeval love story celebrating the traditional talent of Assam and renewal of life

7:30pmu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
Sex, Morality and Censorshipu00a0u00a0
Kamani Auditoriumu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
Explores two of the most controversial issuesu00a0-- morality and censorship, in theatre.

Saturday, March 6,
5 pm
Black Birdu00a0
Sriram Centreu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
An unnerving and controversial play that taunts us with the limits of our own language, our taboos and our notions of love, abuse and closure.

7:30pmu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
Bharat Kathau00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
Kamani Auditoriumu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
A research-based production on the folk theatres of our country, like Pandavani and Jhumur, centering around the great epic, the Mahabharata.




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