Then think again, as Sunil Shanbag's play Sex, Morality and Censorship hits the stage this weekend. We're not saying much just that IFA thought it good enough to bring down. Enough said
Then think again, as Sunil Shanbag's play Sex, Morality and Censorship hits the stage this weekend. We're not saying much just that IFA thought it good enough to bring down. Enough said
A bard and a lovely dancer will be here in Bangalore to teach us the connection between the three factors that rule celluloid sex, morality and censorship.
These three factors, which have also always played a major influence on the evolution of society will be discussed, debated and comprehended (in a way that these artists want us to) this weekend. Bangalore is all ready for the city premiere of Sunil Shanbag's Hindi play S*X, M*RALITY, AND, CENS*RSHIP, brought to us by India Foundation for the Arts.
"The play aims at understanding the connections between sex, morality and censorship and how it helps us understand and define ourselves, society and they way we choose to look at art and culture," says Sunil Shanbag, the director. 
"Sex is used here only as a pointer or an attention grabber as it attracts the most provocative reactions from society," he adds.
It is a play within a play and this time around, Vijay Tendulkar's controversial play Sukhiram Binder is used as the main narrative. The play narrates the story of Sukhiram, a bookbinder who loves smoking, drinking and women. He gives shelter to abandoned women on the condition that they behave as his wives in return for protection.
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The women live with him in an open relationship and he allows them to walk out at anytime, at will. The relationships end with Sukhiram gifting these women a train ticket, Rs 50 and a sari. Sukhiram's character is thus unique.
He deals with his own reality, loves it and has no problems about it. He flaunts his sexuality and raises the very concept of morality prevalent in that society. When staged in 1970s, this play shook society and provoked and hurt the middle class sentiment. It was thus banned for quite some time.
In S*X, M*RALITY, AND, CENS*RSHIP, a lady appoints a dancer and a poet to present a work on theatre censorship and they decide to discuss Tendulkar's play. Shanbag not only brings out the nuances of Tendulkar's play but also divulges the mindset and the cultural reasoning of that era.
The play swings back and forth in time but never slackens in flow and successfully keeps the audience rapt in attention. The humorous narration accompanied by an exciting mix of theatre, illusion, memory, music, dance and film clips leaves anyone entertained and the message of the play, quite easily gets across.
"We used Tendulkar's play as a filter to see what actually constitutes censorship and what was going on in that period," Shanbag adds.
The narration essentially adheres to the Marathi flavour of tamaasha, a folk form of irreverent and liberal theatre. However, you can still relate to the play as it makes complete sense even in today's world and whether you believe it or not, it still manages to shock, even the most liberal of us.
At: Ranga Shankara
On: March 13, 7.30 pm March 14, 3.30 pm and 7.30 pm
Tickets Rs 150
Call: 98800 36611
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