And pigs will fly

What happens when Badbudaar Singh flies to outer space? Find out in the Hindi kids' play Suar Chala Space Ko

Children's theatre usually comprises a gang of adults trying to act and present what and how kids think. Mumbai-based theatre group Gillo Gilehri's latest Hindi play Suar Chala Space Ko is in town to change this perception.

Originally, a puppet show, the creativity of a bunch of kids led to the production of this play, which is conceptualized by children and is essentially for children. Through the journey of a pig to the outer space, the play chronicles the emotion, intelligence and feelings of children in a contemporary social set up.



Revealing why purposefully the scenes are kept short and the script prompt, Shaili Sathyu, the director of the Suar Chala Space Ko and also the Vice President of the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) says, "It is not a nonsense play.
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In fact, it is a fantasy that children have written. The whole aim is to touch and excite the pulse of kids. So there is a humour, which probably adults can't but kids can relate to."

The play begins when two friends and their pig Badbudaar Singh discover a spaceship in a cave. Not aware of its functions, they accidentally activate it.

Thus, they land up in space, meet aliens and then return to the Earth. However, on their way back, Badbudaar Singh contracts a deadly disease, which then spreads fast and infects all the living beings of their village.
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From swine flu to how children handle incompatible relationships with their families and friends, Suar Chala Space Ko mirrors the various issues embedded in the society that shape up children's thoughts and sensitivities.

Confessing that the silliness of Badbudaar Singh makes him her favourite character in the play, Sathyu says, "We have adults playing the characters of children.

So the biggest challenge for us is to ensure they are childlike and not childish. Else the children, who come to watch the play feel insulted. We are careful that the actors don't sound babyish and don't dumb down the essence of the characters."

Unlike the conventional portrayal of pigs in movies and plays, Badbudaar Singh is not pig-headed. In fact, with the right mix of silliness and intelligence, this character touches the chord.

Also unlike, other children's plays, Suar Chala Space Ko does not force down morals down the audience's throat.

The attempt of playing with shadows while portraying the space ship promises to be a visual delight. The original music devoid of any electric sound also seems to be an effort to provide fresh and pure sound.

Suar Chala Space Ko, not only appears to succeed in the desired effect of making your child laugh but also subtly tries to teach him how to deal with life and his surroundings.

The best part, however, remains that Suar Chala Space Ko is an attempt to retain the fun and innocence that characterizes childhood.

At Ranga Shankara, JP Nagar
On September 25, 3.30 pm and 7.30 pm
Call 98869 24362
For Rs 80
At MES-KK Public School, Vidyaranyapura
On September 26, 3 pm and 6 pm
Call 2364 1565