theatrical...
Gender, class, religion and caste, the mainstreaming Indian state has evolved in a manner that many are excluded, they lie on the margins. MARGINS is the coming together of three short scripts linked in their critique of the mainstream of our state and society from diverse peripheral “women” perspectives.
The first plot borrows a real life story from the files of a women’s organisation Shaktishalini. The story is based in Delhi, centring round a lower middle class case of a muslim family. The script examines state constructions of justice for muslims, women and muslim women.
The second leaning on archetypal Dalit autobiographies reconstructs another real story though from a different perspective. It juxtaposes caste and gender. Hidden within a sceptical anti-brahminical cover is the question whether gender transcends caste? Is it possible for a Dalit man to exploit an upper caste woman? Who is in the margins?
The third, set in the lower class, is a rollicking farce. Slicing hegemonic patriarchal structures from diverse marginal perspectives, the script juxtaposes constructions of masculinity with the spirit of football.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
watched this play last saturday. my company was the highest in intellectual standards one can have without being dismissed as a 'halli' (the one and only thing dhanur taught me that i can be proud of; halli = uneducated rural) aka me mum. My main critique of the play was that it aimed at addressing one too many socio-political issues within a very restricting space...whilst the acting was at times powerful, it failed to impress overall. I did learn of some new brahmanistic rituals performed in maharashtra and other geographical areas dominated by such demarcations in the early 70s. Needless to say, India is constantly in the phase of evolutions. It would be preposterous to think that our externally perceived (and might I add promoted) modernity shines with a lustre unduly blinding the realities of more than 70% of our population, which is in this case only the rural areas that I speak of. abhi's blog has been a pleasure to read these last few weeks for such learning (as he travels through ahmedabad as part of his new 'venture')In terms of a humanitarian coexistence that may speak of equality and a lack of discrimination, our prejudices and devotions to the riti (rituals, traditions) still scream out as part of the growling underbelly of indian socio-religious politics.
anyways, another personal must-do gets underway, much more theatre in the horizon...
hell, i might just join a theatre group myself considering my love for drama. chuck it, my world's a stage, and im the lead...
The first plot borrows a real life story from the files of a women’s organisation Shaktishalini. The story is based in Delhi, centring round a lower middle class case of a muslim family. The script examines state constructions of justice for muslims, women and muslim women.
The second leaning on archetypal Dalit autobiographies reconstructs another real story though from a different perspective. It juxtaposes caste and gender. Hidden within a sceptical anti-brahminical cover is the question whether gender transcends caste? Is it possible for a Dalit man to exploit an upper caste woman? Who is in the margins?
The third, set in the lower class, is a rollicking farce. Slicing hegemonic patriarchal structures from diverse marginal perspectives, the script juxtaposes constructions of masculinity with the spirit of football.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
watched this play last saturday. my company was the highest in intellectual standards one can have without being dismissed as a 'halli' (the one and only thing dhanur taught me that i can be proud of; halli = uneducated rural) aka me mum. My main critique of the play was that it aimed at addressing one too many socio-political issues within a very restricting space...whilst the acting was at times powerful, it failed to impress overall. I did learn of some new brahmanistic rituals performed in maharashtra and other geographical areas dominated by such demarcations in the early 70s. Needless to say, India is constantly in the phase of evolutions. It would be preposterous to think that our externally perceived (and might I add promoted) modernity shines with a lustre unduly blinding the realities of more than 70% of our population, which is in this case only the rural areas that I speak of. abhi's blog has been a pleasure to read these last few weeks for such learning (as he travels through ahmedabad as part of his new 'venture')In terms of a humanitarian coexistence that may speak of equality and a lack of discrimination, our prejudices and devotions to the riti (rituals, traditions) still scream out as part of the growling underbelly of indian socio-religious politics.
anyways, another personal must-do gets underway, much more theatre in the horizon...
hell, i might just join a theatre group myself considering my love for drama. chuck it, my world's a stage, and im the lead...
