Performance traces it’s origins back to storytelling. India has a rich heritage of oral traditions from Padvani in Chhattisgarh to Kathakali Kerala to Baul storytelling in West Bengal.
Storytelling has ever been dependent on singing – entire narratives were initially presented as a musical arrangement with one or many performers. The emphasis was not so much on performance as on the nuances of singing. Over time, traditions evolved and body movement, gestures and postures added a visual layer to the hitherto aural experience. And then performers developed the third layer of character – developing body movement and dialogue according to the idiosyncrasies of the character and situation. In the Hindi-Urdu tradition, this practice came to be known variously as Katha-goyee, Kissa-faroshee, Baat-poshee or simply Katha-Gaayan.
This Saturday evening, catch NSD alumni and The DSM faculty Ajay Kumar take you through the process of turning ordinary in to extraordinary through the simple act of storytelling. He will present the stories of Vijaydan Detha – a prolific writer from Rajasthan whose stories inspired Habib Tanvir’s Charandas Chor and 2005’s Shahrukh Khan – starrer Paheli.
7 PM | 17th December | 5th Floor, Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh, Charni Road East, Mumbai | Entry Free | Call 9619336336 for details
Incidentally, another story by Vijaydan Detha made splashes at NCPA’s Centrestage Festival this year – Dohri Zindagi. Directed by former Theatre Professionals facilitator Gurleen Judge – Dohri Zindagi, which explores what it is to love in a homophobic society, will makes it’s way to The DSM on the 24th of December. This play will be part of the Hive Around Town series. To book tickets for the show, log on to bookmyshow.
Photo By : NARENDRA DANGIYA