Program for March 11 and 12, at Central Vista Amphitheatres
Play: Khub Ladhi Mardani
Presented by: NSD
The name of the play conjures up an image of one of the most courageous women in Indian history, Jhansi Ki Rani. This play is about of another brave freedom fighter of more recent times, Subhadra Kumari Chauhan. Subhadra Kumari was not just a poet but her contribution to India’s Freedom Struggle was also immense. She was born in Prayagraj in 1904, in a male-dominated society, where the role of women, most often went unrecognized. She wrote her first poem, ‘Neem Ka Per’ (The Neem Tree) at the age of 9. Married at the age of 15, she joined her husband in the Freedom Movement at the call of the Father of the Nation, Gandhiji. In 1922-23, she was one of the first women satyagrahis to be sent to jail, for participating in the Jhanda Andolan (Flag Satyagraha). She was again sentenced to a jail term in 1942, when she took her infant daughter, Mamta, with her. She used her pen to evoke feelings of patriotism in her countrymen, through her powerful poems. The British authorities banned her poem, Jhansi Ki Rani.
In the 75th year of our country’s independence, NSD presents ‘Khub Ladhi Mardani’, to pay tribute not just to Subhadra Kumari but also to some other women patriots, like Phulo Jhano, Uda Devi Pasi, Moolmati, and Ajijan Bai, who had a great influence on Subhadra Kumari. Through this play, the contribution of all these unsung heroes of our Freedom Struggle has been highlighted.
The Director of the play, Bharti Sharma, graduated with Hindi from Delhi University and also took a degree in Theatre from Rashtriya Natya Vidyalaya. She is a founder-member and Director of Kshitij Theatre Group. She has been a theatre worker for the last 38 years, having acted in over 50 plays and directed over 35 productions.
The Assistant Director, Deep Kumar, graduated from the University of Himachal Pradesh and also took a degree in Theatre from the Himachal Sanskritik Anusandhan Manch and Rangmandal Mandi. He has acted in over 50 plays and has been the Assistant Director of some major productions.
The Santhali Dance Choreography is by Ramchandra Mardi, Kathak Dance Choreography by Gargi Malkani, Costume Design is by Pratima Pandey, Music Direction is by Anjana Puri, Dramatization by Asif Ali, the Visuals Design by Shyam Kumar Sahani and Light Design by Himangshu K. Joshi.