DNA Newpaper (Ahmedabad) Media Coverage
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budhan’s kids teach through play-way
children of chhara tribe stage a play budhan bolta hai
DNA Correspondent
ahmedabad-based theatre group, the budhan theatre, has helped clean the image of the chhara tribe, a de-notified tribe of gujarat, over the years. budhan theatre, under the guidance of kalpana gagdekar, one of its founder members, has recently completed 10 years of existence. it has performed many street theatres as well as proscenium performances.
the children of chharanagar, who were once derided as criminals, staged budhan bolta hai, a play that is completely their creation, at crosswords on sunday. the play was not only written and directed by them, but the young brigade also scored the music for the play.
budhan bolta hai is actually a compilation of three full-fledged plays – budhan, encounter and bulldozer – and draws our attention towards issues like police atrocities, false prosecution and mob lynching.
the play is about budhan sabar, a tribal living in kolkata, west bengal, who is falsely accused and imprisoned. he later dies in the purulia jail and the medical report raises suspicion over the cause of his death. the incident is enacted in an excellent manner with the help of minimum props. nandini indrekar, who plays the character of shyamali sabar, wife of budhan, moves audiences to tears with her stupendous enactment of a widow bewailing over her husband’s dead body.
the true story of deepak pawar, is the basis for the mob lynching topic. pawar was incidentally forced to become a police informer in order to continue with his illegal business of brewing country liquor. pawar was beaten up by other people when his identity as a police informer got revealed, but was eventually killed in a fake encounter.
finally, the story of a mother, whose child dies from cold after their house was encroached, was the real centerpiece of the three-fold play. it revolved around a true incident of the rajbhoi family who lived near the indian institute of management, ahmedabad. added to the powerful and moving real-life stories were poems by revolutionary poets like pash and dhumil which added flavour to the play, that were mostly recited in groups. the play raises many a question in the audiences’ minds about several issues such as whether the indian society has any responsibility towards its population of eight crores etc.
in a recent one-act play competition organised by darpana academy, budhan bolta hai also bagged the best actress and best actor awards.
BUDHAN BOLTA HAI…A Street Play @ CROSSWORD, MITHAKHALI, AHMEDABAD
Budhan Bolta Hai…Nomads Called a Thief (Street Play)
Budhan Bolta Hai…based on true incidents of atrocities cases on Denotifed Tribals of India who treated as Born Criminal by legal system and treated as Thieves by mainstream societies. The play included atrocity on Budhan Sabar of kolkatta, Deepak Pawar of Maharashtra and Demolition issue of DNT Basti in Maningar area which makes settled nomads again nomads. The play reflects the inhuman treatment with the DNT communites in this country and appeal to audience to treat them with human dignity.
Street Play