Bayaa Daar Ughad
4th March, Sri Ram Centre, 5pm
Nominated For: Best Play, Best Director, Best Innovative Sound Design, Best Ensemble & Best Choreography
Produced by: Awishkar
Directed by: Sushama Deshpande
Language: Marathi
Duration: 2hrs 10mins (with interval)
Bayaa Daar Ughad’ is a play that gives us a real-life account of the women-saints who lived in Maharashtra between the 13th & 18th century. As the story unfolds, you have contemporary women representing those women-saints, narrating their lives and emphasizing their deeply rooted relationship with ‘Lord Vitthal’. Back then, where women were treated merely as ‘bhog-vastu’, these women came forward, defied the system and expressed themselves through their poetry (Abhangas). They found peace and solace in their lives when they surrendered themselves to ‘Lord Vitthal’. The play thus revolves around Lord Vitthal, who, for these women-saints was a way of life, a philosophy through which they were able to achieve ultimate happiness.
However, as we witness the path that the
women-saints treaded along at that time, we do not fail to recognize
that those incidents have sufficient relevance even today. Set against a
musical backdrop, the play interestingly explores Maharashtra’s folk
forms such as Bhaarud, Pingaa & Zombee using poetry and prose.
DIRECTOR’S NOTE:
The Poetry and lives of women Saints from 13th
Century to 19th Century fascinated me to study them deeply. Bold
outburst of those women Saints made me put this poetry in Theatre form.
Those women developed their relationship with Vitthal. This Relationship
with Vitthal is not only as God .They see in Him as Mother, Father,
Guru, Protector against atrocities, social injustice, inequality. They
surrender themselves at His Feet and beg His blessings to fight for self
respect. Looking at the life and poetry of those women is very
important in 21th Century for understanding struggle of self respect.
NOMINEES:
Sushama Deshpande: Best Director, Best Innovative Sound Design, Best Choreography
Sushama
Deshpande is an actor and director and is deeply attached with the
Theatre Movement in Maharashtra. She wrote and directed a play Whay mi
Savitri Bai Phule (Yes… I am Savitri Bai Phule) based on the life and
works of Savitri Bai Phule. She has been performing this One-person
performance play for the last 21 years with more than 2500 performances
conducted at grass root, state, national as well as international level.
She wrote, directed and performed another play by the name Tichya
aaichi goshta arthat mazya athavanincha phad and has been performing it
for the last sixteen years. She has received Savitri Bai Phule Puraskar
by the government of Maharashtra for her outstanding contribution to the
welfare of women.
Cast and Credits:
On Stage
Nandita Dhuri
Pradnya Shastri
Shilpa Sane
Geeta Panchal
Rajashri Deshpande
Trupti Shinde
Gaurav Satav
Parag Sarang
Akshay Shimpi
Off Stage
Written by: Sushama Deshpande
Music: Devdatta Sable
Sets and Lights: Ravi- Rasik
Backstage: Sitaram Kumbhar, Amol Kumbhar,Nilesh Kumbhar
Produced and Presented by: Arun Kakade
Music Organizer & Harmonium: Pradeep Joshi
Tabla: Jayesh Dhargalkar
Mrudunga: Sagar Lele
Singar: Tejaswinee Ingale, Rama Barshinge
