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Prithvi Theatre November Thu 19, 06:00 pm, 09:30 pm |
| ADISHAKTI'S IMPRESSIONS OF BHIMA (English) |
| 1 Hour (without interval) The heroic status of Bhima of the Mahabharata depends largely on his physical prowess. Impressions of Bhima is a deconstruction of this hero, where the man of physical power and strength becomes in the end a psychological hero. The warrior’s battle is transferred to the field where alone complete victory is possible. Instead of a struggle for transient success, at the end the warrior wants nothing less than an inner victory. |
| Director's Note : This reading of Bhima was contextualized within a subaltern landscape and was also inspired by the evolutionary logic of the Veda. The personification of Bhima in the Mahabharata is based on the Vedic archetype Vayu; who incidentally figures as Bhima's father in the epic. All Vedic images and figures are symbols of psychological and spiritual states. And these states are never perceived as static. On the contrary they are in a constant state of evolution. In fact the motive of the Veda is to encourage and support the evolution of these psychological states from one level to the other in an ever-ascending order. The march is from height to greater height. Thus Vayu, the lord of Life was considered to be the force, which pervaded all material existence and was the condition for its activities. From the evolutionary standpoint this mechanical force gives way to volitional behavior or the Will. Thus Vayu, the nervous-physical energy, gives way to Agni who is the master of Tapas/ the inner energy. At the end in Impressions of Bhima, Agni replaces Vayu as the archetype behind Bhima's personification. Adishakti : Adishakti Laboratory for Theatre Art Research, Puducherry, India is a theatre, music, dance and shadow puppetry troupe and a locus for hybrid performing arts. It is the home from which national and international performances, workshops, artist exchanges and research are generated. Adishakti defends a holistic view of theatre arts and seeks to recover systems of craft, artisinal activity, architecture and design, indigenous medicine and environmental awareness germane to most traditional performance cultures. Adishakti also connects traditional arts to contemporary arts practice - and rural forms to metropolitan expressions. Adishakti's holistic view of theatre finds expression in its campus, which is a cultural hub in the lap of nature. Three acres of sylvan surroundings house many heritage structures, an outdoor amphitheatre, an indoor theatre space built to the specifications of the Natya Shastra , the ancient treatise on theatre -- with contemporary acoustic paneling. The landscape is dotted with fruit trees and vegetable plantations – all organically grown. There are three sacred groves, { sarpa kavu} which have been nurtured in the traditional way and many trees mentioned in ancient texts are flourishing at Adishakti. Medicinal herb gardens have been planted in consultations with medicinal practitioners from alternative streams of treatment. In fact Siddha, Ayurveda and Naturopath practitioners are part of Adishakti's visiting faculty and treat its performers and its visitors. Adishakti is currently supported by the Ford Foundation and the R D Tata Trust. |
| Cast : |
| Actor Vinay Kumar Musicians : Suresh Kaliyath Anoop Davis Arvind Rane Writer/ Director/ Choreographer/ Music Veenapani Chawla Light Designer Vinay Kumar Light Operation Nimmy Raphel |