Sitara Studio, in collaboration with Drama Queen, presents LADY ANANDI...A performance by Anuja Ghosalkar...
April 1, 2016 2:21:06 PM IST MTG editorial
LADY ANANDI is the story of F, an actor-writer who is haunted by the ghost of her maternal great grandfather -- a female impersonator in regional Indian Theatre in the late 1800s. When she finally encounters him, he is dressed as a woman, in a blood red, silk saree, essaying the role of 'Lady Anandi' -- a controversial 18th century Indian historical figure. F tries to imagine her great grandfather's life, playing women's parts in the theatre by looking at his photos, and trying to re-enact the characters he essayed.
The performance is based on extensive research and, exploring a personal archive, brings together elements like performance, history, early photography and gender. It is a quirky, absurd and historical look at how to act like a lady in a man's world.
The text was written during Anuja Ghosalkar's month-long residency at Art Lab Gnesta, Sweden. It is a documentary theatre piece and is being showcased as a work in progress.
Post the show, Anuja will be in conversation with award-winning filmmaker and artist Shumona Goel.
LADY ANANDI is a work-in-progress that has thus far been showcased at: Art Lab Gnesta, Sweden | Konstfack University, Sweden | India Foundation for the Arts, Bangalore | S-47 Panchsheel Park, New Delhi | Breakthrough, New Delhi | Beagles Loft, Bangalore | Alliance Francaise, New Delhi
Anuja Ghosalkar is a theatre actor, writer and director based in Bangalore. Drama Queen, her theatre company, is evolving a unique form of documentary theatre in India. Anuja has worked with theatre directors including Atul Kumar, Abhishek Majumadar, Kirtana Kumar and Arundhati Raja. She teaches theatre to young adults and children across Bangalore through Jagriti and Ranga Shankara. When not doing theatre, she works on Experimenta, a festival of moving image art in India. In the past, Anuja has worked as a programme officer at India Foundation for the Arts, in film research, curating, writing and teaching cinema. Recently, she was an artist-in-residence at Art Lab Gnesta, Sweden, where she wrote Lady Anandi.
Shumona Goel is an award-winning experimental filmmaker and installation artist. Her work has been exhibited at the Tate Modern, Forum Expanded (Berlin International Film Festival), and the Guggenheim Museum. Her latest film, An Old Dog's Diary, on the life of the avant-garde painter Francis Newton Souza won the Best Short Film at the BFI London Film Festival this year. Her previous film I am Micro (2012), won several awards, including a National Award from the Government of India.
Entry fee: Rs 250 per person. Seating is limited so book early!
