The Jana Natya Manch, Delhi Presents 'Sarkash: A Theatre Festival of Alternatives' at Prithvi Theatre...
December 2, 2010 12:00:00 AM IST MTG editorial
Jana Natya Manch (Janam) is among India's best-known and most active theatre companies, set up in 1973, known primarily for its work in street theatre. Among the founder members of Janam was the brilliant young theatre person Safdar Hashmi, who was killed in a performance in January 1989.
Janam has organised 'Sarkash', a Theatre Festival in Mumbai to help raise funds for an alternative theatre space in Delhi. "We in Janam have been doing theatre of social engagement and commitment for the last 38 years. Today, when we are embarking on creating a democratic cultural adda in Delhi - our most ambitious project to date - we are delighted that Prithvi Theatre, and the theatre fraternity of the city of Mumbai, have opened their arms in a wonderfully large hearted and welcoming way to Janam. In particular, all the performers at this festival have been generous with their time and talent, and we are sure that SARKASH will be an event that Mumbai audiences will remember for a long time." says Moloyashree Hashmi, Secretary, Janam.
SARKASH features seven plays, a music concert, a poetry reading performance and platform performances. It will also showcase STREET : THEATRE, an exhibition and sale of vintage photographs from the Archives of Jana Natya Manch, which pictorially anecdote a crucial moment in the theatre history of India.
This is a unique event - for the first time, such a large number of eminent theatre and film personalities are coming together to help a theatre group build infrastructure. The festival is supported by Naseeruddin Shah, Anusha Rizvi, director of the film Peepli Live, Dastongoi performer Mohammad Farooqui and by other well-known theatre and film people. The festival has been coordinated by Sudhanva Deshpande, who has been at the forefront of Jana Natya Manch, along with Moloyashree Hashmi, the Secretary of the organization. The Platform performances are FREE.
SARKASH will be held over 8 days, from December 4 to 12, at Prithvi Theatre.
Please click here for the Schedule
Schedule for 'Sarkash': A Theatre Festival of Alternatives by Jana Natya Manch.
4 December, Saturday 4. 00 pm
Baangi, the festival opening event, featuring readings, performances & songs from Safdar Hashmi's and Janam's works by Sanjna Kapoor, Rajat Kapoor, Yashpal Sharma, N.K. Sharma, Anil Chowdhary, Lovleen Misra, Jogi, Kajal Ghosh, Ashish Ghosh, Seema Kapoor and Janam actors. Govind Deshpande's play on Jotirao Phule, Satyashodhak, will also be released, along with the SARKASH special issue of Janam's magazine Nukkad Janam Samvaad. An exquisite exhibition-cum-sale of vintage theatre photographs from the Janam archives will also be inaugurated. | ENTRY FREE
6.00 & 9.00 pm
Javed Siddiqui's Tumhari Amrita, featuring Shabana Azmi and Farooq Shaikh | Director: Feroz Abbas Khan | R 500
5 December, Sunday 5.00 pm
Janam's Yeh Dil Mange More, Guruji, platform performance featuring Naseeruddin Shah with Janam actors | ENTRY FREE
6.00 & 9.00 pm
Ismat Apa ke Naam, featuring Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Heeba Shah | Director: Naseeruddin Shah | R 500
7 December, Tuesday 6.00 & 9.00 pm
Janam's Char Rang, based on Rabindranath Tagore's novel Chaturanga, written by Sudhanva Deshpande and Brijesh, featuring Joyoti Roy, Komita, Dinker Sharma, Brijesh, Rashmi Sodhi, Nidhi Kindra, Sulaiman Khan, Soman | Director: Sudhanva Deshpande | R 300
8 December, Wednesday 6.00 & 9.00 pm
Cinematograph's Hamlet, the Clown Prince, featuring Atul Kumar, Kalki Koechlin, Sujay Saple, Neil Bhoopalam, Namit Das, Puja Sarup | Director: Rajat Kapoor | R 300
9 December, Thursday 6.00 & 9.00 pm
Gulzaar's Lakeerein featuring Yashpal Sharma, Amit Jairath, Anand Alkunte, Pratik Kothari, Dimpy Mishra, Salim Arif, Seema Sehgal, Lubna Salim | Director: Salim Arif | R 300
Shubha Mudgal's Sarkash Taraane, a concert. Selecting verses by poets as diverse as Kabir, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Sahir Ludhianvi, Majrooh Sultanpuri and Ibn-e-Insha, Shubha Mudgal, accompanied by Aneesh Pradhan (tabla) and Sudhir Nayak (harmonium), sings this evening about communal harmony, peace and equality. | R 500
*Mumbai Theatre Guide takes no responsibility for change in schedule
