KAVAN is an Ambedkarite opera written by Sudesh Jadhav and directed by Abhishek Majumdar. Presented by Nalanda Arts Studio and Yalgaar Sanskritik Manch, it is a sharply crafted musical, created, composed, sung, and performed by an ensemble of six.
As introduced by the ensemble, KAVAN is an expression in the form of poetry and verses that address either inner conflict or a social issue. A street-play-style energetic opening, involving the audience in the chorus, not only engages the audience but also creates strong anticipation.
Bejol, an unemployed man, sleeps on the street under a lamp with his cow. He is disturbed by dreams of his late father, an Ambedkarite shahir who stood against casteism and superstition. As hunger takes over, the cow decides to leave him. In search of survival, Bejol encounters a corrupt system, from a cop who exploits him to a society that rejects and marginalizes his mother, and a sister who refuses help despite walking a similar ideological path. An interesting turn in the plot transforms the cow into a source of income, and what begins as a simple fight against hunger gradually unfolds into a larger commentary on power and resistance.
The ensemble of Siddharth Pratibhawant, Pravin Mukta, Priypal Dashantee, Dhammarakshit Randhive, Amruta Todarmal, and Apurva Kadam delivers a musically rich performance, with self-written and composed songs, few written by M D Pallavi, all remain situational and never feel stretched. Each performer remains pitch-perfect throughout the opera. The cow puppet by Kapil Dev becomes the centre of attraction, with the bell around the cow's neck bringing a sense of life to the stage. Named Saguna, she feels like an additional member of the ensemble, seamlessly blending into the narrative.
The production makes strong use of opera, with a beautiful blend of Indian folk and Western instruments. Opera-style musical dialogues are the cherry on top. The backdrop features a godadi, a traditional patchwork blanket, which is aesthetically used to project lyrics, abstract images to denote scene changes, and a few documentary-style clips, including introductions to the actors at intervals.
The writing and direction deliver a strong sense of politics and satire, handling a sensitive theme with care while still speaking harsh truth. They ensure that the message reaches without sounding offensive, making the point exactly what it should. Amidst the radical landscape of current politics, the production fearlessly chooses to speak truth through music, humour, emotionally layered verses and collective storytelling. This Ambedkarite Opera asks the audience to look inward as citizens, observers, and participants within a larger hegemonic structure.
Shashank Jadhav is a theatre practitioner, actor, writer, and director. He is the founder of Occipital Productions, under which he develops work across theatre and films.
