How well do you know Abhimanyu, the character from the epic Mahabharata? If not well, here is your chance to learn and watch him live on stage. The play Arjun Ka Beta, is a poetic rendition of the braveries of the warrior Abhimanyu, the son of Arjun and Subhadra.
Directed by Atul Satya Koushik and organised by The Films and Theatre Society, the theatrical saga is of one hour 15 minutes duration. 'The epic of Mahabharata, its characters and the hidden philosophies and interpretations behind its different incidents have always attracted the attention of young writers as well as its elements of this finds a tangible presence in today’s world,' says Atul.
The play narrates the 13th day of the battle of Mahabharata, where Abhimanyu, inspite of being a skilled warrior gets killed while breaking and finding his way out of the chakravyuh. Later it goes on to show a dialogue between king Yudhisthira and the great warrior Bheeshama along with how Bheeshma's inability to face Arjun who is unaware of his son's death.
How challenging was the part to create the mythological drama on stage along with precise sequence of activities and scheme of thoughts?
'It was a feat in itself. The actors did not have any scope of improvisations since the whole play has poetic verses instead of dialogues. The actors had to learn all the parts of poems by heart. Second, we had to understand the essence of Mahabharata through very limited resources and references avaialable in folk lores and texts. Third, portraying the characters with their typical behaviours and aura was a challenge too,' Atul points out.
The play also has a philosophical value to it with respect to how the chakravyuh is presented. 'The chakravyuh is not only instrumental in killing Abhimanyu but it is metaphorical too. It depicts our life and our continuous striving through it. The chakravyuh is a circle of life and the only way out is to fight constantly untill you are dead,' says Atul.
Arjun ka Beta has been performed before in July 2011 in Mumbai and is now gearing up for Delhi audience to watch. 'Mythologies definitely have an interest value to them and I am hoping that we will see a grand audience for it. Though I still have to take this play far and wide with its reach,' concluded Atul.
DETAIL
At: Sri Ram Centre, Safdar Hashmi Marg, Mandi House
When: 6 April
Timings: 7 pm onwards
Tickets: Rs 300, 200, 100 and 50
Directed by Atul Satya Koushik and organised by The Films and Theatre Society, the theatrical saga is of one hour 15 minutes duration. 'The epic of Mahabharata, its characters and the hidden philosophies and interpretations behind its different incidents have always attracted the attention of young writers as well as its elements of this finds a tangible presence in today’s world,' says Atul.
The play narrates the 13th day of the battle of Mahabharata, where Abhimanyu, inspite of being a skilled warrior gets killed while breaking and finding his way out of the chakravyuh. Later it goes on to show a dialogue between king Yudhisthira and the great warrior Bheeshama along with how Bheeshma's inability to face Arjun who is unaware of his son's death.
How challenging was the part to create the mythological drama on stage along with precise sequence of activities and scheme of thoughts?
'It was a feat in itself. The actors did not have any scope of improvisations since the whole play has poetic verses instead of dialogues. The actors had to learn all the parts of poems by heart. Second, we had to understand the essence of Mahabharata through very limited resources and references avaialable in folk lores and texts. Third, portraying the characters with their typical behaviours and aura was a challenge too,' Atul points out.
The play also has a philosophical value to it with respect to how the chakravyuh is presented. 'The chakravyuh is not only instrumental in killing Abhimanyu but it is metaphorical too. It depicts our life and our continuous striving through it. The chakravyuh is a circle of life and the only way out is to fight constantly untill you are dead,' says Atul.
Arjun ka Beta has been performed before in July 2011 in Mumbai and is now gearing up for Delhi audience to watch. 'Mythologies definitely have an interest value to them and I am hoping that we will see a grand audience for it. Though I still have to take this play far and wide with its reach,' concluded Atul.
DETAIL
At: Sri Ram Centre, Safdar Hashmi Marg, Mandi House
When: 6 April
Timings: 7 pm onwards
Tickets: Rs 300, 200, 100 and 50