Finding Shakuntala in the modern women

The play highlights the agony of women and their
struggle for an identity in a patriarchal system

VIJAY TIMES BVT PAGE 3

PUJA GOYAL

SHAKUNTALA is the story of a woman, abandoned by all only to find temporary respite in the arms of her love and husband Dushyanta. Dushyanta soon suffers from the loss of memory; like most of us do when we get tired of something.

Dushyanta forgets that Shakuntala exists; he moves on while Shakuntala does what is expected from a dutiful wifeÖ wait for her husband's return. Shakuntala being abandoned at birth speaks of a story that most women go through in patriarchal familiesÖ So what is new out here?

What is new is Kirtana's take on the timeless struggle of women trying to find their identity. The play ëShakuntalaí is multi-layered. On one hand, it speaks of the agonies of a woman forgotten by the world; on the other hand, she speaks the loss of our sensitivities towards our environment, people, issues, and emotions.

In Kirtana's words, "We were loosing our memory of pain, of love, of humanity. Thus we were led to Vyasa's Shakuntala where the central motif is that of the loss of memory and subsequent ëDeparture of righteousnessí. It became a metaphor for our world."

The play went one step further by combining music, art, drama, storytelling, images and a dance form known as Kalaripayattu; blending all with ease. The music gave excellent company to the playÖ and filled in the moments on stage but drowned the voice of the actors who performed impeccably; one had to strain his ears to hear what they were saying.

The excellent light change was so subtle that it seemed like a mirage. The set was introduced by the actors and it looked like a room of paper boards... beautiful.

Drama : Shakuntala
Director : Kirtana Kumar
Music : Konark Reddy