DP 2 students presented their first performance of Hayavadana, a part of their Theatre Arts programme at Mahatma Gandhi International School.
The Play
Hayavadana is a play written by Girish Karnad, originally in Kannad and later translated in English. The play’s plot comes from Kathasaritsagara, an ancient collection of stories in Sanskrit. Drawing on Thomas Mann’s play “Transposed Headsâ€, Karnad adapted the play to approach the problem of identity in a world of tangled relationships.
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The Plot
The play opens with Devadatta and Kapila who are close friends. Devdatta is a man of intellect and Kapila is a man of great physique. Their relationship gets complicated when Devdatta’s newly wedded wife Padmini falls for Kapila. While attempting to resolve this conflict, the two men behead themselves. Padmini is contemplating suicide when Goddess Kali intervenes and endows her with the powers to revive Kapila and Devdatta. In reattaching their fallen heads, Padmini transposes the heads onto the wrong bodies. An identity crisis ensues. Hayavadana explores the dilemna of physical versus intellectual appeal, and how it defines us.
The Sub-plot
The sub-plot of ‘Hayavadana’ follows the horse man’s quest to shed his horse head from his human body as he seeks to become complete.
Credits:
Devdatta: Savera Mehta – Kapila: Divye Ratna Dixit – Padmini: Mehr Seth – Hayavadana: Yohan Marshall – Bhagvata: Chetasi Kane – Kali: Happy Vyas – Actor 1: Rajit Arya – Actor 2: Gautam Sinha – Doll 1: Avani Tanya – Doll 2: Amanda Raine – Child: Tara Chazot
Directed by Avani Tanya & Gautam Sinha – Costumes by Chetasi Kane, Happy Vyas & Divye Ratna Dixit – Lights by Avani Tanya – Music by Gautam Sinha & Yohan Marshall
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Photo credits: Benjamin Mailian