It has often been lamented that Goa could well do with more
theatre-based initiatives. Concurring with those views, one theatre festival
aims to do just that. The Sadir Theatre Festival that commences tomorrow,
February 27, will feature three plays across languages in an attempt to cater
to the needs and wants of Goa’s theatre lovers.
Sadir is the brainchild of Swati Bhise, an acclaimed Bharatnatyam
dancer and performer for 35 years, who is also the founder of Sanskrit Center
in New York, USA. A conscientious artist of Indian classical dance, she has
performed at prestigious institutions such as the National Centre for the
Performing Arts, Mumbai, Lincoln Centre, USA and Asia Society and the
Metropolitan Museum of Art, USA. She was honoured with an invitation to perform
at the 40th anniversary of the General Assembly of the United Nations and has recently
been conferred with the title ‘The Jewel of India’ for Indians with outstanding
achievements in America by the American Indian community.
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Speaking on what one can come to expect of the festival, Swati
elucidates, “We select plays that have a social resonance and are thought
provoking. It isn’t merely mindless entertainment. The plays at the Sadir
Theatre Festival are outstanding in nature with brilliant performances by all
the actors involved. The play ‘C-sharp C-blunt’ is about how women are perceived
in the entertainment industry, while ‘Piya Beherupiya’ is a Hinglish
translation of Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’. It has been directed in a
contemporary manner, complete with panache, fun and music. ‘Uney Purey Shahar
Ek’ is a play set in Pune and is an adaptation of Girish Karnad’s Kannada play
‘Benda Kaalu on Toast’. The selection of plays this year will be a treat for
theatre loving audiences in Goa.”
From Marathi adaptations of Kannada plays to Hinglish theatre, one
might argue that there isn’t a firm Goa connect in terms of the selection on
offer. Begging to differ and speaking on Goa as her choice of location to
feature her selection of plays, Swati says, “Goa is my home. There is art in
the air of Goa and it is a very creative place. Goa already has a vibrant
culture in terms of tiatrs, but the people of Goa don’t have much access to
good theatre apart from tiatrs, as compared to the metropolitan cities. Sadir
aims to bring in the best of theatre from across the globe to the people of
Goa.”
The festival will commence with an invocation through classical dance
presented by Hollywood artist of Indian origin, Devika Bhise. She stars in the
upcoming Hollywood movie ‘The Man Who Knew Infinity’ opposite Dev Patel and
Jeremy Irons. The movie is based on the life of Indian mathematician Srinivasa
Ramanujan and is set for a May 2015 release.
The three day Sadir Theatre Festival will be held at the Kala Academy,
Panjim from February 27 to March 1, 2015, 7pm onwards
