Kyun Kyun Ladki- A Gillo Gilehri Production
What: Kyun Kyun Ladki
When: December 24 and 25, 2011
Where: Prithvi Theatre, Juhu
Timings: 11 am both days
Age groups: 5 years+
I saw this play about 6 months ago during the kid’s summer vacation. The first rains had made a dramatic arrival and it was pouring buckets. We managed to make it well in time to buy tickets and got very good seats, given that we were the last ones to trickle in to the theatre (this is typical and we usually end up sitting on the steps in the aisles, honest!).
I am so glad that we went, and not just because Kyun Kyun Ladki became an interesting talking point amongst us. I do not consider myself an expert, but it really was a ‘different’ play and I have seen quite a few, especially the children’s productions, these last few years. I loved the format of this play, the multi-stories that were woven in simultaneously, and best of all the brilliant use of actor-props, which is what sparked our debate on the most interesting prop- my husband loved the hookah the best, my son thought the cow and goat fascinating and I found the water-pump ‘very cute’.
The first scene opens to a classroom where the teacher instead of conducting a regular tedious lesson is having the class perform a charade, with the voice over by one actor and mime by another. Throughout the play the children pose the innocuous question ‘why’ to random orders and instructions from adults, without dwelling on it too philosophically.
The title-story revolves around a curious village girl’s fascination with learning, which draws her to listen to the village teacher’s lessons from behind doors and chase her dream of education. The story ends with her becoming a teacher. The simplistic message delivered by the play is that the answers to all the questions posed by children are found in books.
Dance and movement are beautifully fused into the play, and the young actors move gracefully, in perfect rhythm to the music. The lead actor’s dance scene with the snake is beautifully choreographed as are the other dances. What blew me away is the really young actors- they are consummate actors with multi-faceted skills and portray the script beautifully, with part acting and part dance. The script seemed to be designed so as to be a perfect foil to show-case their talents. Personally, I’ve always found it awe-inspiring how actors of calibre are truly able to submerge their ego and portray their character un-self-consciously and with absolute honesty.
After the play, the actors immediately took positions at the exits, with sufficient pens and post-its at the ready, inviting the audience to critique the play- certainly a first I’ve seen. A display board was set up where all the post-its were, well, posted!
To sum up, if it’s a Gillo production, I’m definitely going to be in the audience, even if I have to sit in the aisle. Caveat Emptor, for any play at Prithvi, please buy tickets in advance and queue up at least a half hour prior to the show for the best seats.
Catch the play next weekend and an exclusive interview with Shaili Sathyu, founder of Gillo Gilehri here.
Fact File
The play is based on a book Why Why Girl by Mahashweta Devi and published by Tulika Publications.
Gillo Gilehri was founded by Shaili Sathyu, eminent theatre personality and education consultant, in 2009, as a theatre group dedicated to writing and designing children’s productions.
Suar Chala Space Ko was their first production. They also hold a Saturday Drama Club spread over 15 sessions, for children between the ages of 7 and 12 years.
(Have you watched this play? What was your experience? Use the comments box to tell us.)
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