PROJECTS — RANGARATHA

Malavikagnimithra (Production - 1)

Romantic Comedy Play - 100 Minutes / Kannada

Rewritten by: Aasif Kshathriya / Director Duo: Aasif Kshathriya & Shwetha Shrinivas

The Design

Malavikagnimithra, being the first play of Kaalidasa, has a historical background. This play is designed and presented as a ROMEDY (Romantic Comedy). The plot being entertaining, ignites curiosity among the audience. This play has been rewritten to reach the present generation, without distorting the original story and the content. Instead, many historical facts based on a research and study of Shunga inscriptions, have been added, along with many socio-political aspects and insights which were left out by Kaalidasa.

The Synopsis of the Play

A cruel King Yajnyasena ruled Vidarbha during 183 B.C. His kin, Princess Malavika leaves Vidarbha stealthily to escape from the dictatorship of Yajnyasena. She seeks shelter in the neighboring kingdom of Vidishe, ruled by the King Agnimithra. Both Malavika and Agnimithra fall in love with each other. This irks Agnimithra’s Queens Dhaarini Devi and Iravathi. They lay strategies to keep Malavika away from the King. Meanwhile, the King’s best friend Vidushaka Aarya Gouthama comes up with brilliant counterplots to unite Malavika and Agnimithra. Will Dhaarini and Iravathi succeed in separating Maalavika and Agnimithra? Will Gouthama outwit the Queens' conspiracy by uniting Maalavika and Agnimithra? The play is all about this and little more in showcasing the political justice of Agnimithra depicting that he was one of the able Kings of Shunga dynasty apart from being romantic and playful.

SHAKTHI 1.0 (Production - 2)

Dance-Drama / 60 Minutes / Kannada & English

Directed by Aasif Kshathriya

Shiva brings Raavana from the material outer circle to the spiritual inner circle - a moment from SHAKTHI

The Design:

This a dance-drama of its own kind. Being juxtaposed with the East Indian classical dance form Odissi and Karnataka’s popular art form Yakshagana, SHAKTHI addresses Life, Karma (deeds or duties) and Moksha (Salvation or Union) in a subtle way.

The Circle of Spiritual Power - The stage for SHAKTHI

This is designed in a unique way wherein audiences are seated in a circle and the two performers dance and act enabling a 360 degree view. The movements are carefully designed within two circles Inner & Outer. The space outside the outer circle depicts the BODY (Material world or Life). The space inside the outer circle depicts the MIND (Karma or deeds) whereas the space inside the inner circle depicts the SOUL (Consciousness or Conscience). The whole dance & drama takes you to a journey inwards, within you, making you realize the realities of life and putting you in trance.

All these are depicted through two different stories. The first one Ardhanareeshwara is presented through pure classical Odissi dance and the other one, Raavana’s story Aathma Linga is presented through both Odissi and Yakshagana together.

The Content:

1. Ardhanareeshwara:

Sahana R. Maiya in the trance of Ardhanareeshwara

The half male, Shiva and the half female Parvathi is the divine union of supreme consciousness and energy. This symbolizes the union of contrasts depicting harmony and balance. This eternal union of Shiva and Parvathi, known as Purusha and Prakruthi represents the union of male and female halves conceptually beyond the genders. Parvathi is the creative force whereas Shiva is the destructive energy. Together they represent the creation and continuation of the whole universe.

The union happens only when two entities are in motion. This motion is nothing but a circular travel from Life to Karma and from Karma to Moksha. The life unites with Karma every moment and Karma is in union with Moksha every moment. This is to say that our each movement, each thought and each deed is accountable. Ardhanareeshwara rendition throws light on these concepts.

Ardhanareeshwara Sthothram is by Shri. Aadi Shankaraachaarya. Music by Pt. Raghunath Panigrahi. Original Choreography by Guru Kelucharan Mohapathra and background narration by Aasif Kshathriya

2. Aathma Linga:

The man, the greed, the deed, all these are told, time and again through various stories and incidences found in our puraanaas. One such episode is the then Lankan King Raavana’s futile effort to procure Lord Shiva’s Aathma Linga.

We now present one of the many variations of the story ‘Athmalinga’ in Yakshagaana style. When a Shivalinga made by Raavana’s mother Kaikase, swepts away by the sea wave during her pooja, Raavana promises her to get Aathma Linga from Shiva himself.

When he reaches mount Kailas, he gets bewildered by the magnanimous beauty of the mountain. He decides to uproot and take it to Lanka facilitating his mother to offer her pooja let alone to Athmalinga, but to Shiva and Parvathi themselves who live on this mountain.

When he tries to uproot the Kailas Mountain, Shiva fails him making him understand that he can win him through devotion and not with the might. Raavana wins him with devotion, and asks for Aathma Linga. Known for his innocence, Shiva gives him the same. Owing to his limitless desires, Raavana asks for Parvathi too. To his surprise Shiva agrees but plays a trick to teach Raavana a lesson.

Music & Bhagavathike by Shankar Balkudru. Background Narration by Aasif Kshathriya

SHAKTHI 2.0 (Production - 3) - THE ELEMENTS (Under production)

Dance-Drama / 75 Minutes / Kannada, Hindi & English / To be Directed by Aasif Kshathriya

RAJAKAYANA (Production - 4) - An untold story of Ramaayana

Playwright: Aasif Kshathriya / Directed by Aasif Kshathriya & Shwetha Shrinivas

Synopsis

The first Ramayana, written by Sage Valmiki is a long journey of human sensibilities, relationships and morals. The cause for writing Ramayana is in itself a very interesting incident. In an attempt to find the truth about this incident many poets and scholars did their own research which resulted in varieties of Ramayanas eventually. Though the main theme of this epic is sane, we find hundreds of different sub stories. 'Rajakaayana' is based on one of these sub stories which is mentioned in 'Uttara Ramayana'. Having inspired by a small play 'Maa-nishaada' written by Girish Karnad, several references from nearly 30 Ramayana’s, Rajakaayana has been developed in the light of logic, new perspective and thought process. Its written in its present form by the playwright Aasif Kshathriya.

The story revolves around a Washerman, who is under the load of repentance, the Sage Valmiki who is stuck in the web of guilt and the characters of Ramayana who struggle to understand their existence. All these aspects trickle deep down in our conscience, lighting the lamp of wisdom within us.

Live Music: Shwetha Shrinivas & Sahana / Lyrics: Aasif Kshathriya /Choreography: Shwetha & Sahana / Light design: Ravishankar

OPERATION ABSINTH (Production - 5)

Playwright: Aasif Kshathriya / Based on: A short story by Mr. Stuart R. / Duration: 60 Mnts / Language: Kannada & English (Kanglish)

Jointly Directed by: Shwetha Shrinivas & Aasif Kshathriya

SYNOPSIS

This play, Operation Absinth is set in the backdrop of England of 1930s. The story is all about the Greed and the Deed. It revolves around the death of an Army Colonel in a mysterious way. The court declares it as an accidental death due to heart attack. But few years later, Colonel’s friends who gather at a highway hotel accidentally to meet an unknown person, suspect a foul play. If at all it's a murder, then who killed the Colonel and why? The drama unfolds and the Karma brings the culprit on the knees. This play is inspired by a small story written in late 1930S by Mr. Stuart R and is written in its present form by Aasif Kshathriya.

CAST : Captain Standish: Aasif Kshathriya / Poornachandra / Miss Vane: Shwetha Shrinivas / Anthony Jacob: Soorya / Aditya L / Ms. Elsie Weir: Srushti / Shreeya Agamya / Gilbert Weir: Anush Krishna / Mr. Merridew: Hemanth / Mr. Friend: Yashwanth / Dr. Harry: Pranathi Raghavendra / Mary Harry: Aasif Ksha Akshatha bhat

CREW: Light Design & Operation: Ravishankar / Music Design: Aasif & Shwetha / Music Operator: Aasif / Costume Design: Shwetha Shrinivas

CHAKRAVAAKA (Production - 6)

Theatre Internship - 22 Production (Show on 28-05-2022 at VYOMA, JP Nagar)

DOUBLE TROUBLE (Production - 7)

Theatre Internship - 23 Production (Show on 31-07-2022 at VYOMA, JP Nagar)

SEVANTHI PRASANGA (Production - 8)

Theatre Internship - 24 Production (Show on 01-10-2022 at VYOMA, JP Nagar)

KROUNCHA GEETHA (Production - 9)

Theatre Internship - 25 Production (Show on 20-11-2022 at VYOMA, JP Nagar)

KROUNCHA GEETHA (Main Team) (Production - 10)

Inaugaral Show: 24-12-2022 (2 Shows at Ranga Shankara) / 25-12-2022 at VYOMA / 13-01-2023 at KH Kalasoudha / 26-01-2023 at Sevasadan / 18-02-2023 at Shivabalayogi Ashram, JP Nagar, Bengaluru