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<\/picture><\/div>\nIn Girish Karnad\u2019s Bali: The Sacrifice <\/i>(the English adaptation of his 1980 Kannada play Hittina Hunja<\/i>), a king is torn between his love for his Jain queen, who refuses to harm life, and his duty to his mother, who demands sacrificial rites. This gripping drama explores the complexities of faith, morality, and the power of love.<\/p>\n
The 90-minute English play\u2019s exploration of violence and conflicting ideologies resonated with Arundhati Raja, the director. As a tribute to the legendary Karnad, she reimagined the play for her theatre company, Jagriti Theatre, in 2021.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe play is based, as Girish Karnad\u2019s\u00a0plays are, on an ancient epic, which he then wields into a skilled, dramatic script. This drew me to Bali <\/i>and two other Girish Karnad plays I directed, The Dreams of Tipu Sultan<\/i> and Yayati,<\/i>\u201d says Arundhati, \u201cI have always strived, however, to highlight the underlying issues he presents, through his dialogue and plot rather than through a traditional approach in design and performance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arundhati delves into the complexities of conflict beyond mere religious differences. She perceives the conflict between the king\u2019s mother and the queen as a catalyst rooted in the patriarchal expectation of a male heir. This expectation, she argues, is a pervasive form of violence, often overlooked in favour of physical manifestations.<\/p>\n
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<\/div>\n\nA still from \u2018Bali: The Sacrifice\u2019
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\nSpecial Arrangement\n<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n \u201cThe question here for me is: What constitutes violence? Is it violence only if there is bloodshed or physical abuse? Is the constant pressure on a woman to produce an heir a form of violence? Or on a man to discard an infertile wife for another who, hopefully, is fertile? Or the demeaning of a lowly mahout, loved for his voice but taunted for his looks?\u201d she asks. <\/p>\n Arundhati also acknowledges the rich literary heritage that inspired Karnad\u2019s play. Karnad himself noted that the play\u2019s origins can be traced back to a thirteenth-century Kannada epic, Yashodhara Charite<\/i>, and even further to similar stories from the first century. This historical context underscores the enduring power of legends and multi-faceted characters in Indian culture.<\/p>\n The play\u2019s connection to these ancient narratives highlights how timeless themes of love, loss, and power continue to resonate with audiences today. \u201cI make no special attempt to make anything relevant. It is all in the script as is. The saying \u2018Theatre is a mirror to the audience\u2019 holds true in a Karnad play,\u201d says Arundhati. <\/p>\n She faced challenges in directing Bali <\/i>due to the absence of Karnad. His guidance had been invaluable in The Dreams of Tipu Sultan<\/i> and Yayati<\/i>. \u201cHe was always available, a phone call away. He would come in to watch a rehearsal and\u00a0spend the day with the cast,\u201d she recalls. However, once the script captured her imagination, she could immerse herself in the world of Bali<\/i>.<\/p>\n The play serves as a poignant commentary on the enduring nature of violence. Despite the passage of time, human beings continue to grapple with various forms of violence. Through its exploration of power dynamics, societal pressures, and the destructive consequences of conflict, it offers a reflection on the human condition.<\/p>\n When asked what the audience can take away from a play conceived two decades ago by Karnad, she replies, \u201cTime passes, but human beings do not change. We continue to deal with violence in its multi-faceted form. Can we really do something about it? Shouldn\u2019t we try harder? These are questions to be mulled over. I don\u2019t believe a play should preach.\u201d <\/p>\n Bali: The Sacrifice will be staged five times between August 30 to September 1 at Jagriti Theatre, Whitefield. For ages 16 and above. Tickets on BookMyShow. <\/i><\/p>\n \nA still from \u2018Bali: The Sacrifice\u2019 <\/div>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/th-i.thgim.com\/public\/incoming\/ymttx4\/article68557880.ece\/alternates\/FREE_1200\/Bali%204.jpg\" "\\"A")
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\nSpecial Arrangement\n<\/p>\n
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