There’s a princess who runs away on the eve of her wedding and, after a series of chases and cases of mistaken identity, finally goes on to become the ruler.
Then there’s a 14-year-old Chennai boy who meets with a terrible accident that leaves him disfigured and sets him off on a journey of self-discovery.
Directed by Feisal Alkazi, Kadhai Carnival’s third edition is being staged by Kids Central this weekend.
Both plays, dealt with in a fun manner, have a deeper underlying message. “ The Princess who became King deals with gender assertion and animal-man harmony. While The Real Me deals with how one copes with a life-altering incident and finds the strength to bounce back. Kadhai Carnival 3 is these two very different stories coming together,” says Alkazi.
The plays will have as many as 350 children from the school playing various characters. “We’ve been rehearsing for the last three weeks, with each group rehearsing for about three hours at a stretch. There’s a lot happening simultaneously, with one group practising dance, another doing their act, and so on.”
Forging new connections
Alkazi, who has been directing children for over 35 years, says that theatre is a wonderful learning process for kids. “It is more about the journey and not just the result. It’s a great way for them to look at the world outside. And it is amazing the kind of perception these children have. Everybody finds a way to relate to the plays and characters. For instance, one of the children I’m working with on The Real Me , found a parallel between his hearing-impaired brother and the protagonist. He built this into his own character in the play,” says Alkazi, adding, “Their perception is not clouded by the media or Western influences. It has everything to do with their observations of life.”
But are the topics ever too intense for the children, we wonder? “Not at all. We deal with the plots in a folktale format. Moreover, entertainment can be thought-provoking; it need not just be fluff. Then again, tales such as Sleeping Beauty are long gone. In the Indian context, we have women like Draupadi and Kunti to look upon. They gave it back as good as they got. Our plays deal with similar themes. The Princess who became King is an analogy for the strong, assertive women of today. In that sense, it is very interesting to go back to Indian stories,” he says.
Looking to life
When it came to choosing the second script, Alkazi left it up to the students. “They chose to stage The Real Me because they found it interesting. After all, it deals with the realities of our cities. Children are sensitive to what happens around them and are enthusiastic about working on plays that reflect their lives. I get them to demonstrate their own experiences; the links they draw are amazing.”
Alkazi, who has staged Kadhai Carnival twice earlier with the students of Kids Central, says a number of them have been working with him over the years.
“In fact, I’d say the plays have grown with these children,” he concludes.
Today, at 5.30 pm, at Chinmaya Hall. Details: 24473551
