The Mahabharat has been fascinating playwrights since the days of Sanskrit playwright Bhasa, one of India's most ancient dramatists. His six plays deal with different episodes from the Mahabharat. His three plays – “Urbhangam”, “Madhyam Vyayoga” and “Karnabharam” – directed by Kavalam Narayana Panikkar reveal the universal appeal of Bhasa. Inspired by the Mahabharat, Dharamvir Bharati wrote “Andha Yug” which is considered as the contemporary Indian classic. Another significant play is “Chakravyuh” written and directed by Ratan Thiyam. A number of modern dramatists are recreating and reinterpreting great characters from the epic.Peter Brook's “The Mahabharata” brought to the notice of the world the dramatic grandeur and universal relevance of the Indian epic.
As far as puppet theatre is concern, it has been exploring mythology using a variety of puppet techniques. The latest version of the Mahabharat, which was presented by the Katkatha Puppet Arts Trust at the just ended Mahindra Theatre Festival at LTG auditorium, thrilled the audience. Remarkable for its highly innovative use of different techniques, blending of different theatrical expressive means, it brings alive great warriors of the epic caught in the web of revenge, hatred, intoxicated with their own egos, culminating in genocide. They are also obsessed with an urge for self-exploration.
Written by Anamika Mishra, the script captures the most critical moments in the lives of warriors expressed with telling effect by puppet theatre. It has economy of language, vigour and vividness. The puppet play is directed by Anurupa Roy, an imaginative trained puppet theatre director and designer. The strength of her artistry lies in synthesising different techniques like silhouette shadows, rod puppet and gloves. The masks are artistically designed which gives the sense of period. The use of highly stylised lighting and the accompanied sounds of percussions impart the production intense colours and emotionalism. This kind of atmosphere helps the characters to explore their inner world in a situation in which death tends to be inevitable. The director has explored the space of puppet theatre vertically and horizontally to expand its expressive power. We also watch the use of stage property, especially in the scene about the war between Arjun and Karna. The choreographic images conceived by Avinash Kumar exude tense feelings, vitality and heroism adding fierceness to the war scenes. The puppeteers display remarkable skill in manipulating puppets. The dramatic action flows in a seamless manner with epic sweep.
Pacifist thesis
The narrator tells the audience about the epic, bringing vividly characters like Draupadi, Gandhari, Karna and Arjun. Through the depiction of apocalyptic war, the production seeks to illustrate pacifist thesis. The great war of the Mahabharat was fought between the Pandavas and the Kauravas warriors for 18 days in the name of establishing truth by defeating the falsehood but it resulted in the brazen disregard of all moral codes. There is an inner urge for peace in the warriors. Most of the combatants want to save the universe from total annihilation. Bhishma while breathing his last owing to the deadly arrows of Arjun using Sikhandi as cover, says to Duryodhan, “Make peace with him (Arjuna) without further delay. May the war cease with my exit. Listen to me, son, make peace with the Pandavas.” But peace could not be restored. The production suggests in a subtle way that the forces of peace must unite to defeat the enemies of peace.
