August 13 - ‘Khatijabai of Karmali Terrace’ is not just the story of one woman, but of all of us, trapped in lives that are not our own. It tells the story of an orphan Khatija, who marries into the Karmali household. From then on we follow her exploits, her vying for ‘most favoured position’ with her in-laws, the pressurising of her eldest son Aziz and her constant battles with sister-in-law Shiraz. Through the play, Khatijabai emerges as the powerful matriarch, wrapping everyone around her in ‘the web of her providing’. Originally set in Singapore, this version has been set in the Khoja community of Mumbai. The play opened in November 2004 at the prestigious Prithvi Theatre Festival and has been staged successfully in Bombay, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
Khatijabai Of Karmali Terrace
Q Theatre Productions (Mumbai)
Venue: Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall
Time: 7.15 p.m.
Director: Quasar Thakore Padamsee
Based on Stella Kon's 'Emily Of Emerald Hill'
Duration: 65 minutes
Quasar Thakore Padamsee says: The character of Khatija is based on my grandmother who I never really got to know closely. Working on this play has helped me better understand my roots as well as Bombay in the 1950s.
Founded in 1999, Q Theatre Productions has staged more than 20 plays, including ‘Khatijabai of Karmali Terrace’ and ‘Crab’. It has been involved with international projects such as ‘The Merchants of Bollywood’ (which is currently touring Australia) as well as the acclaimed ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. Its most recent successes include ‘The President is Coming’, which was also made into a feature film, ‘Project S.T.R.I.P.’ and ‘Some Girl(s)’.
Cast
Jayati Bhatia
Credits
Lighting Designer & Operator: Arghya Lahiri
Production Manager & Sound Operator: Toral Shah
Stage Manager; Vivek Rao
