Six couples showcase Kalidasa’s Ritusamharam. Priyanka Joshi reports
We all know how Kalidasa’s poetry has inspired artistes across the ages. From paintings to films, Kalidasa’s works are truly timeless. To pay tribute to his work, director Jalabala Vaidya has directed Ritusamharam celebrating love in all six seasons of the year at Akshara Theatre.
Kalidasa’s word-pictures are evocative in nature and portray the daily lives of the people. Technical director of the theater Anasuya Vaidya says, “Kalidasa is the supreme poet and dramatist in classical Sanskrit literature. His works have been hailed as classics of all times. They speak to all ages about the timeless things in life. Ritusamharam is considered to be the early effort of the master poet. The poem establishes the lyrical mode in classical Sanskrit literature. love is the dominant emotional mode that finds expression in the poem.”
The first couple describes the summer in glowing imagery. The opening stanzas visualise a pair of lovers. The blazing sun has dried out the tide of desire. Women try to kindle their lovers’ passion with the help of sweet smelling flowers, melodies and with graceful seductive movements of their body. Then comes Monsoon, the lighting effect gives a feeling of black clouds and the rumbling thunder add to the magic of the season. Everything on earth is covered with the darkness of the rain clouds.
The music of Gopal Sharman is so mesmerising that you are completely captivated into the performance. The next couple showcases how to celebrate festivals in Autumn. They describe nature, men, women, lifestyle and home structures of thousand years ago. “A play has the power to change the mindset of the people. Through this performance, we are recreating history and remembering works of the legend poet,” says Jalabala Vaidya.
Akshara Theatre is hosting a festival Gandhi: The Man Who Became A Mahatama till October 13. It features discussions, talks, exhibitions, seminar and a play.