Event Info
- Language: Hindi and Bundeli
- City / State: New Delhi
- Directed By: Swati Dubey
- Produced By: Samagam Rangmandal
Agarbatti
A riveting tale of caste, gender, class and conflict and politics, Agarbatti is based on the Behmai massacre committed by Bandit Queen Phoolan Devi and her gang to avenge her gangrape by the upper-caste Thakur men of Behmai. In order to rehabilitate the widows of the massacred Thakurs, the government opens an incense stick factory in the village. One of the widows, Lala Ram Thakurain, reserves the last rites of her husband until Phoolan Devi has been executed. The story begins after Phoolan’s death and explores its implications and consequences on a series and spectrum of events.
CAST
Rukmini Sircar: Lala Ram Thakurain
Monika Panwar: Damyanti
Pallavi Jadhao: Lajjo
Pooja Gupta: Parbati
Swati Dubey: Suman
Jyotsna Kataria: Koushalya
Jina Baishya: Kalli
Goge Bam: Nanhi Bai
Gagan Shrivastav: Heera
Bhupendra Singh Jadawat: Sohan Singh
Arpit Singh: Surjan Thakur
Utsav Hande: Raghu Thakur
CREW
Ashish Pathak: Playwright
Swati Dubey: Design and Direction
Swati Dubey: Light design
Ashish Pathak: Light Operation
Swati Dubey: Music Design and Song Compose
Govind Namdev: Voice
Babi Baruah: Playback
Shivam Bawaria: Music Operation
Swati Dubey: Set Design
Abhishek: Set Execution
This is not just a play for me, but a relationship. Initially, I thought about the contemporary value of this play and came to the conclusion that it raises a serious question on humanity, and if caste, class and gender differences still exist in the 21st century. This play has a discourse which reaches a point that created a turbulence for me during the process of the play. I consider this play an extension of the classic film Bandit Queen; although the issues raised by this play go beyond it. It was painful to go through Phoolan’s life, character and Behmai as an event but it was even more painful to perform this play since it took us to a place where we felt ashamed as human beings.