Aadyam returns to the stages of Delhi with Girish Karnad's critically acclaimed play "Hayavadana"

Delhi, March 8, 2023: Aadyam Theatre, a theatre initiative by Aditya Birla Group, is set to make a sensational comeback to the capital city after a three-year hiatus. Marking this much-awaited resurgence will be the highly-acclaimed play Hayavadana, directed by Neelam Man Singh Chowdhry and produced by Bangalore Based, Bhoomija Trust. Following a triumphant run in Mumbai, this modern Indian theatre classic by Girish Karnad is poised to captivate the audiences in Delhi with its gripping storyline and masterful direction. After Mumbai, Hayavadana promises to be a treat for theatre lovers in Delhi as well, and audiences can look forward to a theatrical experience that celebrates the art of storytelling at its best.

This Kannada play, translated into Hindi by B.V. Karanth combines myth and folktale, song and speech, humour and pathos, love and jealousy, hope and despair. Neelam Man Singh, with her innovative narrative techniques and powerful stagecraft, sheds new light on Hayavadana. In her rendition of the play, she has taken the creative liberty to comprehend its ending in her own distinct way without disturbing the text. Dealing with notions of individuality, freedom, gender politics, and feminism at its core, the play makes us reflect on our reality.

The play brings together stellar talent both on and off stage. Deepan Sivaraman, one of India’s most sought-after scenographers, helms the visual department, doing enormous justice to a play that is magical at its core. Its music is part of Indian theatre folklore. Neelam Man Singh uses the songs composed by Sri B V Karanth as the base and brings on Amod Bhatt (a close associate of B V Karanth), who brings in extraordinary touches to ensure the group of young, energetic, and well-known singers of today render it in a manner that appeals to everyone. In addition, seven musicians from Punjabi folk music, fondly referred to as the "Singing Minstrels of Punjab," bring an earthy flavour to the rendering. As for actors, Puneet Kumar Mishra, Ipshita Chakraborty, Ajeet Singh Palawat, Pallavi Jadhao, Brinda Chinmay Nayak, and many more proficient actors will be seen performing magnificently.

Speaking of the play, Neelam Ji was quoted as saying, "Girish Karnad’s Hayavadana, is a Modern classic and a challenging text to direct. After three shows in Mumbai, we are now delighted to showcase this production in Delhi. I have been fortunate to work with a talented group of actors and musicians who brought 'alive' this complex text of identity, gender and duality through imaginative interventions. By combining magic, myth, and realism, infinite theatrical possibilities were explored and interpreted. The play's time and space has been pulled into 'the present' and my approach to discovering the text with the actors is based on improvisations, by pushing them to take risks, and exploring the unexpected, the unfamiliar. The play is complex and layered, and offers multiple interpretations. I hope the play resonates with the audience in Delhi."

This is a play that will strike the right chords in your heart, keep you on the edge of your seat, make you laugh, and entertain you thoroughly, all while punching holes in the conventional stereotypes of the world we live in. It will give you the courage to seek answers to questions that are otherwise deemed difficult by society. The uncertainty of life is something to ponder upon, a residue that one will leave after experiencing Hayavadana.

Expressing the same, Purva Naresh from Aadyam Theatre’s curation team said, "Hayavadana is delightful, dramatic, stunning and surprising. It is brave and beautiful.  It captivated the audience in Mumbai with its design and performances, and I hope Delhi does not miss this experience - it certainly is one of a kind. Neelam Mansingh, known for her exceptional direction, adds a refreshing twist to the play, and is supported by an outstanding cast that truly brings the text to life and makes it their own.”

Following several hit productions in previous seasons, Aditya Birla Group's Aadyam Theatre is ready to awe its Delhi audience yet again this year with inspiring and breathtaking plays, the first of which is Girish Karnad’s Hayavadana.

An unmissable play is set to stage at  Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi,  on April 1, 2023, at 7:30 pm and April 2, 2023, at 4:00 pm & 7:30 pm.