Lal Ded - Solo Play In English, Hindi & Kashmiri By Meeta Vasisht: Events in Hyderabad

REVIEW FOR LAL DED - SOLO...

Being naked all of one's life requires one to have serious issues with the world. Learn, then, what this Kashmiri poetess had to say to the world.

Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Foundation, in association with Mandala (Space For Cultural Research And Education), is presenting "Lal Ded", a solo one act to be performed by Meeta Vasisth, on 29th October, at Taj Banjara. The play is part of the Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival, being held in the city from 29th October to 10th November.

Lal Ded is directed by Meeta, and is a theatrical collage of poems, songs, thoughts and philosophies of the medieval poetess Lal Ded from Kashmir. The performance is in 3 languages - Hindi, English and Kashmiri - and lasts for 80 minutes.

Though born to Brahmins, Lal Ded was a fiery poetess who transgressed all boundaries by discarding her clothes at an early age and being unclad all her life. Her poems or vaakhs were short, and spoke about secular values transcending the narrow confines of caste and religion that had crippled India in those times. This play showcases everything about Lal Ded - her life, her vaakhs, and the dogmas she challenged.

Meeta Vasisht is an Indian television, film and theatre actress, who graduated from the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, in 1987. Meeta is actively involved in social work, apart from acting. She has worked with children in remand homes, and also with sex workers.

She wrote and produced 3 short films, and a television serial. She has also worked as executive producer on the award-winning film 'The Name Of A River' .

In June 2001, Meeta established Mandala, with an aim to spearhead a new movement in the arts, to centrestage the performing arts in society, and to help in artistic collaborations. Her first project under Mandala was a chance theatre workshop that she conducted with trafficked minors in a remand home in Mumbai - a project that led to 4 years of her full-time involvement with the cause of rehabilitation of trafficked minors.

Entry is by donor passes of Rs. 1,000, Rs. 500 & Rs. 200 per head, available at A Hussain (Abids), Music World (Rd. 1 B\'Hills), Walden (Begumpet), Ofen (Rd. 10 B\'Hills), Sangeet Sagar (Paradise Circle), Shoe World (Pathargatti). Please contact the venue at 6666-9999 for further details.