Kalāyan Theatre Group’s play Nishkasit goes digital

Bengaluru-based theatre group Kalāyan Theatre Group, which is best known for its play ‘Kayapalat’, is showcasing a digital version of its new production Nishkasit on September 19 and 20, from 7.30 pm to 8.45 pm. Written and directed by Mathura Kalauny, the dramatic piece is said to be an engrossing play featuring many colourful characters. The fast-moving events in the theatrical promise to keep the audience on the edge of the seat.
The narrative revolves around a society which is deeply-divided on the basis of caste, and how any attempt to cross the caste boundary is brutally crushed.The play asks questions like even though we have jumped into the 21^st Century with all the fanfare, have we managed to get rid of our biases? Are we still carrying the proverbial milestone around our necks?
In the play, the village panchayat is dominated and controlled by Ramadhar’s family. They draw their strength from the age-old prejudices against lower castes. Harimohan, a Gwala by caste, is in love with Pandit Gayaprasad’s daughter, Lajwanti. He goes to the Pandit for his blessing, but Pandit Gayaprasad is shocked by Harimohan’s effrontery. How can a Gwala walk into the house of a Pandit and ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Pandit Gayaprasad is clearly not happy, and Harimohan is summoned to the village panchayat.
Meanwhile, Fakira, a close associate of Ramadhar, does not always see eye to eye with Ramadhar. He cannot forget that Ramadhar left a pregnant Bhanumati to fend for herself in the city. Then, there is Chandan, a young village boy who is very dear to Fakira.
‘Nishkasit’ has many interesting characters. The audiences will love some and they will hate some, but they will not remain indifferent to them. Keeping the citizens of any village, town, or city happy is pivotal to making society prosper. Hazards in the play come in the form of harsh prejudices and an ageing division in society by the caste system.
In this play, you will see how the panchayat controls a group of lower-caste people who attempt to cross these boundaries with effrontery.
In a nutshell, ‘Nishkasit’ is about some interesting twists and turns in a village.