Congratulations to Titas and  Rito Deep who have secured Bhasha Centre's commission to write a new, full-length play in Bangla.

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We are grateful to our jury members, who evaluated applications and submissions at two stages, to the facilitators of our masterclasses for broadening the horizons of our shortlisted applicants, and to all the applicants themselves. We hope all 21 (including the two selected ones) will continue to write and make plays with agency, passion and craft.  

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Titas and Rito Deep will now embark upon the final stage of their writing process.

And at the end of May, there will be a rehearsed reading of their draft in Kolkata. 

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Read on for synopses of their upcoming scripts.​​

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GANGURER GHATE GHATE
by TITAS

Gangurer Ghate Ghate explores the narrative of ‘Manasa-Mangal Kavya’ - a medieval Bengali folk saga that praises the non-Aryan serpent goddess, from a queer feminist perspective. The script aims to address the absence of the queer-female perspective in the popular narrative due to gender- and caste-based discrimination and attempts to present a counter-narrative through the eyes of the major female characters. 

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BHARATA VAGYA BIDHATA (tentative name)

by RITO DEEP

Lakshman never gets hungry. Which is why he is loved by one and all in his village. He is ready to toil for others but is never in need of a fee as he has no expenses for food. He travels all the way to the town office to fetch various kinds of information for the villagers and to submit their application letters. On his way, he meets new people – those who are deprived of the drops of welfare seeping out of the Constitution. He goes through strange experiences. Though he has a good heart, he is not worth enough to be Rama’s brother. And justifiably so! After all, he is just a ‘Kahar.’

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The old man who has made the local toddy shop his permanent residence, imagines himself as Sita’s father – Janaka. He indeed acts as ‘Janak Raja’ in the ‘yatra’ – a rural play – that takes place every year in the village. But does that mean Ramayana can become his life! The old codger claims that he is a ‘Murmu,’ and therefore Sita must be his daughter.

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A highly educated urban girl from a good family has been raped and murdered. So many rallies are being organized in protest! Lakshman feels optimistic watching them. Perhaps a rally could also be organized for the girls who keep losing their lives inside the riverside brick kilns on winter nights. But who would initiate it? The villagers are mostly illiterate.

This year, the annual play is called ‘Sitar Patalprabesh’ (Sita’s entry to the underworld). Lakshman won’t miss it at any cost. What about you? Have you booked your seat yet? I hope you remember that this is the diamond jubilee year of the Indian Constitution!​​​​​​