A woman, searching for a place where women can live with freedom, joy, and their true identity, serves as the narrator and takes us through stories that uncover the suffocating grip of patriarchy. On her journey, she meets women like Champa and Jugunti. Champa’s husband Budhua—married in childhood—abandons her and marries again, while Jugunti is exploited and abused by her husband Kalua. Dependent on her income, Kalua suspects her of having an affair with the village head and ultimately kills her in the name of a religious ritual (Bali). The Mukhiya, bound by patriarchal and capitalist thinking, manipulates people while pretending to be progressive.
Through these stories, the play highlights the harsh realities of society that often go unnoticed.
Writer
Durgesh Soni is a theatre practitioner trained at the Madhya Pradesh School of Drama. He has worked with many renowned theatre directors and actors across India, gaining rich experience in both classical and contemporary theatre practices. As one of the founding members of Darpan Rang Samiti, he actively works with rural folk artists, creating performances that blend local traditions with modern sensibilities. His play “Ko-Jaani Kahaan?”—written in collaboration with village performers—has been staged at prestigious cultural platforms. Other plays written by Durgesh Soni include Aaina, Hukumat Hawa Hawai, Adrishya Jaal.
Director
Born in Barhi, Katni district, Madhya Pradesh, Annapurna Soni is a talented actress and theatre director. After completing her early education in Barhi, she did her M.A. in Music from Jabalpur. At the same time, she gained theatre experience at Vivechana Rangmandal, Jabalpur, and discovered her passion for acting.
From 2012 to 2015, she was selected to study acting at the National School of Drama (NSD), Delhi, where she received intensive training in performance. Following this, she worked as a professional actress with the NSD Repertory Company and gained invaluable experience performing under the guidance of renowned directors.
Annapurna Soni is the Founder and Director of Darpan Rang Samiti, a theatre group that works with rural and urban artists. Alongside this, she continues to be active as an actress in theatre and media in Mumbai.
Director’s Note
My journey with “Ko-Jaani Kahaan?”(who knows where? ) has been very special. I feel I did not choose this play—rather, the play chose me. It came out of real village stories and a month-long workshop, and it shows the harsh truths of our society which, even today, remain the same in many places.
This play holds up a mirror to us. We often speak against old traditions, but still remain trapped in them. In the name of culture, many rituals become tools of dominance and suppression. In rural areas, even marriage songs show clearly how patriarchy controls women’s lives.
Through the stories of two couples from different castes and economic backgrounds, the play explores how culture and power are tied together. It also reflects the pain of womens who, distanced from progressive thought, accept exploitation as destiny—sometimes even becoming barriers for the freedom of the next generation.
It becomes necessary to raise voices that resist exploitation, question discrimination, and demand equality. Feminism, gender equality, human rights—these words are discussed a lot, but lived very little. “Ko-Jaani Kahaan?” asks: when will these ideas truly become reality? Where is that place beyond gender, rules, and divides, where we can live simply as human beings? Who knows where (Ko Jaani Kaha?)
Group
Darpan Rang Samiti, established in 2015 in Barhi (Katni district, Madhya Pradesh, is the first and only theater organization of Barhi. Formed with the aim of giving platform and respect to local folk artists and provide opportunities to rural youth. the group also works towards promoting Bagheli culture and folk arts.
Despite the absence of proper facilities, the organization has been regularly conducting workshops, staging new plays, and organizing an annual theater festival for the last nine years, inviting groups from across India. So far, it has produced and staged several original and folk-inspired plays such as “Basaman Mama”, “mai nark se bol raha hoon” “Aaina”, “Riyast-e-vijayraghavgadh”, “Ko-Jaani Kahaan?”, “Premiyon ki vapsi”, “Bade Bhai Sahab”, “Saroj-Smriti”, “sadachar ka tabeez”, “Natya Veda” “Adrishya jaal”, “Ahilya”, “Hukumat hawa hawai” “Vikramaditya”, “Nishadraj evam kevat prasang” and many more at various places in the country.
Along with plays, Darpan Rang Samiti also organizes competitions and presentations of local arts, music, and dance, which has enhanced local interest in arts and helped many new artists emerge in the region.