The organization has always been known for its innovative and original work. Since 2011, the organization has established a unique identity for itself. It specializes in original Hindi plays, children’s plays, dramatic adaptations of Jataka tales, Bundeli dialect, and the Swang style of theatre. The organization also considers children’s theatre a moral, social, and national responsibility, and therefore, along with adult theatre, it is honestly and sensitively moving forward in the field of children’s theatre.
In an attempt to draw attention to our fading heritage, affected by the decline in human values in contemporary society and the impact of modernity on literary, writing, language, creative, and artistic perspectives, the organization wishes to present this original play, “Nazeernama.” This play will explore the life philosophy of “Nazeer” and also seek innovation in the musical aspects of the theatrical presentation.
This play incorporates those poems of Nazeer Akbarabadi that reflect sensitivity, humanity, compassion, philosophy, and a sense of equality.
Writer and Director
Bishna Chouhan was born on January 16, 1972, in Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh. He holds a postgraduate degree in Hindi Literature and Theatre Arts. In 1996, he received formal theatre training from his theatre guru, Alakhnandan. He has also worked under the direction of theatre directors such as Habib Tanvir, B.V. Karanth, Mukesh Tiwari, the late Alok Chatterjee, Sanjay Upadhyay, Rajiv Verma, Saroj Sharma, and the late Tariq Dad. He has acted in more than 55 plays and participated in national and international theatre festivals. He has also conducted and directed children’s theatre workshops for the Department of Culture, Madhya Pradesh Swaraj Sansthan Directorate. Directed more than 35 adult plays and over 50 children’s plays, and wrote 19 original adult plays and 15 children’s plays.
Worked as an actress in the Nat Bundele theatre group from 2000 to 2012.
Received a National Scholarship for the folk dance ‘Badhai’ from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India in 1999-2000.
Received the National Junior Fellowship Award for ‘Theatre’ from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India in 2007-2009.
Director’s Note
Weaving Nazir Akbarabadi’s life into “Nazirnama” was as difficult as shaping it into a play. Narrating the story of his life in a storytelling style offered some relief. To write anything in my own words in the face of his poems and verses felt not like an act of audacity, but rather an inspiration. Perhaps it happens to only one in a million that a play becomes the culmination of their entire life’s work, and this play, “Nazirnama,” is that “culmination” for us… This theatrical experiment of ours is, as always, dedicated to our guru Alakhnandan, who was, is, and will always be with us.
Neither become a Hindu nor a Muslim, neither a Mullah nor a Pandit,
Become that human being, O Adam, for whom God would sacrifice himself.
Group
The group has been active in the field of theatre in Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) since 2011. The organization has created and staged original Hindi plays on various themes in numerous cities across the country and the state. The group is also actively involved in children’s theatre to nurture future theatre artists and is particularly focused on Bundeli dialect and folk theatre. The organization also works with deaf and mute children, visiting them regularly to teach them improvisational acting. This work is especially important among the organization’s many significant activities. Writing and staging plays on burning social issues aims to raise social awareness and promote original Hindi theatre. The organization also continuously works on the musical aspects of Hindi plays and periodically creates and performs musical theatre productions.
For the past nine years, the organization has also been organizing the “Guru Alakhnandan” Summer Theatre Workshop, providing theatre training to people aged 5 to 25 years. Some of the organization’s famous plays include: Panchatantra-Raag, Anmol Ratan, “Joeka Ek Pari”, Hind-e-Bhagat, Auratein “After the Rape”, Sudama Ke Chawal (Bundeli), Bapu, Karna-Kunti Samvad, Sakharam Binder (Bundeli), Tragedy “The Second Inning”, short plays “Cheekh”, “Hawalat”, “Sparsh”, “Sapne”, “Life on Phone”, “Sharda – Papa Mujhe Mat Maro”, “Dastan-e-Bhagat”, Ba-Sang Bapu, Panchatantra-Raag, Aalap, Santa Claus, Mamkaur Bibi alias “Bibi Kaur”, “Saralta”, “Chhota Janwar”, “Badi Bimari”, “Nanhe Panchhi”, “Eidgah”, “Nazirnama”, etc. During the first wave of Covid-19, the organization conducted a 50-day “Guru Alakhnandan Rang Silsila Summer Children and Youth Theatre Workshop” with only 10 children. Strictly adhering to all government-mandated rules and regulations, the workshop featured theatrical adaptations of four stories from the Panchatantra, as well as an original play on Covid-19 titled “Chhota Aadmi Badi Bimari” (The Little Man and the Big Disease). The rehearsals for this workshop were broadcast live on Facebook. Currently, the organization has launched a one-year program called “Rang Sipahi” (Theatre Soldier) to expand children’s theatre, conducting workshops every Sunday in different locations.
The organization’s objective is to contribute to making human society more sensitive through theatre and to provide its artistic, creative, and ethical support in communicating human values and envisioning a better society.