The story unfolds in a peaceful village where people live harmoniously in nature under the leadership of Paancha’s father. Their lives are disrupted when the Queen declares herself the sole owner of all land, forcing farmers to sign an unjust ordinance. When Paancha’s father protests with other villagers, he is tortured to death. Ten-year-old Paancha vows revenge, kills a Queen’s officer, and escapes to the hills. As the Queen’s army retaliates by burning villages, Paancha trains for battle and, at eighteen, forms a rebel army of dissatisfied youth. Meanwhile, Bhaiji, a political reformer opposing the Queen’s tyranny, joins forces with Paancha. Combining vision and strength, they mobilize villagers, defeat the Queen, and establish a new government with Bhaiji as president. Paancha returns to farming but grows disillusioned as promises to help farmers go unfulfilled. After Bhaiji is assassinated in a conspiracy, Paancha rises again, defeats the corrupt general, and becomes president. Though he governs justly and gains public support, he ultimately relinquishes power, entrusting it to the people and warning future rulers that he will return if they neglect the farmers and poor.

Writer:

Paresh Vyas is a known writer of Ahmedabad. He has written plays like Tanakho, Kanchan Karshe Gaamne Kanchan and Paanchano Vesh. Apart from that he has also wrote films like Passport and Saheb. He is also a film maker and has done many government projects.

Director:

Rajoo Barot was a distinguished alumnus of the National School of Drama, New Delhi, and have also studied at FTII, Pune. He was a member of the NSD Repertory Company from 1980 to 1983 and has worked extensively as an actor, director, singer, documentary filmmaker, and light designer. As the founder of the Ahmedabad Theatre Group, he has collaborated with more than 60 artists to promote Gujarati culture and social awareness through impactful theatre. He has also documented and promoted Gujarati theatre songs through the initiative “Tarz-e-Thatter.” His notable awards include the Gujarat Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Gaurav Puraskar, the B.V. Karant Smriti Award for direction, the Gujarat Information Department’s Best Documentary Award, and the Best Playback Singer Award for the Gujarati film Dikari Mari Vhalno Dario. His acclaimed production Taras, addressing Gujarat’s water crisis, was performed in over a thousand villages.

Director’s Note

When I read ‘Dharati No Saad’ by our National Poet Jhaverchand Meghani, then only I thought this should be adapted as a play. Paresh Vyas had already written a Bhavai for me earlier, and this time also he came up with Paanchano Vesh. Bhavai is pure musical form. Normally we do not have ‘Ranglee’ in Bhavai traditionally. But we adapted one accordingly to the time. I, personally chose a girl for Paancha. Our history has numerous examples of such brave women who fought for their right. After avenging her father death little Paancha escaped in the jungle. And raised herself as a man like ‘Shikhandi’ (Character from Mahabharat). After ten years Paancha assembled a group where many more like her joined. They are not dacoits; they fight for the righteous things and against the wrong and exploitations. So, in this way we got something new for Bhavai and tried our best to modernises the elements of Bhavai in a contemporarily.

Group:

Ahmedabad theatre Group (ATG), was established in 1992. ATG has become a group of professionals who do theatre for adults and children, present ‘Tarz – e – Thatter’ (old & new theatre songs), Meghani songs, Soofi Bhajans, Folk songs, Water songs, Ras-Garba, and conducts Theatre workshops.