Jasma Odan is a celebrated Gujarati play originally written by Shanta Gandhi and adapted in Dogri by Sh. Kavi Rattan who is known as father of modern Dogri theatre. The Play brings a timeless folk legend into the vibrant cultural landscape of Duggar. Vaishno is a woman of extraordinary virtue, beauty, and loyalty, belonging to a community of master craftsmen skilled in construction. When King Bhairo becomes enchanted with Vaishno, he tries to forcefully claim her, but she remains unwavering in her devotion to her husband Basant. The obsessed king kills Basant. In this adaptation, instead of accepting death, Vaishno rises in the fierce avatar of Devi and destroys the tyrant king, restoring honour and justice. The use of folk music, chorus, symbolic staging, and Brechtian techniques to connect traditional narrative with contemporary social concerns, making Jasma not merely a tragic tale, but a timeless commentary on the indomitable spirit of a woman who refuses to surrender her self-respect.

Directors:

Dr. Abhishek Bharti, Ph.D., is a theatre director and pedagogue from J&K and a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for Theatre Direction. He has directed several acclaimed productions, including Agni Barkha, Gagan Damama Bajyo, Visarjan, The Government Inspector, and Macbeth: The Crown of Blood, earning multiple State Awards for Best Play and Best Director from the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture & Languages. Currently serving as Assistant Professor in the Department of Performing Arts at Cluster University of Jammu, he continues to mentor young artists and promote regional narratives on national platforms.

Aparna Kapoor

Aparna Kapoor’s theatre journey has trained at the National School of Drama, New Delhi. A former Actor-Teacher with NSD’s Theatre in Education (TIE) programme, she currently serves as Faculty of Performing Arts at Cluster University of Jammu. She has performed in diverse theatrical styles and languages, including Hindustani, Folk, English, Norwegian, Turkish, Italian, and German. A recipient of fellowships and scholarships from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, she has also collaborated internationally with GITIS, Moscow. She has worked with eminent Indian and international theatre practitioners and participated in major theatre platforms and festivals.  

Director’s Note

Jasma Odan is a powerful folk-theatre play written by Shanta Gandhi, based on a Gujarati folk legend, and rooted deeply in the Bhavai theatrical tradition. This production is designed in the traditional Dogri folk theatre form Haran, woven the entire narrative into the cultural fabric of J&K which gives the narrative a uniquely regional flavour and authenticity. The production incorporates a rich array of Dogri folk music forms such as Bhakh, Karak, Suhaag, Ghodian, and Geetru, and the energetic and traditional Dogri folk theatre and dance forms Haran, Jagarna, Jatar, Kud, Fummnian, and Jagarna which add vibrancy, ritualistic fervour, and cultural resonance to key moments of the story. The references to Kali Mata, Vaishno Mata, and Bhairo not only root the story deeply in Dogra belief systems but also highlight the spiritual ethos of the region. These elements together transform the play into a celebration of Dogra folklore, values, and theatrical heritage, while preserving the essence of Shanta Gandhi’s original narrative by blending an iconic Gujarati folk tale with the expressive beauty, spiritual depth, and artistic traditions of Duggar land.

Group:

The Department of Performing Arts, established in 2025, functions under the School of Humanities and Liberal Arts, Cluster University of Jammu and offers Master degree programme in Performing Arts (MPA) with specialisation in Indian Theatre and Music. It regularly organises workshops, masterclasses, and guest lectures, including sessions on the use of theatre and music as a pedagogical tool. Students actively participate in practical productions, field visits, and collaborative projects. The department strongly emphasizes the integration of performing arts into the wider academic curriculum to promote creativity, confidence, and critical thinking. The MPA in Theatre and Music marks an important cultural and academic advancement for the region.