‘Jogiya Raag’ is primarily the story of Savitri, a woman living in a village, being called Savitari by the villagers. Savitri is married to Balmukund, who is born into a Brahmin family. Savitri comes to her in-laws’ house with dreams of the future, but on the muptlae night itself, Balmukund leaves home without in coming Savitri and becomes an ascetic (Jogi). Only Savitri and her elderly father-in-law arelestremain in the house. Savitri spends many years waiting for Mukund. Mukund does not return, but Savitri does not give up hope. Meanwhile, the villagers tell her that Mukund will never return, and many people pressure her to enter into an immoral sexual relationship. Savitri rebuffs them all. And one night, when a group of ascetics arrives in the village, Savitri brings home an ascetic in Mukund’s name, claiming him as her husband. He is indeed an ascetic, but he himself says that he is not Balmukund.
Director
Prof. Devendra Raj Ankur
Diploma in Dramatic Arts with specialization in Direction from the National School of Drama. Member of the NSD Repertory Company. Guest expert in Dramatic Literature, Thealre Architecture and Direction at Bharatendu Natya Akademi, Lucknow. Assistant Professor of Indian Classical Drama and Aesthetics at the National School of Drama (NSD). Founder Member and Principal Director of ‘Sambhav’, New Delhi. Pioneer of a new genre in modern Indian theatre, ‘Kahai Ka Rangamnch’. Presented over 400 stories, 16 novels, and 60 plays in India and abroad. Theatre work and experience in Bengali, Odia, Kannada, Punjabi, Kumaoni, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, English, Dhivehi, Sinhala, and Russian languages. Associated with the National School of Drama as an expert, director, and camp and workshop director for intensive theatre workshops conducted in various cities. Director of the National School of Drama, Regional Research Resource Centre, Bangalore. Conducted theatre workshops, performances, and teaching in Hong Kong, China, Denmark, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Russia, Nepal, France, Mauritius, Bangladesh, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Italy, UK, Pakistan, Australia, etc. Works: Pehla Rang, Rang Collage, Darshan-Pradarshan, Antarang Bahirang, Rangmanch ka Saundarya Shastra, Padhte Sunte Dekhte.
Director’s Note
‘Jogiya Raag’ is a much-discussed story by Vijay Pandit, published in ‘Kathadesh’ in 2004. It was also translated into Odia. Two decades later, its republication in ‘Shabdankan’ drew the attention of readers and critics, and they urged me to read this story as well. The story, from the very first reading, inspires one to stage it. National School of Drama alumna and my student Nidhi Mishra expressed her enthusiasm to play the character of Savitri and did as well. She has acted in several plays directed by me. The character of Mukund was played by Mukti Das, also from the National School of Drama. Sneha Kumar of NSD provided the beautiful music. The rehearsals and the first performance were to be held in Mumbai. Therefore, I had to travel from Delhi to Mumbai twice and stay there for this project. This is the latest production of my ‘Kahani Ka Rangmanch’.
Group
Anushthan was founded in 1993 by Vijay Pandit, a playwright and theatre artist trained at the Bhartendu Natya Akademi, Lucknow. In its journey of the past three decades, Anushthan has staged several important plays in various states such as Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra, and in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Lucknow, Kanpur, Ghaziabad, Pauri Garhwal, and Unnao, with more than 100 performances, including – Katha Rang, Kavya Rang, Apna Apna Dard, Bakri, Raja Ka Baja, Jaanch Padtaal, Guinea Pig, Kabira Khada Bazaar Mein, and Inna Ki Awaaz. Mangru’s Buffalo, Jogiya Raag, etc., being the prominent ones. The group has participated in several national theatre festivals, including the North Central Zone and Rajasthan Sangeet Natak Akademi Theatre Festivals (Udaipur-Jaipur), Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi State Theatre Festival (Ghaziabad), and the Folk Theatre Festival (Unnao, Uttar Pradesh). The directors who have directed Anushthan’s plays include prominent names such as Shri Devendra Raj Ankur (former director, National School of Drama), Vijay Pandit (National School of Drama), Ashiq Hussain, and Prachi Pathak (National School of Drama, Delhi), among others. Currently, it has two active units, one in Mumbai and the other in Lucknow.