REVIEWS

Gandhari...in search of light

Gandhari is no more deaf, mute and blind

She blindfolded herself not out of devotion for her husband but as a protest to arbitrary male power and dynasty politics. It was not Gandhari who chose to block sunlight out of her life; it was us who turned a blind eye and deaf ear to a woman’s pain, a wife’s pleas and a mother’s cries.
She was born a princess, but was forced to marry a blind man, Dhritarashtra, who was much older to her. She was blessed with a boon but who knew that would become a disastrous bane for Gandhari, the most tragic character in Indian epic Mahabharata.
In this 60-minute solo act performance, artist and theatre personality Aishveryaa Nidhi promises to read unread chapters of a woman’s life who embraced darkness with open arms. Premiered at Sydney’s most respected venue, National Institute of Dramatic Arts, Australia, the play ‘Gandhari…in search of light’ helps us search and find a woman hidden beneath glorious tales of heroes and wars. Produced by Abhinay School of Performing Arts Inc., Australia and directed by Arvind Gaur. Gandhari speaks her heart out for the first time. She assumes centre-stage and tells Mahabharata from her perspective- a perspective which is unheard of. This thought-provoking production garnered appreciation and opened to rave reviews when performed in Australia and India.
Bhishma, the granduncle of blind Dhritarashtra, forced Gandhari’s father, the King of Gandhar, to negotiate the marriage. Before marrying, Gandhari tied a strip of cloth on her eyes and vowed to lead a life without colour and light. It is popularly presumed that she decided to blindfold herself as a gesture of gratitude and devotion for Dhritarashtra but the truth was different. Gandhari’s resolve was a silent protest against the power games of kings and her forced marriage. She became the mother of 100 sons, the Kauravas, and daughter, Dusshala. She remained blind to the power games, hatred and the growing animosity between her sons and their first cousins, the Pandavas, which later led to the great war of Kurukshetra.
Could she have averted the war had she not been determined with her resolve? Why was she helpless when she saw Draupadi being disrobed in court in full view of the Pandavas and Kauravas? Later, she refused to bless her sons for Kurukshetra and remained strong in her anti-war and pro-justice stand. But did this help?
The relevance of the play in the contemporary world is significant. It highlights the anti-war theme and the role of women, especially the mother in educating the society to give up violence. Gandhari was a very strong and intelligent woman, who closed her eyes to protest against her marriage which was a violation of her right as a woman, at a time when her contemporaries like Kunti and Madri were free to choose their husbands. Had she exercised her power as the Queen, she could have discouraged her sons from waging a war against their own brothers and kin.
Times of India Review: “Transcending all cultural boundaries, the heroine of the evening, Sydney-based actor Aishveryaa Nidhi became the voice of Gandhari”

Full review here: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/people/Mahabharata-through-the-eyes-of-Gandhari/articleshow/14338949.cms

About the Actor—Aishveryaa Nidhi
Aishveryaa Nidhi is an accomplished Indian Australian Actor and director. She is the only Indian Australian actress to be nominated for Best Actress Award in Short & Sweet, Sydney 2009, the biggest festival of 10 minute plays on the planet, for her powerful performance in Mandragora, written by David Sharpe and directed by Lisa Eismen. She is also the only Indian Australian director in Sydney whose work was invited to be performed in People’s Choice Showcase in Short+Sweet festival Sydney where her play ‘Irish Stew’ was adjudged third in ‘Audience Choice’ awards. She has received numerous community awards for her contribution to promoting art & culture. Under her able guidance her school has won ‘Community group of the year’ award at St George Community Awards, Sydney for two consecutive years 2014 and 2015.
She was invited by Opera Australia as a coach for Lakme for movements, gestures and physicality for the lead actress and crew and has worked with Sydney Theatre Company in award winning John Birmingham’s Leviathan, adapted and directed by Stefo Nantsou, resident director STC and also ‘The other way’ written & directed by Stefo Nansou.

About the Director
Arvind Gaur, eminent Indian theatre director, is known for his work in socially and politically relevant theatre. Gaur’s plays are contemporary and thought-provoking, connecting intimate personal spheres of existence to larger social political issues. His work examines subjects like communalism, caste issues, feudalism, domestic violence, crimes of state, and politics of power, violence, injustice, social discrimination, marginalisation, and racism. Arvind is the founder of Asmita, Delhi’s ‘most prolific theatre group’, and is also an actor trainer, social activist, street theatre worker and story teller.
Gaur was the recipient of a research fellowship awarded by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (India) (1997–98). He was on the guest faculty of Delhi University for Theatre in education program for three years. He has conducted many theatre workshops and performed in various colleges, institutions, universities and schools in India and abroad. He has organized theatre workshops for children in schools and slums as well as street theatre performances on different socio-political issues. He has directed more than 72 stage plays over two decades.
For more information, visit www.aishveryaanidhi.com
For more information on Abhinay School’s activities, please visit www.abhinay.com.au

Reviews:
Times of India:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/nri-entertainment/Mahabharata-through-the-eyes-of-Gandhari/articleshow/14339267.cms
DNA:
http://dnasyndication.com/showarticlerss.aspx?nid=zmMzylP1249g1btVwusv7A11O0Zb9J0aYif1pe/c10A=
The Indian Subcontinent Times:
http://www.theistimes.com/gandhari-to-be-staged-in-sydney-on-aug-2/
Tribune:
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120622/asrtrib.htm#5