New Hindi play at Catalina Theatre
Director Vivian Moodley says this is probably SA's first Hindi cultural production.
BHAGWAN gave me this Life (God gave me this life) is a play in Hindi written and directed by Vivian Moodley and performed by Pranesh Maharaj which makes a triumphant return to the Catalina Theatre on Durban’s Wilson’s Wharf for a short eight performance season from Friday 7 until Sunday 9 March.
The production exceeded all expectations when staged in January – playing to virtually 100 per cent capacity for the duration of its short weekend run. The demand has been so encouraging, that producers, Polart, are bringing the show back for a second weekend in March. This time they are introducing more day time shows for family audiences – including a Friday afternoon matinee.
The play is mainly in Hindi and was written and directed by Vivian Moodley who has an illustrious resume in the performing arts on every known medium. “This is probably SA’s first Hindi cultural production. Yet it is designed to be accessible to all.
The story is specific to the time and area; and if you are from that generation then it will bring back memories, make you laugh and shed a tear. If not, then it will give you a sense of history and cultural heritage,” says Moodley. Set in 1981, in Inanda, the story is about a widower (Balram – played by Pranesh Maharaj) who we meet at a major turning point in his existence as he looks back on his life with its high and low points.
Balram’s wife Lalita was introduced to him via a family arrangement by two eccentric aunties from Ottawa and Inanda. The proudest of his family was his brother, Sukhram, who involved himself in the wedding.
The brothers shared a very tight enduring bond. The plot of the play centres on the couple’s inability to have a child at first. Balram’s parents longed for a grandchild until years later a son is born.
The traditional values of an old community, the wood-and-iron house, the nostalgia of the music we listened to and spiritual guidance instilled in us over the years come to the fore in this dramatization of our inner wars.
Bhagwan gave me this Life is produced by Polart Productions in conjunction with Radio Hindvani.
It is at the Catalina Theatre with a bumper eight shows during one weekend.
Tickets are available at Computicket for Friday 7 March 2014 at 3pm and 8pm; Saturday 8 March at 2pm, 5pm and 8pm and Sunday 9 March at 2pm, 5pm and 8pm.
It is a family-friendly production, suitable for all ages.
