Overview/Background
Performance of the recomposed tale of Shabari that was brought on stage first by the Udupi team which actively and constantly involves in discovering the possibilities of staging works of exceptional literary value and rendering them on stage soaked in the magic of group dance.
Plot Structure
On the foothills of the Vindhyas there lived the sixteen-year-old daughter of the Billa chieftain whose snow white skin barely contained a spirit that was ever eager to erupt. The news of her wedding brought to the woods of Binja a spring of vigour and vitality and to every friendly face the radiance of wild jasmine blossoms. Shabari’s own visage turned all red as her eyes met that of her groom. She vanished in to the cover of her abode instantly. Then a scream, alien to that pristine paradise, echoed all around her. The wailing of the meek creatures of jungle bound and brought for meatto be served in the feast later pierced through the wedding jubilations. Shabariheard them loud and clear. Her spotless soul nurtured by the wild justice of the hunter and the hunted, could not bear the mindless cruelty of a mass murder. Her butter like heart suffered as if it is being buried in blisters. Shabari, spotless yet stout, walked away pushing the pettiness of household and into the depths of jungle seeking solace. She swore not to hurt anything that stirred. “To pluck a petal is to pain the plant” became the motto of her life.
In the company of the sages of the south, on the banks of the river Tungabadhra she started living a hermit’s life. She fed on flowers and fruits picked off the forest floor all the while waiting for Lord Rama to appear. A long time passed. At last, along with his younger brother Lakshmana, there arrived Rama, distraught at the loss of his wife and eager to atone her abduction. Shabari’s long wait ends finally. The devotee witnesses the glory of her Lord; enthralled and exalted by the ambrosial experience of witnessing the divine grace, and having fulfilled her life’s purpose by offering Him heartfelt hospitality and receiving His blessings, she passes into the auspicious everlasting infinity.
This dance drama has been performed by our students on more than two-hundred literary, spiritual and cultural occasions including Kadambotsava at Banavasi, Karnataka, and all India Kannada Literary Conference.
This dance drama is a group event performed by almost twenty artists for ninety minutes straight without interludes or scene shifts. The dance drama involves depiction of visuals of water, woods, dwellings and so on entirely through the medium of Bharatanatya (without the use of external sets). About ten Bharatanatyaartistes perform this feat. Dramatic personae include Lord Rama, his brother Lakshmana, Sita, sages, the hermit imposter, hunters, young and aged Shabari and others.
Direction by Chandrashekar Shetty
Dance Direction by Vidushi Shradamani Shekar and Vidushi Srilatha Nagaraj
