Theatre is a prism through which you can see things in a fresh way: Anish Victor

Bangalore-based theatre artiste Anish Victor's new piece,Koogu, is 'a call to the warrior who resides in every being'.

The idea of the play was born when Victor and French dancer Michel Casanovas began to talk about life and what it means to be a performance artiste. (source: IE)

This quietly rebellious play begins – unlike all theatre traditions – at the gate of the hall when the audience is walking in. The people gathered for a show of Koogu (Kannada for shout) have no inkling that the man hanging around and chatting with them casually but constantly is the evening’s solo actor Anish Victor. “Some kind of guess but are not sure, which is where I want them to be,” says Victor. Having created a haze of unknowingness, the Bangalore-based actor arrives on the stage and continues with his performance in which dance, sound, song and music are wrapped in a series of conversations that are “a call or a paean to invoke the warrior who resides in every being”. The Delhi show of Koogu will be held at Studio Safdar on Saturday.

The idea of the play was born when Victor and Bangalore-based French dancer Michel Casanovas began to meet and talk about life and what it means to be a performance artiste. “Over and over, our conversations revolved around performance artistes being in constant opposition to something or the other. This led us to wonder about what it means to be a warrior, about wars and whether there are wars at all or were they figments of the artiste’s imagination. As we talked, we began to improvise and give our discussions a life as theatre,” says Victor, adding that Casanovas is the dramaturge of Koogu.

The hour-long narrative of Koogu swings back and forth in time and between incidents from Victor’s life and events of the general world. We hear of a grandmother who considered dancing “cheap” and not part of “our culture”, events at a church choir where girls and boys sang together, and a failed attempt at running the school marathon among others. “Through these incidents, the performance explores the grey areas that exist within the psyche of every performer wherein the ‘character’ one is playing begins to merge with the personality of the ‘performer’,” says Victor, who illustrates his piece with the folk dance Devarattam and martial arts forms such as Silambattam and Tai Chi. Delhi audiences can notch up Koogu alongside recent performances that incorporated audience interaction into the script (C Sharp C Blunt and Something from Nothing among others) and created a more intimate and intense theatre experience.

Koogu’s script celebrates resistance but his show doesn’t include a stellar episode from Victor’s college days. “I was thrown out with 35 others for lack of attendance. The real reason, I feel, is that our group was always questioning the teachers and the way things were done,” he says. Three years later, he co-founded theatre group Rafiki (“name not inspired by Lion King”). Victor has now “taken retirement” from Rafiki and concentrates on his personal theatre practice. “I am trying to say that theatre is not a mirror, it is a prism through which you can see things in a fresh way,” he says.

Koogu will be staged at Studio Safdar, 2254/2A Shadi Khampur, on June 14, 7 pm. Entry: Free. Contact: 25709456

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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