Strike Force

Gazab Teri Ada is bursting with music, dance and colour but, under the brightness, it is an unsettling parable about wars and women power

Scenes from Gazab Teri Ada, a tribute to World War I during its centenary

After 99 battles, every king would want one more. The Maharaja in Gazab Teri Ada, director Waman Kendre’s new play performed by the National School of Drama Repertory Company, gets his wish but this one ends differently. The spoils of war — 21,000 girls from the enemy kingdom — are dragged before the king in chains and their wails pierce the hearts of the women in the kingdom. How can the wives who have always obeyed, now protest — they could stop cooking or talking or would they need a more drastic weapon?

Kendre says that the Greek comedy Lysistrata had fascinated him since he came across it as a student of the National School of Drama (NSD) around 30 years ago. Given that he searches for stories in the margins of society — Zulva revolved around devadasis and Jaaneman was about the life of eunuchs — Kendre’s fascination with Lysistrata is not surprising. Here, a group of women — dressed beautifully as patriarchy’s dolls should — subvert sexual politics to assert their will. They decide not to sleep with their husbands until they promise never to fight again. Kendre explored this story in No Sex Please last year but Gazab Teri Ada is a more thorny road.

In this 1.40 hour play, Lysistrata becomes the outer casing. Kendre’s areas of interest are in boldface — from sex workers with their boisterous laughter to the dances that are folksy and frequent, from the soldiers who smile at the thought of the war to the king’s grin that sparkles brighter than his clothes, from the non-realistic, exaggerated movements to the dialogues, in which the Hindi grammar is broken by replacing masculine words with streeling (feminine) references. “In various rural dialects in the country, women often speak like men. While speaking, gender dignity shatters,” says the director’s note. Music is one of the lead characters and performed live, which brings a raw flavour to the production.

Gazab Teri Ada is the director’s tribute to World War I in its centenary year. It is when the king wants to see the war on the alaukik yantra that the play climbs another level. The dark backdrop brightens into a screen on which play footage of wars past and present — soldiers loading cannons in Vietnam, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka — relocating Gazab Teri Ada in every century. Technically, the screen merges into the backdrop and does not interfere with the live acting. (Few things kill a play more than a blank screen on a stage). Metaphorically, the screen recalls Sanjay who recounts the events of the Mahabharata to the blind Dhritirashtra through his divine vision, though Kendre probably intends it to show how television dramatises wars.

Another witty innovation is the use of bells to rival the sword. These bells tinkle, chime and clang depending on the mood, as the play balances message with humour.

When a character says, “Aaj kehti hai yudh chhod do, kal kahegi, duniya chhod do,” the spirit of the Bollywood film Devdas rises amid the hot air of war.

It would be unreal if the violence of war did not spill into homes of the soldiers but Gazab Teri Ada ends happily — or does it? Your answer depends on which subtext you have been following.

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The play will be staged at Abhimanch, NSD, till today. Entry: Rs 50-200. Contact: 23383420

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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