This is an archive article published on April 10, 2021

A play in Bengaluru explores the missing voices of women in classic and mythological literature

Desdemona Rupakam represents the kind of work that is emerging in a world unhinged by the pandemic

4 min readApr 10, 2021 09:10 AM IST

art and culture, mythological literature, bengaluru art events, Desdemona Rupakam, play events, indianexpress.com, indianexpress,

Once again, as the lights dim, the voice of Girish Karnad will tell audiences at Rangashankara in Bengaluru, “Please switch off your mobile phones so that there is no disturbance during the performance.” This is among the few familiar elements with which a new play, Desdemona Rupakam, will open on April 10. The title is from William Shakespeare’s Othello, in which a murdered Desdemona does not name her killer. The play has been created during the pandemic by a group of theatre performers bent on searching for the missing voices of silent women in classics and mythology.

Desdemona Rupakam represents the kind of work that is emerging in a world unhinged by the pandemic. It has a small cast of two — MD Pallavi and Bindumalini Narayanaswamy— and its length can be adjusted according to the requirements of the performance venue. Moreover, though there are several shows lined up in Bengaluru and Mumbai, director Abhishek Majumdar is quite certain that some will be postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19 clampdowns by governments. “I also think that many unexpected shows will happen. We could be performing in spaces and contexts that we couldn’t have imagined earlier,” he adds. A lot of his projects in different parts of the world, from London and New York to Bengaluru and Abu Dhabi, have been pushed back by lockdowns.

Using forms such as Yakshagana, Hari Katha and Yellama Nataka as well as Hindustani and Carnatic music, the play questions “the absence of female voices that could have provided a deeper insight into the life of Desdemona, thereby challenging the erasure of any resistance from Desdemona as she is killed by Othello”. In its exploration of the traditional Indian myth, Desdemona Rupakam highlights the “differences of register and agency that women have had in important narratives about them”.

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Director Abhishek Majumdar

While last year brought theatre practitioners such as Majumdar out to provide food security to communities affected by the pandemic, it also saw a great urge to make work — write, compose music or create for the online medium. “The greater questions of the civilisation have not disappeared. It cannot be that we look back at this time and say that we did not ask philosophical or political questions while COVID-19 was raging. During the pandemic, women have been affected very adversely compared to the men. There is a major feminist reading of the pandemic, which will rely on what were the missing women’s voices in employment and domestic spheres, among others. Though, very clearly and without exception, we have seen that women leaders have done far better than their male counterparts across the world in managing the pandemic,” says Majumdar.

He had come up with the central proposition: “Is anybody really alone in their bedroom?” It led to other ideas he was curious about, such as “What happens in Desdemona’s bedroom and why does she have so little to say? What would happen if she had more to say?” Every day, the performers and writers — Pallavi, Narayanaswamy, Veena Appiah, Irawati Karnik, Majumdar and sound designer, Nikhil Nagaraj— would confront the notion that the bedroom was a private space, and show how, in mythology and other forms of literature, the couple was not alone and many voices of the world shaped discourses in the innermost room.

The play, produced by Nalanda Arts Studio, will be staged at Rangashankara in Bengaluru on April 10 and 11.

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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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