Epic Victory

Savitri-Dancing in the Forest of Death,nominated for the Mahindra theatre awards,revisits the myth of Savitri,a woman who won over death.

Savitri-Dancing in the Forest of Death,nominated for the Mahindra theatre awards,revisits the myth of Savitri,a woman who won over death.

If Sita from the Ramayana has a rival for ideal womanhood,it is Savitri from the Mahabharata. Savitri challenged and defeated the God of Death,Yama,to bring her dead husband back to life. Now,a solo dance-theatre production,to be staged as part of the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards,revisits the myth. Savitri-Dancing in the Forest of Death,a play from Chennai,focuses on a debate between the protagonist and Yama and highlights their individual takes on life and death . The play,in Tamil and English,unfolds on a stripped-down stage,where hanging ropes symbolise the noose of Yama and a curtain of time among others. We talk to actor Preeti Vasudevan,who has been nominated for Best Actor and Best Choreographer awards,about the play .

What makes Savitri so special?

Its the story of every woman. Savitri is not anything unusual she is,however,enlightened and realises her own potential and makes her own choices as an individual within a society of blind faith and belief.

What is her relationship with Yama in the play?

She and Yama represent the balance of life of consciousness and earthliness which combine to form true life. It is important to see each person as an equal partner,to walk the seven steps with the sacred steps of eternal friendship.

How did you prepare for your role?

Savitri has been a process for three years now,going through many avatars. I have been working over the last 10 years to develop my own language of theatre-dance from my Bharatanatyam background. I have also been training in various voice techniques that can help the dancers body speak like an actor. The latest has been with the SITI company in New York. J Ed Araiza,a SITI member,played the role of director in Savitri,and helped me tease out the character and bring out personal stories within me to interact with Savitris character.

I worked vigorously on the physicality of the body in determining how and when the voice can be used honestly. Its from a place of imbalance that I seek the voice to speak or exhaustion when the true voice comes out.

The play will be performed at LTG auditorium today. Contact: http://www.buzzintown.com