LEELA - South Asian Women's Theatre Festival

'LEELA'-The first ever South Asian Women's Theatre Festival was held from March 8 to 15,2010. I have been fortunate enough to attend the inauguration and first few opening performances of the festival.

The event was organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations(ICCR)in collaboration with the National School of Drama (NSD) and the Jamia Millia Islamia. The festival was inaugurated by Karan Singh,President(ICCR)on March 8,coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the International Women's Day.


The groups that performed at the festival were drawn from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India. Besides Delhi, the plays got staged in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chandigarh.

Dr Singh said the festival was a unique concept in that it would focus exclusively on women's issues and bring together talented groups from South Asian countries.
NSD Director Anuradha Kapoor said the festival was part of a dialogue through theatre with India's neighbours.

Theatre has always been used as a powerful and intense medium for creating awareness about sensitive socio-economic issues such as gender inequalities, the deprivations and difficulties faced by women.This festival too used it to depict the key role of women as agents of change in bringing education, development, peace and prosperity within and across the nations of South Asia. Along with traditions and best practices in the arts and literature.

The opening performance of the Festival was Nati binodini by Amal Allana (based on the true story of a female) , Colombo Colombo by Indika Ferdinando,Srilanka followed by the play 'Jang ab nahi hoga' from Afghanistan,by an all-women group dealing with the destruction of the Buddha is story of courage spoke against war.

It was a wonderful experience to celebrate Women's day in such a special way by being surrounded by popular and successful female directors and performers and witnessing the variety of plays which motivate you to have your identity like many others who presented their works.