War is often associated with men in arms. However, what people do not realise is the extent of ill treatment women go through, when they are not just disgraced but also displaced. Theater personality and director Prakash Belawadi, talks about his production on women war refugees.
Why did you choose Necessary Targets?
I was completely unaware of the existence of the play. This production happened by chance. Maggy Jacqmin, the lead character in the play, approached me with the idea. Once I read Eve Ensler’s script, I decided to have a reading which turned out exciting enough to stage. We then decided it to take on this very powerful script and go ahead with producing it.
Necessary Targets requires strong characters. Did you face any challenges while etching these roles?
I am an amateur theatre person. The team is full of young and vibrant individuals who are extremely interested in acting. After the reading, I chose people who came closest to the characters, which made the process slightly easy. Once the team was decided, I ensured we discussed the script and arrived at a common perception, which is important to make a cohesive play. The challenges we faced as a team was to deal with the intensity of the script. Since the script is strong and intense, rehearsals were emotionally tiring. We had a demanding schedule and there would be times when we would break down due to the strength of the characters.
Do you think the play might make a stronger impact than the book?
The book is very moving but while reading it, the intensity of the emotion does not quite emerge. However, when you act it out, feel it and associate with the characters and their experiences, the words acquire life. There were times when we would weep during rehearsals, feeling helpless.
How do you think the situation of women war refugees can be improved?
Women being considered as easy targets is a terrible idea. Not just in a war situation but anywhere. To assume that women need to be brutally treated in order to arrive at a solution is a crazy idea and should be challenged. Restoring lives or dealing with post war trauma cannot happen. However, what can be done is, change perceptions at the very first stage. Attitudes have to be changed at a social level because the bias is inherent in society. The idea of home should be challenged because if it is left to be, then there is an inherent potential for violence.
What do you aim to achieve with this play?
I have always believed that any play should provoke people to question their own prejudices. I only hope that Necessary Targets also prompts the audience to ponder about the societal evils and ways of changing them for the benefit of everyone. I hope this production changes the way people perceive situations and provides for an altered sense of experience. Only if there is awareness can people challenge the thinking of the people around them and society in large.
Watch the play at Jagriti, Whitefield on Saturday, on May 21.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}