Kabir festival opens with play exploring constitutional values | Lucknow News
Lucknow: Solo theatrical piece, ‘Besharm Ka Paudha’, created and performed by Rajesh Nirmal, marked the opening of 10th edition of Kabir Festival in association with International Buddhist Research Institute at its auditorium, on Wednesday. This year, the festival carries special significance as it began on the Constitution Day (Nov 26).The play examines vital constitutional and human values of freedom, dignity and identity through a narrative rooted in everyday struggles of those often left unseen. Nirmal’s performance uses cloth, repetition and movement not just as theatrical elements but as symbolic burdens and acts of release.Speaking ahead of the performance, Nirmal said, “The play is about the invisible labour and silent resilience that surround us.” An alumnus of Delhi University and Hyderabad Central University, Nirmal is known for blending folklore, politics and personal histories into deeply researched performances. ‘Besharm Ka Paudha’ was developed with a creative team comprising light designer Sangeet Srivastava, music composers Drishti Chawla and Chayan Adhikari and dramaturge Mallika Taneja.Banaras-based scholar Prof Sadanand Shahi to speak on the theme ‘Equality and Theatre’ drawing connections between performance, social justice and Kabir’s message of radical inclusivity.
