Andhayuga: Exploring Modern Indian Theatre and the Aftermath of the Kurukshetra War

Andhayuga is a prominent play of modern Indian Theatre that tells a less-known story from the Mahabharata taking place after the Kurukshetra war. The play explores the cruelty and brutality of wars, the horrific politics affecting society, the darkness of the human race, and the internal battle within ourselves. Its stylized and bold presentation features intensive acting accompanied by music, movements, lights, costumes, and stage design.

Writer

Dharamvir Bharati was an Indian writer, poet, author, social thinker, and a pioneer of modern Indian theatre. He received several awards, including the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

Translators

Siddalinga Pattanashetty has received the Karnataka Nataka Academy Award, the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, and the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award. Thippeswamy served as a professor of Kannada and translated several Hindi books into Kannada.

Director

Mandya Ramesh is an actor, director, and founder of the Mysore Actors’ Institute and Theatre. Having studied at Ninasam in Karnataka, his accolades include the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award and the Karnataka Nataka Academy Award. He has served on the Karnataka Nataka Academy, Rangayana, and the Committee of Experts on Intellectual Cultural Heritage, and has been a visiting professor at Gubbi Veeranna Rangapeetha at the University of Mysore.

Director’s Note

Director Mandya Ramesh chose the play because every character is relevant to the daily belligerence seen in society. The text is adapted globally as an anti-war work portraying the catastrophe of nuclear weapons within a mythological framework alongside the beginning of biological warfare.

Group

Natana was established as an amateur theatre troupe in 2002 to involve children and youth in performing arts before growing into a professional group, training school, and repertory company. Natana organizes theatre training, performances, seminars, music concerts, folk performances, and cultural festivals. Its repertory and children repertory companies have performed in national and international festivals across various Karnataka districts, Northern California (for Kannada Koota), and Singapore (at the Singara Kannada Samskrati Sammelena). Natana has also constructed a fully equipped auditorium and theatre school.