Chanda Bedhni: Exploring Love, Caste, and Nautanki Tradition

Chanda Bedhni

Chanda Bedhni is a story centered around love, deeply influenced by political conspiracies. It portrays the tragedy of love trapped between casteism and social hierarchy, where even love's sacrifice and penance prove powerless in front of the rigid caste system.

The narrative reflects the clash between simplicity and conspiracy, where the innocence of love is crushed by political systems and social evils. A Bedhni not only entertains through dance and music, but when the time comes, she sacrifices everything and attains immortality.

This Nautanki showcases rich folk traditions and culture, evoking the earthy fragrance of both urban and rural soil.

Director: Neeraj Kushwaha

Neeraj Kushwaha is a versatile theatre practitioner, director, music director, actor, and writer with over three decades of involvement in Indian theatre, cinema, and television. He received formal acting training from Bharatendu Natya Akademi, Lucknow, and has worked with institutions such as Darpan, Kanpur and Gulab Theatre Company.

His honors include Bharatendu Samman (2022), Natya Ratna (2010), and Acharya Hazariprasad Dwivedi Samman (2009). He has directed and staged over 200 plays. His film and web series acting credits include Tamanche, Tea for Taj Mahal, The Vaccine War, and Baahubali-3.

Writer: Alakhnandan

Alakhnandan was a distinguished playwright, poet, actor, and director who recreated Bundelkhandi Swang on the contemporary stage with innovation. He was a co-founder of Bharat Bhavan Rangmandal and served as Assistant Director under B. V. Karanth. His published works include the play Chanda Bedhni, among others.

Director's Note

The decision was made to stage Chanda Bedhni, originally written in the Bundeli language by Alakhnandan. Academy Director Shri Bipin Kumar suggested performing the play in the Awadhi language and in the Nautanki folk theatre style of Uttar Pradesh. Vijay Bhaiya wrote the Nautanki adaptation for the presentation.

Group

Rasrang Foundation, Kanpur (U.P.) is a registered non-government organization that has worked in arts, including theatre, Nautanki, folk songs, and folk dance, for the past 30 years.