Kamroo: A Dramatic Tale of Power, Control, and Rebellion

About Kamroo

Kamroo is a dramatic tale set in an isolated matriarchal nation ruled by Queen Kamini Devi, where women appear free yet live under rigid control. Kamini offers shelter to homeless women, revealed with the arrival of Jamna and a young girl, Bhairavi. The community celebrates Bhairavi’s first menstruation, after which the women recount Kamini’s violent rise to power, including the killing of all men in Kamroo, including her own father and brother.

The order shatters when two men accidentally enter Kamroo. One is executed instantly, while the other survives by disguising himself as a woman named Lavangika. He forms a secret relationship with Yamini, resulting in her pregnancy. When the truth emerges, Kamini exposes Lavangika’s identity, becomes pregnant herself, and kills him. These rapid tragedies provoke a rebellion, as the women of Kamroo rise against the Queen’s tyranny, realizing that imposed power is not freedom, demanding liberation, and choice.

Writer

Dr. Satish Vyas is a Gujarati playwright, literary critic, and poet. His major creative work includes the one-act play collection No Parking, and his important critical writings include Atmakatha and Adhunik Ekanki. As the writer of Kamroo, Dr. Vyas brings literary depth, strong dramaturgical structure, and intellectual richness to the play.

Directors

Dr. Vikram Panchal is a theatre director, actor, writer, and academician serving as the Head of the Department of Theatre and Production Management at St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Ahmedabad. His acting works include the Hindi films Satyaprem Ki Katha and Shortcut Safari, and the Gujarati film Saheb. He is also the writer, director, and actor of the award-winning Gujarati film Teacher of the Year, and has received multiple awards including at the Indian National Theatre Competition.

Shaunak Vyas is a multi-faceted artiste and Assistant Professor in the Department of Theatre and Production Management at St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad. He co-directed, co-wrote, and acted in the Gujarati film Teacher of the Year, and has won several awards across theatre and film projects, including recognition at the Indian National Theatre Competition and the Janmabhoomi Pravasi Award for best actor for the play Balcony.

Director’s Note

Kamroo is an acclaimed Gujarati play. Directors were drawn to its thematic universality, conveying that excess in any form leads to destruction. The play explores the necessity of balance between man and woman, utilizing dance, music, and a folk-oriented theatrical idiom to invite the audience into a reflective experience.

Group

St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad, established its Theatre and Production Department in 2023. The department provides students with training in all aspects of theatre alongside skill-enhancement courses, with productions earning numerous awards at national and regional youth festivals and competitions such as The Others’ Day, Mammo, Yeh Kahani Phir Sahi, and Holi.