Artistic Director's Note on Purdah

Ranjita Chakravarty as Nazia Sahiba in WHERE DID I LEAVE MY PURDAH?

Artistic Director Basab Pradhan’s note from the program for PURDAH. The complete digital program can be found here:

Mahesh Dattani is one of our favorite people. This is the third play of his that we are staging. He has directed for us and held acting workshops remotely during the pandemic. He is of course a supremely talented theatre artist (those Sahitya Akademi awards aren't just handed out to anyone!). But he is also a terrific human being. In BADCO's early years, he was most generous with his time and connections in the Indian theatre circles. We are thrilled to be doing another Dattani play.

Where Did I Leave My Purdah? is a partition story. But it is also a story about theatre; about a larger-than-life aging diva - Nazia Sahiba. In the play there are flashback scenes from Abhigyan Shakuntalam being performed in pre-partition India - a delicious blend of mythology theatre and a period piece. The play, directed by BADCo Executive Director Rita Bhatia, will delight your senses.

We are also delighted to have film and theatre artist Ranjita Chakravarty return to BADCo. Ranjita has directed three plays for us, but this is her first time in the cast. With her film career heating up who knows when we'll be able to see her next on stage. So let's enjoy it while we can.

With Purdah, we end our 2023-24 main stage season. On June 22, we have a staged reading of Mahasweta Devi's Mother of 1084, directed by Ranjita Chakravarty, which will be the last show of the season. We are doing a staged reading after a long time. It will be ticketed but pay-what-you-can. Do come.

Next season marks our 10th anniversary. Yes! Our small but mighty theatre company is going to be 10! We are planning a special season and some fanfare. Expect some great theatre!