Women, then and now!

Kisuki bai fights against all odds with fortitude. Even in difficult times, her belief in her art is total, her devotion in her art elevates her to epical dimensions.

Women aren’t exactly empowered even today despite living in the 21st century. There are cases of domestic violence, unequal wages, and the general social standing of women isn’t great despite all the claimed progress we have made. Sindhu Mishra, in her one-actor play, Naachni, plays a folk dancer in a feudal society. But before you start thinking that this is on the torment of a woman, think again.

As Kisuki Bai, Sindhu is looking to portray an independent woman of the time, even though her profession was patronised by a feudal society. “She fights against all odds with fortitude. Even in difficult times, her belief in her art is total, her devotion and belief in her art elevates her to epical dimensions. She is very critical to the feudal system, no question of bemoaning it. Her existence is as troubled in the feudal system as it is after it. She has enough guts to fight and practice her art against all odds,” says playwright Bhanu Bharti.

Sindhu also feels that it is a play that shows that not much has changed till date. “I would only say that it makes you aware that the situation and the struggle of a woman have not really changed over the past 60-70 years. The situation is somewhat the same. Women really had to struggle for themselves then. Even today, the situation is the same, families don’t accept you readily if you are a dancer. The play promises to be a powerful eye opener and is looking to bring about awareness on the issue,” says the actor.