A puppet show for freedom fighters

A puppet show generally conjures up images of colourful puppets dancing to folk music and accompanied by an animated voiceover. However, Kuch Unkhule Panne (Some Unopened Pages), an audio-visual journey of puppets and shadows, challenges the stereotype.

A puppet show generally conjures up images of colourful puppets dancing to folk music and accompanied by an animated voiceover. However, Kuch Unkhule Panne (Some Unopened Pages), an audio-visual journey of puppets and shadows, challenges the stereotype.

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On Saturday, a near-full auditorium at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) played host to a docu-drama that focuses on such lesser-known heroes of the Indian independence movement as Surya Sen, Madam Bhikaji Cama and Matangini Hazra.

Presented by the Kat-katha group, the 40-minute show in Hindi highlighted how the

sacrifices made by these

freedom fighters have been relegated to history books and overshadowed by their more illustrious peers.

Along with photo-documentation from NMML archives, the docu-drama talks about how today’s youth needs to recognise the contribution of freedom fighters and imbibe the virtues of dedication and sacrifice they stood for.

Although the audience, among them some children, had expected a colourful song and dance sequence, the simplicity of the presentation had them watching the show in rapt attention.

“Puppetry is generally associated with children and subjects that are fun. But we wanted to show that serious subjects like history, too, can be narrated through puppets and shadows,” said Anurupa Roy, who directed the docu-drama.

Kuch Unkhule Panne is being performed as part of Delhi Celebrates — the cultural extravaganza — organised by the Delhi Government in time for the Commonwealth Games. Those who missed the show on Saturday can watch it on October 11 and 12 at NMML