When women take centre stage

What defines the modern Indian woman? Is it the clothes she wears, the work she does or is it her ability to live her dream despite the shackles that bind her and walk shoulder to shoulder with men?

Or is it all this and more? But, can you really define her? The upcoming play Dolls is an answer to just that. Starring actors Janaki Sabesh, Manasvini KR, Kadambari Narendran, Namita Krishnamurthy, Shradha Venkatraman, Akshaya Ravishankar, Ananya Shankar, Dhwani Giri, Aparnaa Nagesh and Zarin Shihab, the play, to be staged at Wandering Artist on January 21, delves into their personal stories — part real, part fiction all through these women and the sum of their experiences.

Speaking about how the play came about, its director, Dushyanth Gunashekar, says, “The name Dolls is a direct hit at the hypocrisy of urban Indian, a society that wants to portray itself as progressive yet objectifies its women and expects them to behave like pretty dolls who walk according to the whims and fancies of men.

At the same time, we are also trying to convey the fact that every doll is different.

Also, we seek way too much inspiration from idols and heroes at a distance that we forget the everyday challenges, conflicts women face, and more importantly, overcome. So, I thought it was time regular women took centrestage.” The play took shape as Dushyanth was dealing with real stories and emotions of people. “It was born after a series of conversation with the female actors I’ve worked with in previous productions.

I was shocked to hear them and thought they deserved to be retold and shared with a wider audience,” he adds. Directing an all-woman cast for the first time must’ve come with its fair share of challenges.

“Technically, I didn’t have to do much honestly. The actors had their stories to tell — I just had to chisel it. I’d rather call myself a moderator here. Having said that, I believe a woman director could’ve handled it better,” he says in a matter of fact tone.

In different styles of storytelling, the play attempts to weave in the spirit of ‘Shakthi’ among the women — each of their stories, symbolised by a doll, that brings forth humour, pathos, wit, passion, grit and a myriad of emotions which we as a society have been ignorant of. Their stories may not seem special, but they ring true to the audience, and women who experience it everyday.

The play has also been an eye-opener for Dushyanth. “It has been the most emotional experience for me. I always believed that I knew and understood the issues women deal with everyday and that I had a very fair view on them.

However, this play made me realise that how privileged I am as a man and how often we abuse it and take it for granted.

I move through the world with the privilege of never even considering the idea of being sexually assaulted or harassed. I now recognise that I benefit from the system of sexism in ways to most of us men may not even be aware,” he concludes.