Writer-Drama Director Mathura
Bengaluru-based theater group Kalyan Theater to stage a Hindi play Priyadarshi Ashok , “The play presents a new historical perspective on the great king Ashoka. It is the result of my quest to understand the mysterious king, gain an insight into the psyche of a misunderstood regent, who by a whim of fate is cursed to become king ,” says director and playwright Mathura Kaluni.
He says, “As the title says, this play celebrates the great king. He has always been my favorite personality. Years ago, when I lived in Kolkata, I used to spend hours at the National Library reading anything on Ashoka. He was so great that we have the Ashoka Chakra on our national flag. What attracted me was his life and I felt there was something else that made him become a Buddhist monk from a great king.”
That’s why Mathura did research on King Ashoka. “After several years of study, I had enough material to write a book. But, with my work, theater and life, it backfired. But, a few years back, my friends felt that I should bring my research to life on stage and using that material I wrote a play Priyadarshi Ashok.,
a scene from the play
During his research, Mathura shares: “I came to know how vast his empire was. If measured today, it will spread from Odisha to Iran and from Afghanistan to Kerala! Such was his greatness! It was likewise interesting to study how he governed his kingdom, enforced laws and so on – he was indeed a fascinating personality.
Mathura, a noted Hindi playwright, is also the artistic director of the Kalyan Theater Group, which he founded in 1988. He has written 19 plays and directed and produced over 38 under the Kalyan banner. Running a Hindi theater group, Has been enjoyable but not easy. “We were one of the first Hindi theater groups in Bengaluru. In those days many people were not interested in watching Hindi dramas. We would literally invite people to the theater to see our plays. That’s how we started. But, the journey has been wonderful.
Member of Kalyan Theater
hindi drama Priyadarshi Ashok Will be held at Bengaluru International Center (BIC), Domlur in Bengaluru on February 3, 4 and 5 at 7.30 PM, and 3.30 PM and 7.30 PM respectively.
Tickets starting at ₹400 are available on BookMyShow