Muslim artistes to perform play based on Mahabharata in Bengaluru

MYSURU: 'Kurukshetra' (Dharmarajya Sthapana), a play based on Mahabharata, will be staged at Halenahalli, a remote village in Nelamangala taluk, Bengaluru Rural district, on March 19.
Setting an example of communal harmony and brotherhood, the all-male drama will be enacted by the members of the Mulsim community, who are from different walks of life.
Javed Pasha, a security guard by profession, who will play the role of Srikrishna, said they had planned to stage the drama one-and-a-half years ago but it was postponed due to his brother's demise.
"In villages, mythological dramas are popular. I always dreamt of acting in a play and with this, my dream is coming true," he said, adding that they started rehearsing for the drama a month ago.
Nayaz Khan, who is playing the role of Duryodana, is the chairman of the local milk producers union. "We practiced for the play on eight days. It is everyone's first stage performance. So, we had to start from the basics," he said. Asked about the reason for picking up the theme of the epic for the play, he said that they wish to send a message to the society amid increasing land disputes.
"All major incidents in the mythological story will be enacted during the night-long play," he said.
Other members are: Abdul Razak Sab, a teacher, as Dharmaraya, police officer Ejaz as Bhima 1, Mujeeb as Bhima 2, Rajeeb Sab, a teacher, as Arjuna 1 and Vidhura, Shahabaj Khan as Arjuna 2, Subhan as Abhimanyu, Rizwan as Satyaki, Sayyed Chand Pasha as Balarama, H Hayat Basha, a resource block person, as Karna, Sadik Pasha as Dushyasana, Syed Khaleel as Saindava, S Chand Pasha as Shakuni, Nazeer Sab as Bhishma, and Zameer as Drona.
According toartistes, the village is known for its tradition of maintaining communal harmony. "The village has around 20 Muslim and Vokkaliga families each and a few from other communities. We all believe in Lord Anjaneya. That's the reason for staging the play on Anjaneya temple premises," one of them said.