Swatantra Theatre

Swatantra Theatre is an Indian theatre organization and troupe based in Pune, India. The troupe produces and performs plays in Hindi language. In addition to theatre productions, the troupe also carries theatre education, training and theatre festival. It has staged productions across India.

Swatantra Theatre
Formation15 August 2007 (2007-08-15)
Founded atPune, Maharashtra, India
TypeTheatre organisation, performing arts center, and troupe
PurposeTheatre production, education and social awareness
Location
  • Pune, Maharashtra, India
Official language
Hindi, Marathi
Key people
  • Abhijeet Choudhary
  • Dhanashree Heblikar
  • Yuwaraj Shah
Websiteswatantratheater.com

Swatantra Theatre was founded by Abhijeet Choudhary, Dhanashree Heblikar and Yuwaraj Shah in 2007.[1][2][3] Choudhary serves as a director of the plays, while Heblikar serves as creative director.[4]

History

In 2005, Abhijeet Choudhary, who was working as an actor at Asmita Theatre, and Dhanashree Heblikar, a stage actor, met in Pune and decided to start a theatre group that would produce Hindi-language plays solely, because at that time, the theatre of Pune was dominated by Marathi theatre.[4] The theatre trope was founded on 15 August 2007.[5] As of 2018, the troupe has 55 permanent members.[3]

Activities

Choudhary directs the plays produced by the troupe, and Heblikar serves as creative director and manages aesthetics including music, light, set, costumes.[4] Swatantra organizes Swatantra Rang Hindi Theater Festival, a two or three-days theatre festival, annually.[6][7][8] It also organizes Children's Theatre Festival twice in a year,[9] and an virtual theatre festival, Rang-e-Dastaan.[10] It organized workshops twice in a month to give education about on voice modulation, body control and acting.[5]

The theatre presents the Yuwaraj of Theatre (YOTA) of Award annually on its anniversary day.[11]

Plays

Swatantra Theatre produces plays which often deal with the theme of social consciousness. It has also worked in experimental theatre.[3] The troupe often performs plays on mental health awareness.[12] The troupe has performed its plays at various places including Film and Television Institute of India,National School of Drama, Deccan Literature Festival,Bal Gandharva Ranga Mandir and National Defence Academy (NDA).[5]

Year Play Ref.
2008 Court Martial [5][13]
2008 Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar [14]
2008 Zindagi Ke Rang [15]
2008 Andha Yug [15]
2009 Gagan Damama Bajyo [16]
2009 Dhool Mein Lipta Sach [17]
2010 Dayashankar Ki Diary [18]
2010 Hamlet In My School [19][20]
2011 Ajab Sher Ki Gajab Kahani [21]
2011 Ji Jaisi Aapki Marzi [22]
2013 Cheaper By The Dozen [23]
2013 Mashaal Jalao Diye Se [24]
2014 Dakghar [25]
2014 Komal Gandhar [25]
2014 Gharonda [26]
2015 Chulbule Bulbule [27]
2016 Jis Lahore Nahi Dekhya wo Jamya Nai [28]
2016 Taj Mahal ka Tender [29]
2017 An Evening with Chekhov [30]
2017 Jhalkiyaan [31]
2018 Panchi Aise Aate Hain [32]
2019 Khamosh Adalat Jaari Hain [32]
2019 Jaag Utha Hai Raigad [33]
2020 Common Sadness [12]
2020 Vijeta Kaun [10]
2020 The Bicycle Girl [10]
2020 Sheher-e-Naqab [3]
2020 Bakri [34]
2020 Ujbak Raja Teen Dacoit [34]

Films
year title description
2012 Pune TC - Hindi Feature film
2013 Godse to Gandhi
2017 The Blue Cap
2019 Sakinah
About Sakinah

Sakinah is a woman who helps terrorists for their daily needs, she is captured by the Indian Army and in her confrontation with an army officer he discussed her thought process. Through the discussion she realizes her mistake and converts herself to a person who walks on the right path shown by Allah.

2020 GST
About GST (Girl Shaadi Tax)

A girl is about to marry the love of her life, her father had already arranged 20 lakhs as marriage expenditure but the groom's family request more. But she teaches them a lesson.

2022 Labour Pain an unending saga (Indian Feature Film -2022) About Labour Pain

Mazdoors, labours create the ground work of our developing society, they are the pillars of our modern day sky scrapers. They built metros, they create subways, their blood and sweat shapes our our houses. But in which starta of our social fabric do these migrant labours dwell in? What about their individual identities? Shankar and Manju are one of these daily wage workers who worship their work, but what happens to them and millions of these daily wage workers after a natural catastrophe like pandemic hit us all. They walked, walked and walked to reach their homes, their land! These labours who built homes for everyone do they have their house? Did they reach their home? Or were they on the roads of endless journey?

The film has been receiving great response all over the world:

1) official Selection at Boden International Film Festival, Sweden

2) Official Selection at International World Film Awards

3) Official Selection at International Moving Film Festival, Iran

4) Winner at Calcutta International Cult Film Festival

5) Winner at Diamond Bell International Film Festival

6) Winner at Crown wood International Film Festival

7) Official Selection at Bettiah International film Festival

References
  1. "Alumni connect: Garware college opened a new world in front of me says, Dhanashree Hebilkar, stage actor". Hindustan Times. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  2. Nath, Dipanita (21 July 2019). "From Page to Stage". The Indian Express. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  3. Murthy, Neeraja. "Digitally launched street play 'Sheher-e-Naqab' brings awareness to Coronavirus". The Hindu. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  4. Unnithan, Vidya (23 December 2018). "Staging a dramatic shift". Pune Mirror. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  5. Mogali, Roshan Kumar (17 April 2008). "The ranking system". Indian Express. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  6. "Swatantra Theatre held Swatantra Rang Hindi Theater Festival". The Times of India. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  7. "Tila Kahi Sangaychay". Pune Mirror. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  8. Paul, Debjani (23 March 2013). "The Next Stage". Indian Express. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  9. "Mullah Nasruddin walks on a virtual stage: Swatantra Theatre's four-day online live children's theatre festival till January 10". The Hindu. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  10. Murthy, Neeraja (4 June 2020). "Here's how Swatantra Theatre's 'Rang-e-Dastaan Season 2', a virtual theatre festival unfolds from June 4". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  11. "Swatantra Theatre presents 'YOTA' (Yuwaraj of Theatre Award) to Pradeep Vaiddya". Mumbai Theatre Guide. 14 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  12. "Pune-based theatre group Swatantra Theatre's focus on mental health". The Hindu. 10 October 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  13. Unnithan, Vidya (24 October 2018). "Watch Court Martial, a play that highlighted social discrimination two decades ago". Pune Mirror. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  14. Priya, Shashi (18 September 2008). "A flood of emotions". The Indian Express. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  15. "Small talk". The Indian Express. 15 December 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  16. "Small Talk". Indian Express. 16 March 2009. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  17. "Nothing accidental about it". Pune Mirror. 16 May 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  18. "Dream Act". The Indian Express. 5 May 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  19. Mishra, Garima (3 June 2010). "Play-full". The Indian Express. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  20. Savanal, Sanat (13 December 2010). "Local theatre group Swatantra theatre, after a successful performance of the children's Hamlet in my School, is going to start working on a new production titled Ganesha". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  21. "Art on The Agenda". Indian Express. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  22. Savanal, Sanat (4 January 2011). "Local group Swatantra Theatre will be presenting a Hindi play titled Ji Jaisi Aapki Marzi". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  23. "All the Hoopla". The Indian Express. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  24. "Beyond shame". Mid-Day. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  25. Lawate, Kartiki Nitin (10 September 2014). "A tribute to Hindi". Mid-Day. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  26. "In the spotlight". Pune Mirror. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  27. Shinde, Alisha. "Certainly not a child's play". The Bridge Chronicle. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  28. "Jis Lahore Nahi Dekhiya, O Jamiyai Nai". Pune Mirror. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  29. Nath, Dipanita (21 July 2019). "From Page to Stage". The Indian Express. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  30. Unnithan, Vidya (22 November 2017). "CHEKHOV ON STAGE". Pune Mirror. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  31. "Amrita Pritam's Jhalkiyaan comes alive on stage". The Times of India. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  32. Nath, Dipanita (5 March 2021). "Pune, this week: Ride to pick strawberries, plays on occasion of Women's Day and more". The Indian Express. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  33. "JAAG UTHA HAI RAIGAD". 21brm.nsd.gov.in. 22 January 2020.
  34. "Swatantra Theatre held Swatantra Rang Hindi Theater Festival". The Times of India. 5 January 2021.
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