Rebel Ranis, a multi-disciplinary production exploring womanhood and rebellion is on a four-city tour across India

Kaikeyi, Sita, Draupadi and Karaikal Ammaiyar share the spotlight on stage in a dance-theatre production Rebel Ranis. Conceptualised and directed by Aneesha Grover, these women protagonists from the epics share their stories from their perspective. Rebel Ranis is set for its first four-city tour across India beginning with Bengaluru on September 23 followed by Hyderabad on September 24 and Pune and Mumbai on September 26 and 27.

From their perspective

Aneesha, also the co-founder of Keelaka Dance Company, was intrigued by the way women told their stories in Eve Enzler’s Vagina Monologues while studying in Lady Shreeram College in Delhi. “I thought how interesting it would be to take four key female characters and allow them to tell their story, through their eyes and through dialogue and dance,” she says on the phone from Delhi.

The show features eclectic music
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Produced by MadStar Base, the 75-minute theatre and dance performance with English dialogues has a team of nine dancers. One also gets to witness a melange of different artforms such as Bharatnatyam, Chau, Kathak and contemporary dance. The production staged in Delhi earlier this year has eclectic music ranging from Tamil jazz, and Carnatic music, fused with hip hop and R&B .

On her own terms

While the three characters – Kaikeyi, Sita and Draupadi are well-known, the fourth character Karaikal Ammaiyar is a sixth century poet-saint from Tamil Nadu who renounced physical beauty and chose to dwell in the cremation ground.

The narrative draws from historical characters
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

“She was often dismissed as mad, but when you read and understand her poetry, you realise she was perhaps an early feminist.” Married to a wealthy merchant, Karaikal Ammaiyar had divine powers and lived a devoted life. When her husband moved to a neighbouring town to live with another woman, she was believed to have lost her mind and rejected society.

When Aneesha read her work, she felt maybe Karaikal had not gone mad but rather broke free from the rigid norms of society. “She was a rebellious person who wanted to live life on her own terms. When you find somebody who does not fit your idea of what is normal, you tend to call them mad.”

The narrative draws from historical characters but its final scenes where the four women cite present-day statistics highlight why they are relevant in today’s social and cultural context. If Kaikai’s talks about statistics of postpartum depression and how few women are actually able to seek help during that time, Draupati highlights the prevalence of sexual violence and assaults today.

Crafting emotionally resonant scenes
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

“Karaikal Ammaiyar talks about beauty standards that women continue to grapple with even today. Yugs have come and gone, but the notion of an ideal woman has not changed. They define what womanhood is supposed to be and this production seeks to crack that idea a little bit.”

The show is in collaboration with AKS Foundation and the proceeds go to support survivors of gender-based violence. “All age groups have related to this piece. Whether or not they know the stories, they will still learn something new.”

Rebel Ranis to be staged at Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Mumbai on September 23, 24, 26 and 27; Tickets: Bookmyshow