Play Details
Context
Artistic Director
Dominic Cooke
Part of
New Plays From India
Dates Performed
Tuesday 13th November 2012
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs
Form
Play Details
Synopsis
Srinagar, Kashmir. A city torn between beauty and bloodshed, where ancient myths collide with modern conflict.
In the heart of war-torn Kashmir, two siblings navigate a world where reality and fantasy blur. Ashrafi, a 14-year-old girl haunted by her father’s death, retreats into a realm of djinns and fairytales. Her brother Bilal, a talented footballer, dreams of escape through sport. As Bilal pursues a life-changing trial, Ashrafi’s grip on reality loosens, pulling her towards a dangerous act of defiance against the occupying forces.
Majumdar masterfully weaves intertwining narratives, blending Kashmiri folklore with the harsh realities of military occupation. The play shifts between Ashrafi’s vivid imaginary world and the grim streets of Srinagar, where children throw stones at soldiers and trauma lurks around every corner. Through the eyes of Dr. Baig, a psychiatrist grappling with his own loss, we see the psychological toll of endless conflict. As tensions escalate and Bilal’s future hangs in the balance, the lines between myth and reality, resistance and madness, become dangerously blurred.