25 September,2010 06:40 AM IST | | Aditi Sharma
Rukmini Vijayakumar plays legendary Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi imprisoned in the hospital wing of Insein, Rangoon's largest prison, tonight at NCPA
"You could have flown away / A singing bird in an open cage / Who will only fly, only fly for freedom ufffd" If you were caught singing or even humming these lyrics from iconic music band U2's song, Walk On, in Burma, you could face prison sentence for up to 20 years. Those words, dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi, aptly define her situation over the last two decades. The Nobel Peace Prize winner has been kept in police custody for the last 14 years since 1989. Her story is one of grit, determination, sacrifice and above all, of the human spirit in the quest for freedom.
A still from The Lady of Burma
Richard Shannon's play, The Lady of Burma, delves into Suu Kyi's memories to give audiences a glimpse into the personal history of the pro-democracy leader. This weekend, for the first time, Mumbai gets to see the Nobel Laureate's life story unfold on stage.
Bangalore-based actor-director duo Rukmini Vijayakumar and Prakash Belawadi accidentally came across Shannon's The Lady of Burma while Googling about Suu Kyi. The two were looking for a strong woman-oriented subject that was closer home, unlike Evita. Discussions eventually led towards the Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Shannon's script was discovered. The play premiered last year in Bangalore, and also staged at Ninasam in Heggodu, Karnataka.u00a0
The play shows Suu Kyi reminiscing her life during an imprisonment in the hospital wing of Insein, Rangoon's largest prison. Actress Rukmini is aware that she does not resemble Suu Kyi, but she explains that the core idea is to reflect her ideology. "We see the major incidents that shaped her political careeru00a0-- life after her father's assassination, the death of her favourite brother, being unable to be there for her husband as he suffered and eventually succumbed to cancer, and distanced from her children," says Rukmini.
It's a tough task to bring the gripping subject to life on stage, especially since it's a one-woman show. But Rukmini accepts it as a challenge whenever she goes out to perform. "Each time I enact Suu Kyi's story, I literally feel drained. But it's also a cathartic process and after each performance, I discover a new nuance to her personality, and in the process get to know her better," she concludes.
On: Today at 7 pm and tomorrow at 6.30 pm at Experimental Theatre, NCPA Marg, Nariman Point. Call: 22824567/ 66548135 / 66223724 Tickets: Rs 250
