Kumbakarna and Lakshmana, brothers to the two protagonists of the Ramayana, are connected by boons that dramatically alter their cycles of sleep and wakefulness.

Kumbakarna along with his brothers, Ravana and Vibhishana performed a major yajna and penance for Lord Brahma. When the time came for asking a boon from Brahma, his tongue was tied by Goddess Saraswati (acting on Indra’s request). So instead of asking Nidravathwam (annihilation of the Devas) he asked for Nidravathvam (sleep) and his request was granted.

Laxmana on the other hand was allowed to give up his sleep completely and bequeath it to his wife, Urmila, for the fourteen years of his exile.

In the course of time both boons seem to acquire the dimensions of a curse, as they each have an uncomfortable outcome.

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THE CREW -

🎬Playwright & Director: Nimmy Raphel

📝Creative Guidance: Veenapani Chawla

🎭Performer: Nimmy Raphel

🎶Musician & Text Support: Arwind Rane

🎵Music Operator: Apoorva Arthur

💡Light Design: Vinay Kumar KJ

✨Light Operation: Anoop Davis

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ABOUT THE ARTIST -

About Adishakti Theatre

Adishakti Laboratory for Theatre Arts & Research is a performance company based out of Pondicherry, India, engaged in the research and reanimation of traditional and folk knowledge in theatre, dance, music, movement, and craft forms. Started in 1981 by late theatre director Veenapani Chawla, Adishakti has aimed at re-establishing the validity of theatre around the notion of the live presence of the performer and worked towards widening the scope of theatre. The aim is to equip the performer with tools whereby she can impact her audience through an enhanced and vibrating energy both physically and psychologically. Adishakti Theatre has been disseminating this alternative performance language through its Source of Performance Energy (SOPE) workshops, and performances based on Indian epics in India and abroad.