"Each child who is born in this city has a kite named after themselves. A kind of tradition that has been taking place generation upon generation.There is the person, and there is the kite. But, what if this tradition which gives a sense of completeness and awe doesn’t humble us?"
The project was to make an adaptation of the Attempts on her life, a play by Martin Crimp, in Ahmedabad. From the sets to the performance, elements of Ahmedabad were to be included without losing the essence of Martin Crimp's play.
Attempts on her life is a confusing, mind blogging play with one central character, a girl, named Anne (in some chapters Anushka, Anita, Ann etc.). The so-called narrators are never described in the play. The play starts with someone hearing voice mails from Anne's phones (presumably after Anne's death) and each the next chapters are stories (more like assumptions) of what possibly could have happened to Anne.
One of the chapters "Faith in Ourselves" tells about how Anne's family was destroyed during a devastation that happened in her village.
In 'Attempts of Her Life' (set in Ahmedabad), Anya, a girl living in a city where kite flying is the happiest festival (Uttrayan) of the year loses everything after the 2002 Gujarat riots. A place where cutting each other's kites is considered to be a joyful event turns into a place where brothers are cutting each other's throats.
Mood Boards:
Construction of the sets:
Teen Darwaza (three doors) and Patang Hotel were built in order to show Ahmedabad city. Two large screens were used to perform a silhouette act. Since the narrators are never described nor given much focus in the play, we decided to put them behind the screens in order to keep their identity hidden but at the same time give a feeling of their presence. The whole of the story they build up about Anya happened in front of the screens.
Teen Darwaza (three doors) and Patang Hotel were built in order to show Ahmedabad city. Two large screens were used to perform a silhouette act. Since the narrators are never described nor given much focus in the play, we decided to put them behind the screens in order to keep their identity hidden but at the same time give a feeling of their presence. The whole of the story they build up about Anya happened in front of the screens.
A gulmohar tree was re-created. This tree plays an important part in the play. It is this tree in which Anya's kite is stuck. Also the color red has been often used in the play.
The audience seating was limited behind this frame that gave them a view of an indoor window. The basic idea was to give the audience a frame to watch the play from and give a feeling as if the whole of the play was happening right outside their house and they were viewing it from their window.
The Teen Darwaza and the market in front of it on the left is a very important part of the old city of Ahmedabad. The Patang hotel on the right is a revolving hotel that gives a beautiful view of the river Sabarmati (centre) that flows through Ahmedabad.
Stills from the performance
Stills from 'The Riots' scene
Apart from the kite flying that happens during the 'Uttrayan' festival in Ahmedabad, thousands of lanterns are lit up in the night as a part of the tradition.
The play ends with performers coming up on the stage and lighting lanterns and letting them go up above in the skies as a restoration of faith in ourselves. A believe that despite of all this devastation and all this war, eventually everything will be fine.
"Because Anya's kite is our kite, Anya's city is our city... And it does, strangely restore our faith in ourselves."
