Lucknow: The ‘sweet’ girls who dare to say, “I’ve grown up, I have choices” are often slapped with labels like ‘buri ladkiyan’, ‘besharam’, ‘belihaaz’, and ‘behaya’. But they’re fighting back – through art.Award-winning playwright, theatre director and screenwriter Purva Naresh’s powerful play ‘Bawli Betiyaan’ shared the untold stories of young women who’ve found their voice, embracing their autonomy and defying societal expectations. No more being ‘good girls’; these women are taking centerstage, unapologetically themselves. The play featured young women reclaiming their narratives and defying societal labels like ‘besharam’ and ‘belihaaz’. Through testimonials and music, ‘Bawli Betiyaan and Songs of The Wicked Women’ explored the complex notion of ‘sharam’ and the quiet rebellions it sparks. On its second day, Mahindra Sanatkada Lucknow Festival at Raja Ram Pal Singh Park premiered ‘Bawli Betiyaan’ to audiences, showcasing women embracing their choices and asserting their boundaries. By shedding the weight of societal expectations, these ‘wicked women’ are rewriting the script. The 90-minute play weaved together stories of two eras – pre and post-Partition. The play began with women kicking off the journey, sharing tales of rebellions and coping with societal backlash – by embracing their inner ‘besharam’. As they step aboard the Freedom Express, their stories unfold, and the ride gets interesting. Pre-Partition women shared their fight for freedom, like Gauhar Jaan, who defiantly stood up to the British, refusing to let them diminish India’s dignity. Then there is a character inspired by Kanpur’s Azizan Bai, who sacrificed herself to save revolutionaries like Nana Sahib and Tatya Tope, becoming a symbol of courage and patriotism. There’s also a story of Iqbal Bano who donned a black sari and sang Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s banned poem ‘Hum Dekhenge’ despite General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq order. The play also featured Shimli Basu, who opened up about owning her body and life as an adult, and Charvi Ojha, who recounted a bold move at a house party, asserting her adulthood and defying societal labels. Both Shimli and Charvi recounted the labels thrown their way after their bold moves – ‘besharam’, ‘rebel’, ‘unladylike’ – you name it. But they reclaimed their narratives, owning those ‘tags’ with pride. Other artists included Srijonee Bhattacharjee, Anamika, Dilip Panday, Shubham Tiwari, Akhilesh and Gunjan Jain. “Bawli Betiyaan is a bold theatrical ride exploring the complex concept of ‘sharam’ and the quiet rebellions it sparks. Interestingly, each time the script changes as per the artists. But, the texture remains truth. This contemporary production weaves together tales of defiance, desire and resistance, set to music and movement on the metaphorical Besharam Express. On stage are young women questioning limits, asserting freedom, and reclaiming the word Bawli on their own terms,” says Purva.
