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Bhagwan gave me this life

Bhagwan gave me this life

Date: 2014-01-31
Bhagwan gave me this Life (God gave me this life) is a play in Hindi written and directed by Vivian Moodley and performed by Pranesh Maharaj which comes to the Catalina Theatre on Durban's Wilson's Wharf for a short five performance season from Friday 31 January until Sunday 2 February.

The play is mainly in Hindi and was written and directed by Vivian Moodley who has an illustrious resume in the performing arts on every known medium. "This is probably SA's first Hindi cultural production. Yet it is designed to be accessible to all. The story is specific to the time and area; and if you are from that generation then it will bring back memories, make you laugh and shed a tear. If not, then it will give you a sense of history and cultural heritage," says Moodley.

Set in 1981 in Inanda, the story is about a widower (Balram - played by Pranesh Maharaj) who we meet at a major turning point in his existence as he looks back on his life with its high and low points.

Balram's wife Lalita was introduced to him via a family arrangement by two eccentric aunties from Ottawa and Inanda. The proudest of his family was his brother, Sukhram, who involved himself in the wedding. The brothers shared a very tight enduring bond. The plot of the play centres on the couples inability to have a child at first. Balram's parents longed for a grandchild until years later a son is born. The traditional values of an old community, the wood-and-iron house, the nostalgia of the music we listened to and spiritual guidance instilled in us over the years come to the fore in this dramatization of our inner wars.

The human condition can be described as the unalterable part of humanity that is inherent and innate to human beings and not dependent on factors such as gender, race or class. It includes concerns such as the meaning of life, the search for gratification, the sense of curiosity, the inevitability of isolation, or awareness regarding the inescapability of death.

Bhagwan gave me this Life is produced by Polart Productions in conjuncton with Hindvani. It is at the Catalina Theatre with five shows during one weekend. Tickets are available at Computicket for Friday 31 January 2014 at 7pm, Saturday 01 February 2014 at 2pm and 7pm AND Sunday 02 February 2014 at 2pm and 7pm. It is a family-friendly production, suitable for all ages.