ALCHEMY, the Southbank Centre’s showcase of the
cultural connections between the UK and South Asia, has returned for
a sixth year.
Between now and May 25 the festival presents an
array of exciting collaborations and new work from a variety of
artists from both continents, across dance, fashion, music, theatre,
design, comedy and literature.
Throughout the 11-day festival there will also be
a wide ranging programme of free workshops, exhibitions, talks and
debates for all the family as well as an Eastern inspired food
market.
Among this year’s highlights will be the
workshopping and performance of the first ever Urdu oratorio.
Taking place on Monday, May 18, The Tragic Love of
Sohini And Mahival has been written and composed by London-based
blind musician and instrumentalist Baluji Shrivastav.
To create it and tell the story, Baluji has
collaborated with Italian Oscar-winning composer Dario Marianelli who
has composed the music.
It will be
a sung story in Urdu, which is one of the most widely spoken
languages in the world. Nonetheless, some of the singers Baluji has
recruited for the performance have had to learn to sing in Urdu for
the first time.
As well as the music and song, dancing by Gauri
Sharma Tripathi, puppetry by Jonny Dixon, and a company of
accomplished musicians from different traditions, will help bring the
story to life, especially to non-Urdu speakers.
Baluji describes the show as more like an open
rehearsal and development session, giving the audience an insight
into the creative process of making such a piece.
Their feedback will be part of the on going
process to create the final version, which, in its full glory, will
hopefully go on tour next year.
“I’ve never done anything like this before but
I’m thrilled about it,” he tells me.
“It’s something that I’ve been researching
and developing for a while now and to create the first Urdu oratorio
and bring it to Alchemy is very exciting.
“A lot of participation is required too – it’s
an immersive piece and I hope people will want to be involved and
give their feedback on what we have done with the piece so far.
“It’s a new experience for me so I don’t
know how it will go – but that makes it exciting.”
The story is inspired by a popular folktale from
Sindh, Punjab, Pakistan and India, Sohini And Mahival.
Like Romeo and Juliet, it is a story of forced
marriage, honour killings, forbidden love and passion.
In the tale, Sohini, a married Hindu girl, and
Mahival, a Muslim boy, fall deeply in love, defying convention, and
paying the ultimate price.
“It’s a fascinating story and comes from the
17th century but is as relevant now as it was then,” says Baluji.
“It’s got elements and themes comparable with
what is happening in Asian communities now with female oppression,
honour killings and forced marriage.
“In the story Sohini was married off before her
birth. So before her parents knew there was a daughter on the way,
they promised her to someone and she got married regardless of what
she thought about it.
“These things are still going on so awareness of
the issues is important.
“The younger generation is quite willing to
change and change is happening – but the older generations keep
imposing themselves and the younger generations fight against it.”
Although it will be sung in Urdu, Baluji says
people will be able to follow the story with the images and puppetry
even if they don’t understand the language.
“Urdu is one of the most widely spoken languages
in the world so why shouldn’t we have an opera sung in that
language?” he says.
“We have operas in many other languages and
people don’t question it. Even so we have to make it obvious what
it’s about.
“Historically Urdu is a mix of languages and has
some English words. We wanted to add the visual aspects so people can
understand - there will be no need for subtitles!
“I am visually impaired and I can feel music and
feel the story and I think emotionally the audience will understand
what’s going on.”
The music will be a mix of styles, something
Baluji says was also a new experience, and features a variety of
Indian and Western instruments including sitar and piano.
“I was looking for a composer who could
collaborate with me and am so pleased that I was able to meet Dario
as working with him has been wonderful and a new inspiration for me,”
he says.
“It was lovely working with a new form of music
because I normally only play Indian style music.
“Indian music is originally rich in melody and
western music in harmony and the mix is fantastic. I want the
audience to understand that music is music whether it’s Indian or
Western or something else.”
It’s not the first time Baluji has performed at
the Alchemy festival but he admits it’s very different from his
previous shows.
“It’s been an incredibly interesting project
and I hope people will come along, see what it’s all about and get
involved.
“If it works then we would like to take it on
tour. Let’s hope internationally!
“This is a wonderful project and what could be
the nicest place to bring it to than the Southbank Centre, a place
where people come from all over the world?
“Alchemy is an exciting festival and that’s
why we want to perform here and luckily we have got a chance to do so
– it’s very exciting.”
The Tragic Love of Sohini And Mahival takes place
on Monday May 18 in the Blue Room, Spirit Level at Southbank Centre’s
Royal Festival Hall.
Tickets cost £5. Visit www.southbankcentre.co.uk
or call the box office on 020 7960 4200.
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