Karnad's Tipu, more than just a warrior

Was Tipu Sultan just a selfish monarch or was he a patriot? Undoubtedly Tipu Sultan is one of the most controversial figures in Indian history. The tales of his battles are legendary but was he more than just a warrior? The play Tipu Sultan Ke Khwaab believes so.  Written by the masterly author, playwright and actor Girish Karnad and directed by Zafer Mohiuddin, the story shows Tipu’s lesser known softer side…about his unparalleled love for horseback riding, his fascination with his dreams and the inner life of this much-maligned visionary.

   “Tipu’s life has been a magnet of controversies lately for political benefit. He’s always been more than a Muslim, more than a warrior and strangely, his humane side isn’t spoken about as much,” remarks the director, “The story tells tales of him sending his own children as hostages for the sake of his land and points out changes in his whole persona as he sheds his armour.”

  After reading the original script, written in Kannada, Mohiuddin was overcome by the urge to make it his own, says the director. “When I read Karnad’s book, I knew I had to translate it,” he recalls,” so I did and I wanted my vision to translate just the same, so I directed it,  so that the newer generations can see him for a man who has achieved so much and not just as another controversy. It is an exciting story and it was challenging to work on as a director,” he says. Mohiuddin’s most prominent works include scripts for R.K Narayan’s Malgudi Days, the television series that take so many aficianados down nostalgia lane.

  This version of the play is a potpourri of many different accents, says Mr. Mohiuddin, who is also doing the voice over for the character of Tipu's father, Hyder Ali in the play. “I’ve used a Dakhini Urdu accent, specifically the one spoken in the Devanahalli region, because Tipu was born there. There are scenes where Tipu interacts with subjects in Hindi and Urdu, the usual accent you see in Bollywood films. I’ve used Persian touches in the dialogues,” he says.

  The play took six months of repeated rehearsals and 65 auditions to completely take shape and the audience will definitely see the hard work and sweat behind the production, says Mohiuddin. Come in for the colourful and elaborate costumes and a peek into the royal life, he adds. “There’s a lot to take away. The era itself is fascinating. The set and the costumes are all intricately designed. But the best bits that I’m sure the audience would enjoy are the dream sequences,” he reveals. But don’t get too carried away, he warns. “They must be attentive or they will miss the nuances.”

 The passes are free and will be given out an hour before the show. It will be staged next in Delhi, Hyderabad, Dubai and London.

What: Tipu Sultan Ke Khwaab, a play by Kathputliyan Theatre group
When: Friday 14 July 7pm
Where: Chowdiah Memorial Hall