Our world continues to struggle with sexism and male chauvinism, but we often tend to ignore these symptoms and issues if they do not impact us directly. A big portion of the world’s population lives in the underprivileged parts, and women exploitation, human trafficking, sex slavery and male dominance is very high there. SETU – Stage Ensemble Theater Unit is tackling this delicate subject as we present the dramatization of a classic and bold play “Kamala” in English.

Vijay Tendulkar wrote “Kamala” based on real-life events that happened in the late 1970s in a remote part of India. The play has been performed all over the world in various languages. The story revolves around the investigation of the practice of sex slavery by a reporter who himself shows male chauvinism and sexism towards his wife, Sarita. This is a story about a tribal woman named Kamala who has no say about her own life, who gets sold for a negligible sum; it is also a story about an affluent woman named Sarita, who from the outside seems to be leading a fulfilled life but suffers the same in a different way.

As Sarita watches her husband practice yellow journalism, she questions her own identity in the patriarchal hegemony.  You may not know many Kamalas but you may know a lot of Saritas in your world. Come see how they both react and respond to the injustice being done to them. The immersive experience will bring you right inside Sarita’s living room and at times transport you to the slave market where Kamala is sold. In the end, Kamala is a subtle story of women-empowering. 

To balance out this serious and troubling subject, we are also presenting a light- hearted skit OUTNOB (Once Upon a Time NOT in Bollywood) and some colorful and fun Bollywood dance sequences – representing the very core of Indian weddings. Come watch the perspectives of different classes of people, and enjoy some live gossiping along the way! Come be part of an Indian wedding. The event also features folks and tribal dances. 

SETU has partnered with IAGB for this fundraiser for Ekal Vidyala Foundation, a non-profit organization involved in education and village development in rural areas and tribal villages of India. All the proceeds of this event will go towards Ekal Vidyalaya to enable them educate more kids in these underprivileged parts of India. There are two shows spread over the weekend, so come on the day that fits your schedule - September 16th at 6:00 pm and September 17th at 2:00 pm at the Belmont Town Hall Theater. 

We are very fortunate that State Senators William N. Brownsberger and James B. Eldridge will be attending this fundraiser to encourage this noble effort by SETU, a local non-profit organization that has staged several successful productions in the past, some being “Rape, Regret and Retribution”, “Hayavadana”, “Shah Jahan”, “Mahabharata”, “Once Upon a Time NOT in Bollywood” and “Ramayana. Visit www.setu.us to learn more the show and SETU’s other productions. You can purchase your ticket at http://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/cal.php?stage=1&event_id=13402.

Come support SETU’s fundraiser in an effort to stop more Kamalas from happening.

"SETU is a 501(c)(3) non-profit theater group in the Boston area founded in 2003. SETU means “bridge” in several Indian languages and our mission is to build bridges between Indian and Western cultures through the medium of theater. Want to join SETU? contact@setu.us."

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