’People need to know about her’

A play that's a part of the Habba brings back Aung San Suu Kyi's story with a narrative that will do her cause justice. Watch Rukmini Vijaykumar in her debut theatrical performance

For the last twenty years she has been locked away from the world and her own people. Her life has become a great tragedy and one not widely known. In the years since her confinement she has won the Nobel Prize for Peace and the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding, yet she remains imprisoned in her home, in solitary confinement, and almost forgotten by the world.

Director Prakash Belawadi hopes to change thatu00a0-- one performance at a timeu00a0-- with his production of the Richard Shannon play The Lady of Burma which looks at the tragic and troubled life of one of the most inspiring individuals of the 21st century.

In this one-person play starring the stunning Rukmini Vijaykumar as Suu Kyi, we witness a contemplative account of a woman that means so much for the cause of freedom but has yet to truly be free.u00a0

The play opens with Suu Kyi in the wake of the 2003 massacre at Depayin, following which she was confined to the hospital wing of the Insein Prison in Yangon. Trapped and alone, Rukmini presents a woman that is forced to think about her lifeu00a0-- where it has brought her and how much she has had to sacrifice for her cause.

This being Rukmini's first stage role, the dancer and film actress steps up to the challenge of paying tribute to an icon. A performance that is alone except for the audience that watches her, she describes Suu Kyi through the spoken word and expressive movements that she has learnt through dance.

She believes her performance is not a portrayal. Suu Kyi is still living and the actress has never met her. Instead Rukmini hopes to provide a strong interpretation of Suu Kyi. One that depicts how she must feel and think in a life filled with struggle and pain, of immense courage and bitter sadness. While the play may seem very political in nature, Prakash Belawadi describes it as a deeply personal piece.

He considers Suu Kyi's story an extremely interesting one. In the world of fast news it is easy for the big story to dominate and the shocking and inspiring ones to be forgotten. He thinks that it is important that the spirit of Aung San Suu Kyi and the oppressed people of Burma remain free and should not be forgottenu00a0-- especially in the 20th year of her first confinement.u00a0

The Habba rides this spirit of freedom in Bangalore with free entry for this performance. Passes are however a must, so get there early to pick up yours.

At: Ranga Shankara, J P Nagar
When: 7 pm

Quick 5 with Rukmini Vijaykumar

1) What brought you to the role?
Prakash and me were talking and were thinking about a story that connects to today's times. We read a newspaper article about her and then we found the play by Richard Shannon. We just had to do it.

2) Does the role make you nervous?
Yes. Very nervous. It's really demanding when you know you have just one performance to get it right. You just have to get rid of all those fears and give it your best.

3) What do you hope for the audience to take away from the performance?
That a person can make a differenceu00a0-- Suu Kyi's story is very interesting, and emotionally moving.

4) Was it difficult to depict an iconic woman who is still alive?
Yes in a way.u00a0 But I would not say 'depicting' as she is still alive. I can't depict her. I've never met her or seen her in person. This is my interpretation of how she must fee and think.

5) What scene did you find difficult to do?
When Suu Kyi speaks about her children and family. What she is sacrificing. She chooses to fight for a bigger cause. It was hard.

Quick 3 with Prakash Belawadi

1) What should the audience expect to see in the Lady of Burma?
It covers intense themes in the span of its 90 minutes. It's a political play, but it has strong personal elements to keep the audience engaged. It is a solo performance piece. Using the voice alone and a little movement with some stylization through sound-scaping.

2) What are you hoping for audiences to take away from the play?
It's a political tragedy of the people. I hope it will make the audience more sensitive to how people suffer. There is a tendency for the big story to dominate. Not this. It's incredible that she has been put in that situation and forgotten by the world for 20 years.

It's not too political however. It is also a very contemplative piece. Fulfilling what the story asks.

3) Why the Habba? What makes it ideal for the festival?
It is free. People who don't normally go to the theatre have the opportunity to go, and from which we can reach a wider audience with this piece.