Lillete Dubey's 'Autobiography' Opens WOPA Winter Festival with Deep Reflection
The World of Performing Arts Winter Festival in Pune began on a thoughtful note. Lillete Dubey directed the opening performance titled Autobiography. This play set a quiet and introspective tone for the festival's start.
A Night Under the Open Sky
On January 11, the Creativity Amphitheatre in Yerawada hosted the event. Under the open January sky, audiences gathered for this special opening night. The play did not rely on dramatic spectacle. Instead, it offered a slow and unsettling examination of memory and truth.
Autobiography is an English adaptation of Mahesh Elkunchwar's Marathi play Atmakatha. The story follows Anantrao Rajadhyaksha, a celebrated writer and Padma Bhushan awardee. Denzil Smith portrayed this central character with nuance.
Challenging Narratives and Unsettling Truths
Anantrao begins dictating his life story to Pradnya, a young PhD student played by Sarah Hashmi. As the dictation progresses, the authority of his voice faces steady challenges. What starts as a straightforward autobiography quickly becomes a contested space.
The past refuses to stay neatly written. Figures from Anantrao's life step into the narrative one by one. His former wife Uttara, portrayed by Lillete Dubey herself, enters the scene. Her sister Vasanti, played by Suchitra Pillai, joins her. These characters bring memories that clash directly with Anantrao's version of events.
Through these interruptions, the play makes a powerful suggestion. Personal histories are rarely owned by one person alone. Silence can prove as damaging as outright lies. The narrative explores how people reshape their pasts to suit present needs.
Minimalist Direction and Cultural Resonance
Lillete Dubey's direction kept the stage beautifully uncluttered. She used light and pauses rather than elaborate sets to move between timelines. This minimalist approach focused attention on the actors and their dialogues.
The English dialogue carried a faint Marathi rhythm. This deliberate choice seemed to sit comfortably with Pune audiences. Many attendees were familiar with Elkunchwar's original writing. The cultural resonance added depth to the viewing experience.
Speaking about the play, Dubey reflected on its enduring relevance. She pointed to family tensions and unequal relationships as central themes. These issues remain recognizable decades after the play was first written. The concerns feel close to everyday life even today.
Festival Context and Audience Response
The opening night drew a full audience at the Creativity Amphitheatre. This strong turnout suggests continued interest in theatre that asks difficult questions. Audiences appreciate performances that do not offer easy answers.
As the first production of this year's WOPA Winter Festival, Autobiography set a thoughtful tone. It established an atmosphere of reflection for the performances that will follow. Details about this year's subsequent performances are yet to be released by the organizers.
The previous edition of the WOPA Winter Festival unfolded as a multi-month theatre season. From December through March last year, one major production staged each month. Highlights included several notable performances:
- Danish Husain's Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shayar Hun
- Girish Karnad's Hayavadana
- The Hindi-Punjabi comedy Baaghi Albele
- The musical satire The Greatest Show on Earth
All these productions were presented at the same Creaticity Amphitheatre. The venue has become a significant space for performing arts in Pune. The festival continues to showcase diverse theatrical works that engage and challenge audiences.
