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Ji, Jaisi Aapki Marzi…

'Resemblance to any person living or dead is definitely intentional'
Written and Directed by: Smt. Nadira Zaheer Babbar

From the earliest of times of our mythologies, women have been trampled, their conduct questioned, judged and reprimanded. Reaching the modern times, the liberation of woman is still ambiguous; the denial to her education, financial independence and her progress is yet far-sighted in our country. Its time that these mute and muffled voices should be allowed to be heard.

I would like the society to see the scars, the soul of the woman carries, disrobing her naked and presenting her as what we actually value her as. Both men and women have their roles in running their world and somewhere, hold advantages over the other. Yet gender discrimination against women is very rampant in our society and stares right into our faces, but we choose to ignore it or more appropriately said, we accept it!

However, this play is much more than a feminist movement... Not that we are against the same, but we believe that there are various fundamental problems that a woman faces in our country which need to be addressed! We are not staging this play for the sake of creating a sensation. Many social and political conditions are attached to these basic problems.

I once again hope that my characters reach out to every soul in the audience, men and women, because I believe that this play is a reflection of the psyche of our society, be it the traditions that stifle us or the religious bindings. There is no offence meant to anyone what-so-ever.

We offer this production with utmost humbleness, hoping that you will understand and appreciate our efforts - Ekjute would have never survived without your support.

The very name of our new production, “ Ji, Jaisi Aapki Marzi…”, raises a curiosity as to its origin and concept, but more importantly, conveys the bias we very comfortably conform to in our society, which forms the basis of our play.

Gender discrimination against women is very rampant in India and stares right into our faces but we choose to ignore it or more appropriately said, we accept it without realizing that it tramples upon the very existential rights of every woman in the society. A woman does not even have a name for herself; she is either known as a father’s daughter, a husband’s wife or a son’ mother. (She is made to realize this even while filling a simple admission or bank form.)

Concept:

This powerful script consists of four women characters, who trace the journey of a woman right from childhood to old age; thus representing different age groups, different cultures and even different economical statuses. Also, the four embody the different relationships that a woman handles in her life, that of a daughter, sister, wife and a mother.

However, this play is much more than just a feminist movement…not that we are against the same, but we believe that there are various fundamental problems that a woman faces in our country which need to be addressed soon. One would be surprised as to how many we turn a blind eye to and don’t even consider unjust, even in today’s so-called-modern society. Yet, we are not staging this play for the sake of creating a sensation. Many social and political conditions are attached to these basic problems, be it the deep-seated problem in the thinking pattern of our society, its attitude towards women or denial of education and financial independence to them, which keeps the progress of any country, however developed, hollow.

Like our Director once said, just like it is an accepted norm that a woman is the caretaker of the house who would set dinner for the family, simultaneously, it is indeed the man who is expected to get out of the car to change punctured tires! Each have their roles in running their world and hold advantages over the other. This kind of thought which detaches us from the feminist league, makes us realize that there are many other stifled voices that we need to hear, telling us more serious stories other than their disturbing vaginal tales.

Note from the Director:

From the earliest of times of our mythologies, women have been trampled, there conduct questioned and judged and reprimanded. Reaching the modern times, the liberation of woman is still ambiguous in our country, its time that these mute and muffled voices should be allowed to be heard.

I would like the society to see the scars, the soul of a woman carries, disrobing her naked and showing what we actually value her as.

Cast :
Deepa : Kajri Babbar / Natasha Sahgal
Varsha : Rashmi Pote / Shivani Tanksale / Shruti Vyas
Sultana : Divya Sharda / Preeti Birlanair / Manita Malik
Bablee : Juhi Babbar

Backstage Team:
Stage Manager : Sumeet Vyas, Bharat Jha
Set Design : Chhel-Paresh
Set Execution : Pravin Bansode - Stage Vision
Set Incharge : Imran Rasheed, Virendra, Raj
Music Design : Angshuman Dewan
Music Operation : Aalekh Dahiya
Light Design : Ravi Mishra
Costume Design : Juhi Babbar
Costume Incharge : Divya Sharda & Natasha
Properties : Jennifer & Shruti
Art work Nikki Dave
(Poster, Brochure Priya Gosavi
& Ads) : Shazzad Khan
Photography : R. Unnikrishnan -
Brochure Layout : Divya Sharda, Romeo, Gurpreet
Promotion & PR : Hanif Patni, Juhi Babbar, Seema
Publicity : Dipak Somaiya – Theatrix Advertising
Printer : Prafull Sharma & Umesh Soni Scanna Graphics
Production Mgmt. : Darpan Mishra & Hanif Patni

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