Report - Storytellers: a Puppet Show

Date: 10 September 2016    Time: 12:30 p.m.    Venue: Room 911, Central Block

Event: Puppet Show, CIA III (Additional English/AEN 121)
Faculty In-charge: Mr. Kevin Fernandes

The first show hosted by 1BBA F&A – A started with an introductory speech by the Class representative. The guests for the show included Ms. Rashmi, Ms. Indu, Ms. Sameena and Mr. Vishal, from the Department of Professional Studies. The frame looked magnificent with bold colours and lights.

The core committee consisted of seven dedicated students who were responsible for publicity, stage management, group management, props and lights. The entire class was divided into seven teams each giving a new meaning to the Great Indian Epics.

    Team 1 narrated the tale of Bali and Sugrivavery innovatively using coke tins and recyclable materials. The background music and dialogues added to the attraction. Team 2 choose to attract the audience by acting like puppets themselves. This performance gave life to the event. This team of seven people were successful in delivering their perspective of Shurpanaka from Ramayana. Team 3 introduced sock puppetry to the audience. They gave a modern justification to Ramayana. Their story was unique and was never heard before. Team 4 narrated their story through stick puppets. They spoke high about the story of Belarsen. Similarly Team 5 spoke about the same epic Mahabharata. They gave a mesmerizing performance about Draupadi. Their puppets were a visual treat. This team had the chance to showcase their talent before father Varghese, whose presence motivated the students. The last but one team enacted an imaginary situation of characters from both the epics meeting each other. Team 7, the showstoppers for the day choose shadow puppetry. They were arranged with a huge frame and light. They gave an entirely new meaning to story of the devil king, Ravana.

Fr Vice-Chancellor, together with University guests, briefly attended the event and appreciated the initiative and students’ performances.

    All the performances ended at around 2pm. Ms. Rashmi and Ms. Indu gave their valuable feedback about the performances and said they were thoroughly impressed with the class. This was followed by individual group feedback from Mr. Kevin Fernandes. He was happy to see the students putting in lot of efforts and hard work and attempting new, creative means of academic engagement. The show ended with a photography session and a lot of good cheer.