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RUMIYANA

This original performance brings Rumi’s mystic world to life through puppetry, dance, animation, music, and projections. A student’s knock opens the door to a series of transformative journeys — stories of beauty, love, dreams, and the caged bird discovering freedom. Created by the Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust, led by Padma Shri awardee Dadi D. Pudumjee, the show celebrates humanity’s diversity while exploring the deeper meaning of the soul and existence.

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Saturday, 11th January, 2025 | 7 PM

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120 minutes Language | English

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The Poona Club

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Details

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Event Information

This original and contemporary performance reimagines the works of the great Sufi poet and philosopher Mevlana Rumi for today’s audiences. Blending puppetry, dance, animations, music, and immersive projections, it creates a vibrant world where stories of wonder, humanity, and inner awakening unfold with striking visual poetry.

The journey begins with a simple knock from a student — a moment that opens into a cascade of life-changing adventures filled with beauty, love, peace, and discovery. At its heart lies the timeless fable of a caged bird who realises the true meaning of freedom, a metaphor for following one’s dreams and stepping into the boundless spirit within. The performance becomes a meditation on the soul, its purpose, and its connection to all existence, told in a way that is engaging, playful, and deeply human.

Created by the Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust — pioneers of innovative and award-winning puppetry in India and across the world — the production reflects the company’s long-standing commitment to both artistry and social engagement. Founded by Dadi D. Pudumjee, one of India’s most influential puppeteers and a recipient of the Padma Shri, Ishara has used puppetry to illuminate cultural stories, spark meaningful dialogue, and bring serious social issues to the forefront. Pudumjee’s leadership, including his tenure as President of UNIMA, has positioned Ishara as India’s leading platform for contemporary puppetry and cross-cultural performance.

This show stands as a celebration of diversity, imagination, and the enduring wisdom of Rumi — a one-of-a-kind experience where the mystical meets the modern.

Artists

The first performance of the evening is I SERVE THE MOON by Ashwin ‘Afraad’, And it is nice that we can see the moon above us

“I Serve the Moon” is a creative exploration of Jalaluddin Rumi’s timeless works and philosophy, celebrating universal themes such as love, unity, and transcendence. Presented by artist Ashwin Afraad, the show features 8-10 of Rumi’s ghazals, accompanied by Hindi-Urdu translations.

Ashwin’s work spans the intersecting realms of Performing Arts, History, Languages, Literature, and Philosophy. His journey in the performing arts began with his debut film Shwaas in 2004, which earned him the National Award for Best Child Artist.

For the past five years, Ashwin has been deeply engaged in studying Farsi language and literature, offering his interpretations of celebrated literary figures such as Rumi, Omar Khayyam, and Amir Khusrow.

And now to RUMIYANA.

Rumiyana was created two years ago,
RUMIYANA is the work of the Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust, and particularly its founder Dadi Pudumjee.
Dadi is one of India’s foremost and most innovative puppeteers, and has been bestowed with numerous accolades including the Sangeet Natak Academy Award, and the Padma Shri.

And What is Rumiyana?
RUMIYANA is a multimedia musical puppet theatre performance inspired by the works of the great mystic Sufi poet and philosopher Mevlana Rumi.
Owing to the universality of his thoughts, Rumi’s influence transcends nation borders and unites people across race, nationality, and gender.

RUMIYANA is enacted by two performers, the Master and the Student: along with dancers, puppeteers and visual theatre performed to specially composed music.

Credits

Director: Dadi D Pudumjee

Music: Sandeep Pillai

Script: Shaaz Ahmed

Choreography: Hrishikesh Pawar, Shamshul & Narayan Sharma

Animation Design: Shaaz Ahmed

Costumes: Gunjan Arora & Rahul Jain

Lighting: Pawan Waghmare

Puppeters: Vivek Kumar, Umang Gupta & Kumari Yadav

Actors: Mohit Mukharjee & T Joshua Chin.

Dancers: Shamshul & Narayan Sharma

Digital Production: Inderjit Singh, Prateek Kushwaha, Sreeram Jayram, Rishab Jain, Harshul Grover, Nanki Ghuman, Nandani Sharma, Amartya Chakraborty, Devan Das, Gagan Narhe & Aarti Uberoi

Puppets & Props: Made by the Ishara Team