Badungduppa

Badungduppa

Badungduppa was established in 1998 at Goalpara District of Assam with the initiative of theatre lovers of Rabha Community. It is the only Rabha Tribal theatre group activity engaged in making theatre of contemporary meaning using the tribalism as spring board. Under the artistic leadership of Sukrachajya Rabha the the group has so far produced twelve plays in the last ten years. Tikhar, Changkoy, Rupalism, Maider aru Fandi, Lovita, Madaiah muchi and To’paidom are the best known production. The group has toured and performed their plays at various districts and cites like Dudhnoi, Barpeta, Sibsagar, Guwahati, Manipur, New Delhi etc. under the scheme of young Directors’ festival of Central Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, the group performed “Rupalism” of Jyoti Prasad Agarwal directed by Sukrachajya Rabha on 7th Jan, 2004.

About the Director :

Sukrachajya Rabha is one of the most active theatre worker of Assam. He is the founder director of Badungduppa, a tribal theatre group of Assam. His most remarkable plays are Rupalism (In Rabha Language, Writer Jyotiprasad Agarwala), Madaiah the cobbler (In Rabha language, writer H.S. Shiva Prakash), Hati aru Fandi(In Bodo Language writer Munin Bhuyan), Lavita (In Nepali language, writer Jyotiprasad Agarwala & To’paidom (Script Sukrachajya Rabha) he performed “Rupalism of Jyotiprasad Agarwala under the scheme of young directors’ festival of Sangeet Natak Akademi in 17th Jan. 2004.

In 2003 Sukrachajya Rabha met H. Kanhailal and influced by Kanhailal’s theatre. Their relationship gradually deloped into a Guru-Shishya relation. For two years he was an apprentice under Guru Kanhailal at Manipur Kalakhetra, Imphal. Now he is independently working as director and trying to promote cultural heritage of Rabha community as well Community through theatre art.

Synopsis of the Play : -

To Paidom is based on a Rabha Folk-tale. The word “To” means bird and “To’paidom” literary means “the bird named paidom”. It is used as a symbol of evil spirits. In the story a Mother lived with her five sons. One day the mother was collecting vegetables from their kitchen garden and saw dropping of a strange unknown bird all over the vegetables. The mother cleaned the vegetable properly and cooked a traditional curry (Bamsikhali) from it. The curry was extremely delicious. After knowing the facts behind the curry, the four elder sons decided to go after the bird, assuming its meat will be really testy or can even make them immortal. However the wise younger brother and mother forbade them but they beat up the younger brother and went after the bird.

The bird a symbol of evil external influence completely engulfed the brothers, making them dance into her rhythm and ultimately consumed them completely. Meanwhile the mother had a dream and forced the youngest brother to go after his brother. The son obeyed and saved his brothers. However one of the brothers struck the youngest. Other brothers reached home and lied to mother that they have not met the youngest. But regaining consciousness, the youngest son came home and killed the eldest brother. The story shows how an unknown external force could destroy the tranquility for a society and ends with this tragic note.