A retelling of Bodhidharma’s inward journey on stage

(Previews&Reviews)

Pune: A prince shapes Zen philosophy and martial arts after almost being abandoned at birth is the premise of play Zen Katha written by Partap Sharma and directed by Lillete Dubey. Following the life of Bodhidharma with a clear focus on how discipline shapes identity, the production returns to the stage after over two decades on April 26 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Auditorium in Camp.

Dubey first staged the play in 2003 and it then travelled widely across Asia. She said the revival felt timely. “Only a handful of scholars really understood the link between Bodhidharma, Zen and martial arts back then. Most people still assume it all began in China. The idea is shaped by popular images we’ve grown up with — from the Shaolin mountains to films like Enter the Dragon. However, Zen comes from dhyan and the roots of martial arts are actually in India. This makes the story all the more fascinating,” said Dubey. Sharma’s script draws on years of research, including visits to the Shaolin temple, grounding the narrative in history rather than myth, she added.

The first half is set in Kanchipuram, where Bodhidharma is born into the Pallava dynasty. “Bodhidharma was born a frail, blue baby, unable to breathe. His father, the Pallava king, was so ashamed that he ordered the child be cast aside. A learned pandit took the baby as his dakshina and began training him in yoga and simple breathing techniques. From that fragile beginning emerged a man who transformed his limitations into strength, developing a deep understanding of the body and its rhythms. In a dynasty that prized physical power and wrestling, he charted a different path. The man created a system of defence rooted in restraint — where one does not attack, but only defends,” said Dubey.

The second half moves to China, where Bodhidharma joins the Shaolin monastery. “The monks there were vulnerable to theft and violence. They didn’t have any possessions as such, but even their food and the mats they slept on were being stolen. They did not know how to fight. Bodhidharma taught them to defend themselves. He presented Zen as a way of living, using koans and katha, riddles and stories,” said Dubey,

Martial arts instructor Lars Kjeldsen, who holds a black belt in Wado Ryu karate, has trained the cast — bringing a physical precision to the production, especially through Rajeev Siddhartha, who plays the role of Bodhidharma. Siddhartha is an OTT star from Four More Shots Please! “There are three to four choreographed martial arts sequences and the actors have worked extremely hard on them,” she said.

Dubey said what stays with the audience goes beyond the moments on stage. “I love the play because it draws from our own history and there is something deeply satisfying about audiences discovering that too. The story resonates widely, perhaps because it makes you pause and reflect while still keeping you entertained. There’s a love triangle, romance, action, drama and a lot of humour,” she added.
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