Safar's Dream Turns into a Harsh Reality in Delhi
Ten-year-old Safar once believed Delhi was a city of chocolate dreams, inspired by photos of its glittering markets where he imagined toys stacked higher than the trees in his Jharkhand village. Driven by this vision, he ran away to Delhi, only to encounter a harsh and unyielding urban landscape. Trapped as a bonded labourer on a farm for three years, his sparkle quickly faded, leaving him hungry, hopeless, and lost after he managed to escape.
A Stranger's Question Sparks a New Beginning
In a moment of despair, a stranger's simple question—"Do you want to study?"—changed Safar's life forever. He found refuge in a shelter, where he discovered books, safety, and eventually his own voice as a storyteller. When he returned to his crumbling home in Jharkhand, Safar made a pivotal choice: to go back to Delhi, not as a lost boy, but as someone ready to shape his own destiny.
Ishara International Puppet Theatre Festival Highlights Safar's Tale
Safar's journey takes center stage in ‘Am I Lost?', a performance that uses strings, shadows, and simple objects to animate his powerful story. This production is part of the Ishara International Puppet Theatre Festival, presented by Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust and Teamwork Arts. Running from February 13 to 22 at the India Habitat Centre in Delhi, the festival brings unique narratives to life each evening through puppetry.
Global Puppeteers Unite for a Magical Experience
Now in its 22nd year, the festival weaves a magical journey across cultures by featuring master puppeteers from South Korea, Bhutan, Italy, Turkey, Albania, and India. Dadi D Pudumjee, festival director and founder of the trust, emphasizes, "Puppetry is one of the world's oldest narrative and visual performing art forms. Its objective nature allows epics, folklore, and social issues to be shared in an innocuous milieu." He adds, "Nothing matches a good live performance, especially the magic and innocence of puppet theatre."
Diverse Performances from Around the World
The festival's lineup promises enchanting shows that blend tradition with innovation:
- South Korea: ‘Doong Doong Alert' by Culture Art Bakery FFWANG reimagines the folklore monster Eoduksini through objects and shadow puppetry, offering a non-verbal musical journey where young Jiho confronts anxiety metaphors.
- Italy: ‘Variations' by Di Filippo Marionette features Proto, a marionette, blending string puppets, live songs, and playful surprises, with the artistes expressing joy at performing in India again.
- Albania: ‘Albanian Wedding' by Tirana Puppet Theatre intertwines Red Riding Hood with the royal wedding of Princess Donika, celebrating folklore with traditional dances and vibrant costumes.
- India: Mohd Shameem's ‘Am I Lost?' uses puppets and object theatre in Hindi to narrate Safar's deeply moving story.
Festival's Impact and Future Prospects
According to Pudumjee, Ishara's popularity over the years has sparked new festivals nationwide, supported by regional groups, governments, and UNIMA India—part of the global puppetry network nearing its centenary in Prague. Across ten vibrant February evenings, the festival transforms the stage into a meeting ground of tradition and innovation, sustaining the age-old magic of puppets that remind us every story, like Safar's, is worth telling.
