Ghoramukho Pala
Venue: KCC Amphitheatre
Date: 12 Sep, 2026
Recommended age: 16 years and above Kolkata Centre for Creativity presents Ghoramukho Pala, Baghajatin Bikshan's evocative Bengali adaptation of Girish Karnad's celebrated play Hayavadana, translated by the eminent bengali poet Shankha Ghosh. Rooted in the rich tradition of Bengali pala performance, the production brings together storytelling, live music, movement, and ensemble theatre to revisit one of modern Indian drama's most enduring works.
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Inspired by ancient Indian mythology and the Bṛhatkathā, the play follows the intertwined lives of Devadatta, Kapila, and Padmini, whose friendship and love are tested by desire, fate, and impossible choices. Running alongside their story is the mysterious horse-headed man, whose search for completeness becomes a profound reflection on identity, longing, and what it means to be human.
Presented in the vibrant idiom of Bengali folk theatre, Ghoramukho Pala reimagines Karnad's philosophical drama through music, chorus, and stylised performance. The production explores timeless questions of selfhood, incompleteness, and belonging while celebrating the expressive traditions of Bengali performance.
Sayak Mukherjee is a theatre director, actor, writer, and music director with over a decade of experience in contemporary Bengali theatre. A postgraduate in Drama (Direction) from Rabindra Bharati University, he has directed acclaimed productions including Dui Sotiner Pala, Phoenix, Orkute Jukto Holo Baltimore Ar Nadia, Santal Bidroho, and Magaj. His work is recognised for bringing together folk traditions with contemporary theatrical language.
Girish Karnad (1938–2019) was one of India's foremost playwrights, actors, and public intellectuals. His landmark play Hayavadana remains a defining work of modern Indian theatre, blending mythology, folklore, and philosophy to examine questions of identity, desire, and completeness.
Shankha Ghosh (1932–2021) was one of the most distinguished voices in modern Bengali literature. An acclaimed poet, scholar, and literary critic, he translated Hayavadana into Bengali with remarkable sensitivity, making Karnad's classic accessible to generations of Bengali readers and theatre practitioners.
