06/06/2026
Janapada Collective is not only about production and sales. Our deeper work is to build a community that walks together towards a non-violent way of living. As part of this journey, we organise various activities throughout the year, including group reading sessions, padayatras (foot marches), annual trips, field visits, camps, theatre, and more.
On April 25th, Janapada Collective members came together at Pu. Ti. Na. Kalamandira in Melukote. The play, “Tollu Gatti,” was inspired by Kannada playwright T. P. Kailasam’s “Makkalischool Manelalve,” and adapted to reflect our own lives and circumstances. The evening also included performances of Ranga Geethegalu, Kolata, and group dances. Ratna Sakaleshpura guided us through the preparation.
For many in the collective, this was their first time on stage. The process revealed different sides of their personalities and helped them overcome hesitation, self-consciousness, and body insecurities. Working together strengthened our bonds and created opportunities to challenge social conditioning and stereotypes.
The role-swapping was its own kind of courage. Soumya, who is married, played a widow. Savitha, who is widowed, played a woman with a living partner. In the social world they live in, those were not small steps to take.
The play tells the story of two brothers, Puttu and Maadhu. Puttu spends most of his time with books and is often unaware of others’ needs. Maadhu, on the other hand, is caring and understands the struggles of those around him. When the family faces a crisis, Maadhu’s kindness and quick action help them through. The play shows how a traditional family navigates modern changes and examines how women are seen, and too often unseen, within a patriarchal household.
The play was more than a performance. It gave us a chance to reflect and grow. It encouraged us to think deeply, look within, question ourselves, and challenge social norms. It helped us become more sensitive, aware, and understanding of ourselves and the world.
In that sense, the play was not merely an event, but a meaningful journey that continues to shape us long after the curtain has fallen.
