Woh Ghar
Encyclopedia
Woh Ghar is 1984, television film directed by Girish Karnad
, based on Kirtinath Kurtakoti
's Kannada play Aa Mani.
The film stars 15 children in leading roles, all then students of Delhi Kannada School besides Ram Gopal Bajaj
and BV Karanth in brief appearances. This 70 minute film was premier released exclusively for Doordarshan
India, in April 1986.
presented by the Public Broadcasting Service
in the United States, Doordarshan
India agreed to screen a selection of Modern Indian plays on contemporary themes, written and presented by well known playwrights and producers. The concept of teledramas was conceived by Ram Gopal Bajaj
- actor and director of the National School of Drama
(NSD).
B&B Video Pvt Limited roped in Popular Film Actor - producer - director, Girish Karnad
, to do a Tele-film on popular Kannada playwright Kirtinath Kurtakoti
's Kannada Novel, "Aa Mani" (Kannada : "ಆ ಮನೀ"), which means "That House" in Kannada. The Telefilm, being shot for Doordarshan India, was to be in Hindi
, and was thus named "Woh Ghar". Known for his eye for details, Mr. Karnad insisted on having Kannada background children who could speak Hindi, for his lead play. The telefilm mainly casts 15 children in age group 8-11 from Delhi Kannada School, New Delhi
.
background and shows a bunch of children playing enacting adult life through a game, innocently depicting social dogmas of the prevailing era, such as child marriage
, dowry
and superstitions.
The movie includes two musical scores, "Kanya dhan paraya hai apna" and "Suno suno ektara bole"; the latter filmed on the famous playwright BV Karanth.
The movie begins with a bunch of kids running out of School as the school bells rings - the children all gathering under a tree to play the famous Karnataka Rural Game of "Marakoti Aata" (Kannada : ಮರಕೋತಿ ಆಟ) or the tree monkey game.
Later on, the children get together, to 'play' the story of life by copying elders what they see through their innocent eyes, even when words like Dowry and Marriage were hardly understood in true sense. They copy adult life, play parents, care for their children, and even "marry off" their children.
at the outskirts of Delhi, near the historic Qutub Minar
.
All participating children wore rustic hairstyles and makeup, in an effort to look like village urchins, with traditional lehenga-top dresses for girls and the boys sporting a pancha (a style of dhoti
wearing) and Khadi Kurta
s. Some even had Shendi's to sport, the typical old world Brahmin
pony tail.
Girish Karnad
Girish Raghunath Karnad is a contemporary writer, playwright, screenwriter, actor and movie director in Kannada language...
, based on Kirtinath Kurtakoti
Kirtinath Kurtakoti
Kirtinath Kurtakoti was a Kannada writer and critic who won among other awards, the Central Sahitya Akademi honour of India. Apart from Kannada, he was well-versed in other languages including Hindi and Sanskrit.-Early life:Kurtakoti was born in the town of Gadag in the Indian state of Karnataka...
's Kannada play Aa Mani.
The film stars 15 children in leading roles, all then students of Delhi Kannada School besides Ram Gopal Bajaj
Ram Gopal Bajaj
Ram Gopal Bajaj is a noted Indian theatre director, academician, and a Hindi film actor. He has also been a faculty member and a former director of National School of Drama, New Delhi ....
and BV Karanth in brief appearances. This 70 minute film was premier released exclusively for Doordarshan
DoorDarshan
Doordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...
India, in April 1986.
Overview
On the pattern of American PlayhouseAmerican Playhouse
American Playhouse is an anthology television series periodically broadcast by Public Broadcasting Service in the United States.It premiered on January 12, 1982 with The Shady Hill Kidnapping, written and narrated by John Cheever and directed by Paul Bogart...
presented by the Public Broadcasting Service
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
in the United States, Doordarshan
DoorDarshan
Doordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...
India agreed to screen a selection of Modern Indian plays on contemporary themes, written and presented by well known playwrights and producers. The concept of teledramas was conceived by Ram Gopal Bajaj
Ram Gopal Bajaj
Ram Gopal Bajaj is a noted Indian theatre director, academician, and a Hindi film actor. He has also been a faculty member and a former director of National School of Drama, New Delhi ....
- actor and director of the National School of Drama
National School of Drama
National School of Drama is a theatre training institute situated at New Delhi, India, established . It is an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It was set up in 1959 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and became an independent school in 1975...
(NSD).
B&B Video Pvt Limited roped in Popular Film Actor - producer - director, Girish Karnad
Girish Karnad
Girish Raghunath Karnad is a contemporary writer, playwright, screenwriter, actor and movie director in Kannada language...
, to do a Tele-film on popular Kannada playwright Kirtinath Kurtakoti
Kirtinath Kurtakoti
Kirtinath Kurtakoti was a Kannada writer and critic who won among other awards, the Central Sahitya Akademi honour of India. Apart from Kannada, he was well-versed in other languages including Hindi and Sanskrit.-Early life:Kurtakoti was born in the town of Gadag in the Indian state of Karnataka...
's Kannada Novel, "Aa Mani" (Kannada : "ಆ ಮನೀ"), which means "That House" in Kannada. The Telefilm, being shot for Doordarshan India, was to be in Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
, and was thus named "Woh Ghar". Known for his eye for details, Mr. Karnad insisted on having Kannada background children who could speak Hindi, for his lead play. The telefilm mainly casts 15 children in age group 8-11 from Delhi Kannada School, New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
.
Synopsis
The story is set in rural KarnatakaKarnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
background and shows a bunch of children playing enacting adult life through a game, innocently depicting social dogmas of the prevailing era, such as child marriage
Child marriage
Child marriage and child betrothal customs occur in various times and places, whereby children are given in matrimony - before marriageable age as defined by the commentator and often before puberty. Today such customs are fairly widespread in parts of Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America: in...
, dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
and superstitions.
The movie includes two musical scores, "Kanya dhan paraya hai apna" and "Suno suno ektara bole"; the latter filmed on the famous playwright BV Karanth.
The movie begins with a bunch of kids running out of School as the school bells rings - the children all gathering under a tree to play the famous Karnataka Rural Game of "Marakoti Aata" (Kannada : ಮರಕೋತಿ ಆಟ) or the tree monkey game.
Later on, the children get together, to 'play' the story of life by copying elders what they see through their innocent eyes, even when words like Dowry and Marriage were hardly understood in true sense. They copy adult life, play parents, care for their children, and even "marry off" their children.
The Shooting
The shooting took about 21 days (three weeks)in a crumbling old Haveli (Large House) at MehrauliMehrauli
Mehrauli is a neighbourhood in the South West district of Delhi in India. It represents a constituency in the legislative assembly of Delhi. The area is located close to Gurgaon.-History:...
at the outskirts of Delhi, near the historic Qutub Minar
Qutub Minar
Qutub Minar also Qutb Minar, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in Delhi, India. The Qutub Minar is constructed with red sandstone and marble, and is the tallest minaret in India, with a height of 72.5 meters , contains 379 stairs to reach the top, and the diameter of base is 14.3 meters...
.
All participating children wore rustic hairstyles and makeup, in an effort to look like village urchins, with traditional lehenga-top dresses for girls and the boys sporting a pancha (a style of dhoti
Dhoti
The dhoti or pancha is the traditional men's garment in the in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. A similar garment is worn in some rural areas of Punjab province in Pakistan, but the use is fast declining...
wearing) and Khadi Kurta
Kurta
A kurta is a traditional item of clothing worn in Afghanistan, Pakistan , Nepal, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. It is a loose shirt falling either just above or somewhere below the knees of the wearer, and is worn by both men and women...
s. Some even had Shendi's to sport, the typical old world Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
pony tail.