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UID:Indybay-18689190
SEQUENCE:18774151
CREATED:20110901T013000Z
DESCRIPTION:FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nPublicity Contact: Roke Noir *Artistic Director 
 *sirenproject@gmail.com \nTaz Ahmed *510.473.5917* 
 TazzyStar@gmail.com\n\nSiren Theatre World Premiers Janaki – Daughter of 
 Dirt in San Francisco\nTold from the perspective of Sita, Janaki breaks 
 barriers with this stage production reinterpreting the Ramayana 
 \n\nOakland, CA Aug, 30 2011 – Janaki - Daughter of the Dirt is a story 
 of ancient archetypes that reflects modern day dilemmas. It is the journey 
 of a young woman who looks to her own personal superhero, “Sita” (also 
 known as “Janaki”) for answers to life's problems. Only this Sita is 
 not the perfect woman as is portrayed in the ancient “Ramayana”, one of 
 Hinduism’s most known and revered epics. \n\nA bay area production, 
 Janaki’s world premier will occur this September 16th -18th at the 
 Mission Cultural Center (2868 Mission St.)  in San Francisco. Written by 
 first time playwright Virali Gokaldas and directed by Krishnakali Chaudhuri 
 and Shruti Purkayashta, this ground breaking stage production of Janaki 
 touches upon issues of power, sexism and classism from the perspective of 
 Sita. With an all star cast, the role of Janaki is played by the renowned 
 actress and activist Kiran Patel.\n\nTickets are available now for purchase 
 on BrownPaperTickets.com. It is the first stage production to come out of 
 the newly founded Siren Theatre Project (www.sirentheatre.org).  \n\n“I 
 wrote Janaki – Daughter of Dirt to show that Hindu goddesses, just like 
 the women in my family, are not self-sacrificing devotees,” said 
 playwright Virali Gokaldas.  “They are complex, powerful, strong-willed 
 examples, helping us hold compassion for others and ourselves, guiding us 
 when making hard decisions, and above all, giving us the courage to live 
 out our own destinies.”\n\n Written, and rewritten, talked about and 
 analyzed over thousands of years, “The Ramayana” is a saga about good 
 versus evil.  It is integral to the cultural consciousness of India - 
 complete with gods, talking animals, and demons. It depicts the duties and 
 ideal behavior of people, be it servant, king, husband or wife.  But, do 
 people in power wield this glorious epic to perpetuate a social structure 
 which is self-serving? Could it be that this devotional tale of love and 
 choices around one’s “dharma”, has served as justification for 
 imperialism, racism, destruction of earth and the subjugation of women? 
 This stage production explores these connections between the traditional 
 take and modern day dilemmas.\n\n“It is critical that we dive into our 
 cultural stories, not as the rigid reading of one man which was then 
 amplified by many powerful men over time,” said Gokaldas. “But as a 
 living breathing being that must inform our lives today.  The debut play 
 "Janaki" is one example of this diversity that lies behind the Ramayana, 
 showing my beloved Sita, in all her uncertainty, hope, whim, and 
 wisdom.”\n\nThe trailer for Janaki – Daughter of Dirt is available on 
 Vimeo at the following link: http://vimeo.com/27773275\n\n Janakai – 
 Daughter of Dirt is produced by San Francisco area based Siren Theatre 
 Project, a production company that creates and produces multi-media theatre 
 pieces by women as vehicles to broaden human perspectives and affect social 
 change.  The first of many projects coming out of Siren Theatre Project, 
 this December the theatre company will host a three day arts festival in 
 Oakland,CA incorporating arts, activism, wellness and ancestry.  For more 
 information on Siren Theatre Project, visit www.sirentheatre.org 
 \n#####\n\n https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/08/31/18689190.php
SUMMARY:Siren Theatre World Premiers Janaki – Daughter of Dirt in San Francisco
LOCATION:A bay area production, Janaki’s world premier will occur this September 
 16th -18th at the Mission Cultural Center (2868 Mission St.)  in San 
 Francisco. Written by first time playwright Virali Gokaldas and directed by 
 Krishnakali Chaudhuri and Shruti Purkayashta, this ground breaking stage 
 production of Janaki touches upon issues of power, sexism and classism from 
 the perspective of Sita. With an all star cast, the role of Janaki is 
 played by the renowned actress and activist Kiran Patel.
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/08/31/18689190.php
DTSTART:20110917T010000Z
DTEND:20110917T030000Z
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