Dilip Guha ★ New Delhi : Kanupriya Theatre Company is a renowned theatre society known for its original and nuanced productions staged a biographical play on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on his birthday, April 14, 2025, at the LTG Theatre in the capital.
Founded in 2014 by the esteemed actor, writer, and director Kanupriya Ma’am, the company has showcased over 100 plays across prestigious venues in cities such as Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Lucknow, and beyond. With a roster of more than 100 trained theatre artists, the company is now led by Aakshay Yaduvanshi and Guncha Kanupriya.
Recognized for its unique storytelling and distinctive acting styles, Kanupriya Theatre Company has swiftly established itself as a prominent name in the Delhi theatre scene.
The play titled “Babasaheb,” written by Kanupriya and produced by Kanupriya Theatre Company, is directed by Aakshay Yaduvanshi, a renowned director, actor, writer, and theatre mentor. He is also a co-founder of the Kanupriya Theatre Company. Aakshay began his career over a decade ago, training under NSD alumnus and SNA awardee Mr. Surendra Sharma, American acting coach Jack Waltzer, and prominent media personality Ms. Kanupriya. Since then, he has written more than twenty unique original plays and directed over a hundred productions, earning a reputation for creating thought-provoking and impactful works that aim to inspire change in society.
Commenting on the current production, the director said, “There are several plays, shows, and films on the life of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. His character, his legacy, and his life are perhaps too vast and varied to be covered in one production. With our play “Babasaheb” we hope to showcase the Man behind the Legend, the “Bhima” behind the “Dr.Ambedkar” and shed light on the struggles, the sacrifices, the trials & the tribulations that shaped the Father of the Indian Constitution.”
Kanupriya Theatre Company’s Original Production “Babasaheb” chronicles the life of the Father of the Indian Constitution – Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and showcases the untold stories of his life. The journey from the young and ostracized Bhima to the formidable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was nothing less than a miracle created by the blood, sweat, and tears of Babasaheb and his selfless family. This journey forms the crux of the play “Babasaheb”
The play begins with Gandhi proposing Dr. Ambedkar’s name during a meeting with Pt. J.L. Nehru for the constitution of independent India. This serves as a backdrop to the flashback of young Bhima, who loses his mother, marking the beginning of Dr. Ambedkar’s journey.
Each scene in the play is well-directed and conveys the true history of our nation, highlighting Dr. Ambedkar’s struggle for the upliftment of the oppressed classes. It also acknowledges that he was one of the greatest scholars in our country. The play reflects the brutality faced by untouchables at the hands of Hindus and the denial of their human rights, exposing the hypocrisy of Hindu leaders who were advocating for swaraj (self-rule). Untouchables were forbidden from drinking water from public wells and faced discrimination in housing. Dr. Ambedkar himself experienced these humiliations upon returning to India after completing his education in America to serve the Baroda state. The portrayal of young Ambedkar by Shivam Dubey is remarkable and effectively showcases his intentions for a better society, earning him the admiration of many. The highlight of his performance was his profound interaction with Gandhiji, which left a lasting impression on the audience.
While Gandhi is often revered as a great leader, the play depicts his opposition to Ambedkar’s demand for separate electorates. It shows that even Gandhi was somewhat apologetic regarding the chaturvarnya system, which is the root of casteism. Additionally, the character of Babasaheb’s wife, Ramabai, is portrayed effectively by Vanshika Dogra.
The play vividly depicted him as a prominent member of the Constituent Assembly and the Chairman of the Drafting Committee for the Indian Constitution. Ambedkar introduced groundbreaking provisions to uplift the marginalized communities. The Constitution unified the nation under a single citizenship law, eradicated the practice of untouchability, and forbade discrimination based on religion, caste, race, or gender.
Overall, the play enriches viewers’ knowledge and provides inspiration, capturing attention with its historical and cultural depth. Despite its length, the curiosity about whether the protagonist would achieve his goals kept one engaged throughout this biographical masterpiece.
The play offers an engaging portrayal of Indian culture, exploring the caste system and the struggles faced by untouchables. It sparked a desire to delve deeper into this topic. In terms of the performances, crowd scenes feel authentic; some individual interpretations may come across as slightly overdone.
Nonetheless, it presents an excellent opportunity to reflect on prejudice and social inequalities, all while learning about one man’s remarkable fight for justice and equality.
The character roles of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar were portrayed impressively by Mohit Joshi (Child Dr. B.R. Ambedkar), Shivam Dubey (Young Dr. B.R. Ambedkar), and Gaurav Ahuja (Senior Dr. B.R. Ambedkar). They truly embodied Babasaheb’s character, executing his personality, dialogue delivery, and even the minor details with great skill. In fact, the entire cast was outstanding.
Other notable performances included Hritish Kansal as Yaswant Ambedkar, Prem Sharma as Mahatma Gandhi, Yen Dutt Jain as Jawaharlal Nehru, and Vijay Sharma as Ramji Sakpal. The background music and lighting in the play were not only excellent but also perfectly suited to enhance its overall atmosphere and storytelling.
