Gobi G

This Foundation Project implemented by IFA under Explorations will delve into the philosophical dimensions of finding a physical theatrical performative form for the ritualistic singing of the Arichandran (Harischandra) song that is sung only orally, during the death ritual, in front of the Arichandran temple located at the entrance of the graveyard in Puducherry. Gobi G is the Coordinator for this project. 

Gobi G is a Puducherry-based theatre-maker, has a PhD in theatre and performance studies from Pondicherry University. Gobi did his BFA in visual arts from Bharathiyaar Palkalai Koodam College in Pondicherry and MFA in visual arts from Pondicherry University. Gobi has been involved in different theatre groups like Muthupattar, and Nijanadakayakkam, and also got involved in children’s theatre along with Murugabhupathy. He served as a research person in Theatre in Education programme at Azim Premji Foundation. Gobi is the founder of the theatre group called Yazh. Given his experience, Gobi is best placed to be the Project Coordinator of this Foundation Project of IFA.

This project will experiment with giving a visual form through performative/ physical theatrical exercise, to the music performed in the funeral rites in front of the burial ground at Arichandran temple. This ritual is performed by the sub-castes of Arundhatiar and Parayarkar, who belong to the washermen/ barber communities and drummer/ percussionist communities respectively. The cosmology of the songs, of requesting the permission of Harischandra, to enter the burial ground with the dead body is derived from the Harishchandra mythology associated with Muthalyalpettu temple in Puducherry. The project aspires to move beyond the drum dance rituals and singing, and will attempt to project the philosophical dimensions of the funerary rituals through theatrical performativity.

The outcomes of the project will be a playscript in Tamil and the dramaturgy of theatrical experiments in an open-air theatre. The Project Coordinator’s deliverables to IFA with the final report will be the Tamil playscript along with photographs, and audio-visual documentation of the theatrical artistic process.    

This project suitably addresses the framework of IFA’s Arts Practice programme in the manner in which it attempts to philosophically transcode a musical form into a performative theatrical form, concerning the socio-political dimensions of the emotionally charged ritualistic songs of funerary rites.  

IFA will ensure that the implementation of this project happens in a timely manner and funds expended are accounted for. IFA will also review the progress of the project at midterm by convening an online gathering of artists coordinating Explorations projects. After the project is finished and all deliverables are submitted, IFA will put together a Final Evaluation to share with Trustees.

This project is made possible with support from Sony Pictures Entertainment Fund.