Scenes from earlier stagings of Jhumkewali
| Photograph Credit score: Particular Association
“I used to be sitting within the native prepare, and puzzled how this follow of promoting trinkets to commuters started. My speculation was a girl deeply in love began it so her girlfriend might purchase jhumkis each time she happy,” says Ami, who admits she enjoys watching individuals strive, purchase and promote these conventional bell-shaped danglers on trains.
This flight of fancy first took form as a brief story at a author’s workshop earlier than it grew to become a play she collaborated on with Nidhi Krishna, and Ami is sort of clear Jhumkewali is, “a love story, and never a story of popping out”.
Based on Ami, the latest passing of the Transgender Individuals (Safety of Rights) Modification Act, 2026, has left many locally feeling weak and a narrative equivalent to Jhumkewali could be a welcome respite. “Our group has fairly a number of non-binary and trans individuals, and it’s important for us to maintain making queer and trans-centric artwork, and do our bit to unfold queer pleasure.”
Scenes from earlier stagings of Jhumkewali
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association
Set in 1974, Jhumkewali is a candy story of old flame between Rekha and Bindu, two .faculty goers, who first bond over their penchant for earrings. The play follows them as they revel within the headiness of a budding romance regardless of the happenings round them.
Ami lauds the efforts of Arjoon Kabir Kakkar and his present Jismaan Ton Paar on being a trans-man, and Anureet Watta of Don’t Interrupt Whereas We Dance, a movie a couple of group of queer buddies, and others, whose works unfold consciousness on their lives.
“The entire thought of this play, particularly in present occasions, is to supply queer and trans individuals an area the place they needn’t fear about how tough the surface world is. When they’re within the theatre watching the play, we would like them to really feel completely satisfied and secure, and revel in this celebration of affection.”
Ami says that when Jhumkewali debuted a bit over a yr in the past, the group by no means thought this easy love story with a contact of humour “would develop into one thing a lot larger”. Since then, it has been staged a number of occasions in Mumbai, Pune and Delhi, moreover a web based screening for the NAMNAM Collective in Tokyo.
Written by Ami Bhansali and directed by Nidhi Krishna and Mekhala, Jhumkewali produced by Haus of Bhaus will probably be carried out by Lauren Robinson and Harshini Misra, for the primary time in Bengaluru.
(Jhumkewali will probably be staged at Jagriti Theatre on June 27; 3.30pm and seven.30pm. Tickets, priced at ₹500, accessible on BookMyShow.)
Printed – June 23, 2026 05:32 pm IST
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