XPRESSION - THE BLOODY RED OLEANDER

The Bloody Red Oleander is a contemporary adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore’s iconic play Raktakarabi (Red Oleanders), reimagined as a powerful protest against the oppressive structures of power, greed, and violence that continue to shape contemporary society.

Set in the industrial city of Yakshapuri, the play portrays a dystopian world ruled by an invisible and authoritarian King whose obsession with wealth and control crushes human spirit and individuality. At the heart of this world stands Nandini — a symbol of freedom, compassion, resistance, and hope — who fearlessly confronts the dehumanising machinery of oppression.

Blending Tagore’s poetic vision with present-day political realities in Bengal, the production transforms Nandini’s voice into a contemporary cry of protest against political apathy, systemic violence, and the continuing oppression of women. The fourth scene directly addresses the state’s failure and social complicity surrounding the 2024 Abhaya rape incident in West Bengal, exposing victim-blaming, institutional silence, and the protection of perpetrators by structures of power.

Through grief, rebellion, music, and collective resistance, The Bloody Red Oleander emerges as an urgent theatrical statement demanding justice, humanity, and moral awakening.

Cast & Crew

Original Play

Rabindranath Tagore

Edited By

Basanta Sena

Light & Direction

Deep Bhowmik

Cast

Nandini — Dhrupad Ghosh 

Nandin — Pritam Saha 

Khanjana — Anup Mondal 

Khanjan — Shubhodip Dutta 

The King — Deep Bhowmik 

Backstage & Production Team

Stage & Properties — Shibaditya Sarkar 

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