Theatre Mall’s latest production, Aandolan, is currently on at the Mall’s premises in Sundhara, in the Capital. The play is based on the mass movement of 2006 that ended the monarchy and ushered in republicanism. 

The play tells the story of a few village youth living in the Capital and their involvement in the Movement. In so doing, Aandolan highlights the crucial role the 

youth played in making the movement a success. 

Speaking about the play, its director Sudham Ck says: “If there is one thing the play wants to highlight it’s that politics, no matter how indifferent we may be towards it, plays a crucial role in our everyday lives. Obvious though it may seem, more often than not, we, the youth, happen to overlook it. The play wants to bring to fore the discussion about youth involvement in politics.”

Noting that he was indifferent towards politics when the mass movement was taking place, Ck says, “During the 2006 Movement, when people from far-flung villages were thronging to the Capital, I returned back to my village. Looking back at it now, I regret it. Only now do I realise that we should not run away from politics but stay involved in order to bring about change.” 

Kedar Shrestha, art director of Theatre Mall, said that the play veers away from the current strain of plays being staged, which has posed at once opportunity and challenges. “But given the interest the audience has shown, we believe that our effort has not gone in vain.” 

Aandolan is written by Saurav Karki, and features actors Rear Rai, Samyog Guragain, Ingihopo Koinch Sunuwar, Sijan Dahal, and Milan Karki, among others. 

Aandolan is currently on, every day at 5pm, at Theatre Mall, Sundhara, and will run through April 24. An exhibition of photographs taken during the Jana Andolan II, by Dipendra Bajhracharya, is also ongoing at the premises of Theatre Mall.