About The Event
Stage 50- the Dinesh Thakur legacy festival–50 years of Ank Theatre Group
As Ank Theatre Group celebrates the remarkable milestone of its Golden Jubilee, the Ank Swarn Jayanti Natya Mahotsav marks the beginning of a year-long celebration of five decades of artistic excellence, innovation and commitment to Indian theatre. The Mumbai edition of the festival, to be held across October and November 2026. This festival in Mumbai would be followed by the Dinesh Thakur legacy tour 2026-27- covering 5 cities with 8 plays and 15 shows to honor the past and light up the future with fifty years of stories and one timeless vision in memory, dedication and celebration.
Beewion Ka Madarsa is an Urdu version of Moliere’s 14th century classic ‘Ecole de femmes or School for Wives’ by Balraj Pandit and Surekha Sikri.
Haneef Mohammed did not marry, firmly believing that all women are dishonest and cheat their husbands. However, a chance meeting with the six-year-old, beautiful and innocent Husnara gave him the idea of rearing her up in his own fashion to be his bride. He determined to teach her only that which would produce a beautiful, devoted and faithful wife. He provided her with all the luxuries, a convent education (the nuns were expressly instructed) and two (almost) devoted servants.
The girl turned a most comely and beautiful sixteen and Haneef Mohammed began to plan his wedding. However, fate decreed otherwise and the fruits of his labour seemed to be falling in another lap, but Haneef Mohammed had his wits about him and along with his doubtfully devoted servants meticulously set out to outwit this young upstart of a suitor.
However much Haneef Mohammed tried to keep the pretty young Husnara hidden and out of reach, the young suitor Gulfam, with the help of the easily corruptible servants, Kammo and Sultan Ali, was able to draw her into his circle of romance! Gulfam, oblivious of the fact that his father’s childhood friend Haneef Mohammed who had befriended him in this big bad city was in fact the same Katlu Beg who was holding Husnara forcibly engaged to him, proceeded to tell Haneef Mohammed all his plans to defeat Katlu Beg.
Although Haneef Mohammed had a definite advantage over Gulfam, he failed to consider his wily servants, the clever Husnara and the fact that destiny has a habit of proving itself!
This most hilarious tragedy of Haneef Mohammad is constructed as a stylized comic farce.
Adapted from Moliere’s school for wives by Balraj Pandit & Surekha Sikri
Designed by Dinesh Thakur
Directed by Atul Mathur
Cast: Priita Mathur Thakur, Aman Gupta, Shankar Iyer, Atul Mathur, Ashish Saleem, Sonal Mathur, Ravish Rathi, Ajay Chourey
Dance design: Tanushree Gupta
Lights Design: Aman Gupta
Costume: Richa Sharad
Lights Operation: Shivaji Shinde
Music Operation: Darshan Pawar
Make Up: Sunil Joshi
Backstage: Ashutosh, Jinn
Management & Production: Priita Mathur Thakur
An NCPA Presentation in collaboration with Ank Theatre Group
Age Limit: 6+
Late entry will not be permitted.
