Wali Dad

Theatre Mirax presents in Mirahouse,
Kirkkopuistikko 34
SAVITRI and WALI DAD
The play is based on Indian folk tales.
The first part of the play is about how love
conquers death
and in the latter part we will learn
that not everything is measured in money.
The multicultural play is performed by young actors from Finland,
Kosovo, Russia, Pakistan, Great-Britain,
Cameroon and Kazakhstan.
The play is in English.
Scriptwriter: Ahmad Arslan
Director: Nadia Zhandr

Co-director Nea Ilvesmaa
Decorations Alexandr Storbjörk, Gylchin Qädirov
Properties and costumes Ami Kauranen
Music Indian folk music; Dead Can Dance
CHARACTERS
Wali Dad
Wali Dad Frida Timonen
Merchant Heini Elsinen
Queen Maria Salin
King Sakari Järvelin
Boys Erza Nushi
Nina Dongmo
Girls Nea Ilvesmaa
Ksenia Smirnova
Polina Aganimova
Savitri
Goddess Erza Nushi
King Gemb Nushi
Savitri Nea Ilvesmaa
Satyavan Christian Oliver
Satyavan’s Father Sakari Järvelin
Yama Heini Elsinen
Fairies Maria Salin
Nea Ilvesmaa
Ksenia Smirnova
Polina Aganimova

Music. Fairies.
F1 : In India, in the time of legend,
there lived a King with many wives
but not one child.
F2 : Morning and evening for eighteen years,
he faced the fire on the sacred altar
and prayed for the gift of children.
SAVITRI
F3: Finally, a shining Goddess rose from the flames.
Music. Goddess is singing.
GODDESS : I am Savitri, child of the Sun.
By your prayers, you have won a daughter.
F1 : Within a year, a daughter came to the King and his favourite wife.
He named her Savitri after the Goddess.
F4 : Savitri!
F2 : Savitri!
F3 : Savitri!

Music. Savitri and the King.
F2 : Beauty and intelligence were the princess Savitri’s,
and eyes that shone like the sun!
F4 : So splendid was she,
people thought she herself was a goddess!
F1: Yet when the time came for her to marry,
no man asked for her.
KING : Weak men turn away from radiance like yours.
Go out and find a man worthy of you.
Then I will arrange the marriage.
Music.
F1 : In the company of servants and councillors,
Savitri travelled from place to place.
F2 : After many days, she came upon a hermitage by a river crossing.
F4 : Here lived many
who had left the towns and cities
for a life of prayer and study.
Music. Yoga.
SAVITRI (speaks to F3) : Who is that young man?
F3 : That is Prince Satyavan!
F1 : He guides his father, a king whose realm was conquered.
F2 : It is well that Satyavan’s name means “Son of Thuth”,
for no man is richer in virtue!

Music.
KING : Daughter, have you found a man
you wish to marry?
SAVITRI : Yes, father, his name is Satyavan!
God of Death’s music. God of Death.
F2 : Not Satyavan!
Princess, no man can be more worthy,
but you must not marry him!
KING: Why???
F2 : I know the future!
Satyavan will die, one year from today!!!
KING : Do you hear, daughter?
Choose a different husband!
SAVITRI : I have chosen Satyavan, and I will not choose another!
However long or short his life, I wish to share it!
KING2 (Satyavan’s father) :
Can you bear the hard life of the hermitage?
Will you wear our simple robe
and our coat of matted bark?
Will you eat only fruit and plants of the wild?
SAVITRI : I care nothing about comfort or hardship!
In palace or in hermitage, I am content!
Music. GODDESS is singins. Goddess comes to bless Savitri and Satyavan.
F3 : That very day they became husband and wife.
___
F1: For a year, they lived happily.
But Savitri could never forget
that Satyavan’s death drew closer.

F4 : Finally only three days remained.
F2 : Savitri entered the hall of worship
and faced the sacred fire.
F1 : There she prayed for three days and nights, not eating or sleeping.
Music. Yoga.
SATYAVAN : My love, prayer and fasting are good.
But why be this hard on yourself?
F3 : Savitri gave no answer!
Satyavan takes an axt and goes.
SAVITRI : I will come with you!
SATYAVAN : Stay here, my love. You should eat and rest.
SAVITRI : My heart is set on going!
F1 : Hand in hand, Savitri and Satyavan walked over wooded hills.
They smelld the blossoms on flowering trees
and paused beside clear streems.
Music. Fairie’s dance. Savitri and Satyavan take part.
Music is changing, because God of Death appears. But they still dance.
SATYAVAN : My heart aches!
Savitri rushes to him. She set him down “in the shade of a tree”.
SATYAVAN : My body is burning! What is wrong with me?
God of Death’s music. He comes closer and closer.

SAVITRI : Who are you?
YAMA : (gently) Princess, you see me only by the power of your prayer and fasting.
I am Yama, God of Death.
Now is the time I must take the spirit of Satyavan!
Yama takes his soul.
YAMA : Happiness awaits your husband in my kingdom.
Satyavan is a man of great virtue.
Savitri starts after God of Death. Choreography.
YAMA : Savitri, you cannot follow to the Land of the dead!
SAVITRI : Lord Yama, I know, your duty is to take my husband.
But my duty as his wife is to stay beside him!
YAMA : Princess, that duty is at en end! Still, I admire your loyalty.
I will grant you a favour – anything but the life of your husband.
SAVITRI : Please restore my father-in-law’s kingdom and his sight!

YAMA : His sight and his kingdom shall be restored!
Yama again headed south. Savitri followed.
YAMA : Savitri, You have come far enough!
SAVITRI : Lord Yama, I know my husband will find happiness in your kingdom.
But you carry away the happiness that is mine!
YAMA : Princess! Even love must bend to fate!
Still, I admire your devotion.
I will grant you another favour – anything but the life of your husband!
SAVITRI : Grant many more children to my father!
YAMA : Your father shall have many more children.
Yama once more turned to the south. Again, Savitri followed.
YAMA : Savitri! I forbid you to come farther!
SAVITRI : Lord Yama! You are respected and revered by all.
Yet no matter what may come, I will remain by Satyavan!
YAMA : Princess, I tell you for the last time, you will not!
Still, I can only admire your courage and your firmness.
I will grant you one last favour – anything but the life of your husband.

SAVITRI : Then grant many children to me! And let them be children of Satyavan!
Sound effects.
YAMA : You did not ask for your husband’s life,
yet I cannot grant your wish without releasing him.
Princess! Your wit is as strong as your will.
Goddess appears. Music. Goddess and Savitri bring the soul back to the body.
YAMA : Return, Savitri! You have won your husband’s life!
All characters on stage. Music and choreography.
F1 : Yama was true to all he had promised!
F3 : Savitri’s father became father to many more!
F2 : Satyavan’s father regained both sight and kingdom!
F4 : In time Satyavan became king and Savitri his queen!
F2 : They lived long and happily, blessed with many children!
F1 : So they had no fear or tears when Yama came again to carry them
to his kingdom!

Wali Dad
Boy 1 : In a mud hut far from town lived an old grass-cutter named Wali Dad.
Boy 2 : Every morning, Wali Dad cut and bundled tall, wild grass.
Every afternoon he sold it as fodder in the marketplace.
Boy 1 : Each day he earned 30 paisa. 10 of the small coins went for food.
10 went for clothes and other needs.
And 10 he saved in a clay pot under his bed.
Boy 2 : In this manner Wali Dad lived happily for many years.
Boy 1 : One evening Wali Dad dragged out the pot to see how much money it held.
Sound effects.
Wali Dad : (to himself) What am I to do with all this money?
Merchant appears. Music.
Wali Dad : (to the Merchant) What am I to do with all this money?!!!
I need nothing more than I have!
Merchant offers to WD a gold bracelet.

Wali Dad : I have an idea!!! (to the audience) Who is the noblest lady?
(to the Merchant) Tell me, in all the world, who is the noblest lady?
Merchant : Without doubt, it is the young queen of Khaistan.
Music. Queen of Khaistan. Girls are dancing in her palace.
Merchant : I often visit her palace, just 3 days’ journey to the east.
Wali Dad : Do me a kindness. The next time you pass that way,
give her this little bracelet, with my compliments!
Merchant on his way to the Queen. Music. Boys with luggage or sacks.
Boy 1 : Soon after, the merchant found himself
at the palace of the Queen of Khaistan. He presented the bracelet to her
as a gift from Wali Dad.
Girls : Wali Dad? Wali Dad… Wali Dad!!!
Queen : (admiring the bracelet) How lovely! Your friend must accept a gift in return!
Music. Merchant on his way to WD. Boys with heavy luggage (silk)
Boy 2 : When the merchant arrived back home, her brought the silks
to the hut of Wali Dad!
Wali Dad : Oh, no!!! This is worse than before!
What I’m to do with such finery?!
Merchant : Perhaps you could give it to someone else.
Wali Dad : Tell me, in all the world, who is the noblest man?
Merchant : That is simple. This is the young king of Nekabad.
His palace too I often visit, just 3 days’ journey to the west.
Wali Dad : Then do me another kindness. On your next trip there,
give him these silks with my compliments.
Boy 1 : The merchant was amused but he agreed.

On his next journey, he presented the silks to the king of Nekabad.
The King appears. Music.
King : A splendid gift! In return your friend must have 12 of my finest horses!
Sound effects. Horses.
Boy 2 : So the Merchant brought the King’s horses to Wali Dad.
Wali Dad : This grows worse and worse! What could I do with 12 horses?!
(thinks for a moment) I beg you, keep 2 horses for yourself,
and take the rest to the Queen of Khaistan!
Sound effects. Horses. Music of Merchant’s journey.
Queen : (to her servant girl) Why does this Wali Dad persist in sending gifts?
I have never even heard of him!
Girl 1 : Why don’t you discourage him?
Send him a gift so rich, he can never hope to match it!
Boys carrying chests. Music of Merchants journey.
Wali Dad : What have I done to deserve this?
Friend! Spare an old man! Keep some silver for yourself,
( threatening) but take a rest to the King of Nekabad!
Boys with chests running fast. King catches both Boys.
King : What does it mean?

Boy 1 and Boy 2 (by turns) :
Perhaps this Wali Dad seeks to prove himself your better.
Why not send him a gift he can never surpass?
The King turns his back on the audience. He thinks a bit. Then he gives some orders to the
Boys. Silently.
Boy 1 : (from the distance yelling to Wali Dad) Wali Dad! Wali Dad!
His Majesty sends to you back twenty camels with golden anklets…
Boy 2 : (from the distance yelling to Wali Dad) …twenty horses with golden bridles,
Boy 1 : 20 elephants with golden seats mounted on their backs…
Boy 2 : and 20 liveried servants to care for them all!
Music. Wali Dad beside himself.
Wali Dad : Will bad fortune never end?!
Please, do not stop for a minute!
Keep for yourself two of each animal
and take the rest to the Queen of Khaistan!
Merchant : How can I go to her again?!
Boy 1 : So the Merchant consented to go just once more.
Girl : Clearly, Your Majesty,
the man wishes to marry you.
Since his gifts are so fine,

perhaps you should meet him?
Boy 2 runs to Wali Dad and whispers news in his ear.
Wali Dad : Oh no! Now I must be paid for all my foolishness!
What are we to do?
Merchant : I fear we can do nothing!
Wali Dad goes to his new residence.
Wali Dad : Good buy, old hut! I will never see you again!
I am a stupid old man! I cannot face my shame!
Merchant : No shame can come to such as you.
(Merchant helps him to change clothes)
In your heart you are a king!!!
Music
Boy 1 : A caravan from the east!
Boy 2 : No! A caravan from the west!
Boy 1 : No! Caravans from both east and west!!!
Queen comes with her servants. King – with two boys.
Wali Dad and Merchant on their knees.
Queen : My dear Wali Dad! We meet at last!
(looks at King) But who is that magnificent King?
Wali Dad and Merchant rushes to the King.
King : My dear Wali Dad! I had to meet the giver of such fine gifts!
(looks at the Queen) But who is that splendid Queen???!!!
Wali Dad : The Queen of Khaistan, Your Majesty. Come and meet her!

Boy 1 : And so the King of Nekabad…
Boy 2 : and the Queen of Khaistan…
Boy 1 and 2 : (together) … fell instantly in love!!!
Music
Then all characters goes to the stage, to “Khaistan”. Only 2 Queen’s servants stay. They are
fairies.
Wali Dad wants to go away. Two fairies stop him.
Girl 2 : Where are you going Wali Dad?
Wali Dad : Did I not tell you I am a stupid old man?
I should be glad for what I have received
( he shows to his residence) , but…
Girl 3 : Say no more. You shall have your heart’s desire!
Wali Dad gets his hut back. Dance at the end.