Dara

by Tanya Ronder (Adapted by), Shahid Nadeem

An intense domestic drama of global consequence - for India then and for our world now.

1659. Mughal India. The imperial court, a place of opulence and excess; music, drugs, eunuchs and harems. Two brothers, whose mother's death inspired the Taj Mahal, are heirs to this Muslim empire. Now they fight ferociously for succession.

Dara, the crown prince, has the love of the people - and of his emperor father - but younger brother Aurangzeb holds a different vision for India's future. Islam inspires poetry in Dara, puritanical rigour in Aurangzeb. Can Jahanara, their beloved sister, assuage Aurangzeb's resolve to seize the Peacock Throne and purge the empire?

Originally performed by Ajoka Theatre, Pakistan, Tanya Ronder's adaptation of Dara premiered at the National Theatre, London, in 2015.

Genres: Plays

134 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 22, 2015

Reviews

[Illiterate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Solid historical family-drama. Well-intentioned but one-sided debate on religious tolerance.

[Rubal · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

"What would have been the course of Indian history had Dara Shikoh become the emperor instead of Aurangzeb?"

exactly

[areeba · Rating 2 out of 5]

its not bad but theres literally nothing special about the way its happened. this happened, then that happened, the end - not very fun