‘I Won’t Do It’
Directed by Namrata Bhutoria, made by the ColorAshram team in collaboration with many inspiring artists and curators
Play & Interactive Art Installation
on 30th November, 2025
Mysore at JCAC
To follow the journey of making this play, to hear from all who have been a part of it : Click Here
‘I Wont Do it’
“She likes to give
He likes to take
This is how the relationship is born
She likes to give
He likes to take
Day after day — the cycle continues
The demand grows, the silence deepens
She likes to give
He likes to take
A day comes and he asks her to give up
And she says..I won’t do it”
A play in the spirit of ‘Eco-Feminism’ by ColorAshram Foundation
What if ‘She’ is the Earth, and ‘He’ is the Human?
An experiment with truth is what this production is..at an intersection of war, political -social ideology and ecology
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We will present this play’s first show in Mysore, on the 30th of November at the Jagannatha Centre for Culture & Arts.
And then we are open to be invited to other cities :)
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Because we love the power of art , music and performance to create the blank canvas on which the audience can paint.
We need a new system
A system that rewards compassion, mindset shift and well being
In production: ‘I won't do it’,
Our attempt to present a balanced story of a time of war, ideology, patriarchy and craziness that deeply resonates with the time we live in today.
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We are crowd funding this play’s basic production cost. So if you may find it in your comfort and heart to contribute any amount, it would help us cover the actual costs. We are sharing a full breakup of the amount we need. Once you choose, we ll share the bank account of the actors/sound-light compan/ venue whichever is applicable at that point, for you to pay your contribution. Thank you ever,
ColorAshram
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ColorAshram works for ecology and humanity through natural dye training and services. We find oursleves in the intersection of patriarchy, capitalism, colonialism, consumerism, religious dogmas, political insanity and neverending wars, and this play is an attempt to intrigue you to engage and invite you contribute towards a difficult task of bringing about mindset shift. Hence this production, performance and art around it. We urge you to support and spread the word as we need to build safe society and systems, not just a safe home for us and our coming generations.
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Our play is based on a Russian story by Valentin Rasputin. Published in 1974, it is set in Siberia, during World War II. A young married soldier becomes a deserter from the Red Army, because he is longing to return to his wife. A deserter must go into hiding, as the army will put him in front of a firing squad.
What happens to the couple is what you'll find out in our play.*
About the PLay
Welcome to “I Won’t Do It.”
“Is it history we’re watching, or the present ?
This is not just a play — it’s an invite to experience a pause.. to reflect and listen to your inner voice. Free from everyday race and mundane tasks.
You are invited to walk through the art installations, absorb the visuals, sound, and emotion that fill this space. Then watch a powerful musical performance. And end the evening with a short video anthology.
This play is not an attempt to change society, but to challenge the narratives we’ve taken for granted — and to truly feel the forces that shape our lives.
n the play, we travel to Russia — to a remote Siberian village where a couple, Andrei and Nastena, live a quiet life until Joseph Stalin’s Red Army calls all men to fight in the Second World War. Their ordinary world collapses into fear, intimacy, and conflict.
Before we step into the play, let’s go behind the curtain — into the backdrop of power and propaganda.
After centuries under the Tsars, the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution promised freedom — and truly so. It had been a terrible time for humanity, treated as slaves under the banner of loyalty to the king and the church.
In the name of Marxism, the revolution brought freedom disguised as yet another dictatorship — first under Lenin, and then, far worse, under Stalin.
Stalin mastered the art of propaganda, turning theatre itself into a weapon of persuasion. He once said, “The death of one man is a tragedy; the death of a million is a statistic.”
Millions were exiled into the Siberian wilderness. Lands were seized in the name of collective farming and mechanized agriculture. The experiment failed — and famine spread across the Soviet Union.
And yet, when war came again, even those far away in Siberia — people who had nothing to do with Moscow’s politics — were forced to fight.
This is where our play begins. Andrei, a peasant forced to fight in the war, is injured and escapes into the Siberian forest. His wife, Nastena, is caught in the storm of being a deserter’s wife — torn between her husband’s fear of being caught by the ruthless Red Army, the villagers who would never accept a deserter’s child, and the militia who would never forgive a man who refused to fight. Driven by this unbearable tension, the real Nastena in Valentin Rasputin’s story ends her life.
In our play, we choose to imagine a different ending — the freedom to choose. What if a single “No” could transform a mindset fixed by culture and society?
So come, experience this story — inspired by Rasputin’s Live and Remember — and see how the power of one refusal, one act of courage, might still echo in our times.
Meet the Collaborators
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Jagannath Centre for Art & Culture
Venue Partner
It all started when Amrita, daughter of Mr.Jagnnath Shenoi, the founder, visited ColorAshram with Niranjan, a CAVA alumni and artist who is now working with JCAC. She loved the work we do and was happy for us to bring our first theatre production to her space.
Next was a meeting with her visionary husband, Mr.Ravi , an architect and then we formed a collaboration where they opened the doors of their Amphitheatre - Angala for us to practice and create our play.
We are very grateful for the JCAC team who has cooperated and supported us to co-create this in their gorgeous and very spacious well deigned venue. Check out the architecture:https://jcacmysuru.com/#
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ColorAshram Foundation
Direction, Screenplay, Costumes & Set
Namrata, our co-founder has always been a thespian and Mysuru gave her the inspiration and space to co-create a production that she never imagined but always wanted to, in her subconscious.
Inspired by Kamakshi’s story for over a year, supported by Nele’s founders, Sanjay and many others, she explored with the techniques of designing set etc.
Then in 2025 August, Che, and her two actors really got her started and the result is what you ll see on 30th November. It is an effort of many more people who you’ll find in the team section. We stay grateful.
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Trio
TRIO, a Mysuru-based collective that believes feminism is humanism. 🌿Their work beautifully blends sensitivity and sensibility — curating thoughtful, interactive experiences that invite society to pause, reflect, and rebuild our collective muscle for empathy and equality.
On the day of our play “I Won’t Do It,” TRIO joins us with an artistic interactive installation that extends the conversation beyond stage — into participation, awareness, and shared reflection.It’s a gesture of solidarity.
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The Creative Arts Academy
“My journey with theatre began at The Creative Arts Academy, Kolkata, under the profound mentorship of Ramanjit Kaur — an award-winning actor, director, and visionary who embodies courage, truth, and artistic integrity. 🌿
Trained under her and also witnessed her guru, Padmashree Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry, I discovered that theatre is not performance — it’s liberation. It’s where honesty becomes expression, and storytelling becomes a tool to awaken society.
Forever grateful to Ramanjit Kaur and The Creative Arts for shaping not just my practice, but my philosophy of life” Namrata
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TrueToneInk — Natural Dye Innovation Partner
TrueToneInk, co-founded and run by ColorAshram’s own team, is an innovative natural dye manufacturing company dedicated to creating plant- and mineral-based color solutions for modern applications. With its deep expertise in sustainable dye chemistry, TrueToneInk contributed generously to this production by supporting the team with funds, naturally dyed fabrics for costumes, and specialised dyeing processes.
Their commitment to ecological color and community-driven creativity has been an essential part of bringing this natural-dye theatre experience to life.
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Nele
Nele founders Anuroopa and Souharda are helping us with teaser shoot & support to in building of the play and promotion.
It is an Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that works with..
Art | Women | Nature
A platform for revival, empowerment, and onenessSouharda is also the narrator for the play and Anuroopa designed the teaser reel and posters.
Together they have been instrumental in connecting ColorAshram with lovely people who value sustainability, art and culture in Mysore. Always reminding of the rich legacy of the queen mother and the goddess Chamundi
From the Director’s Desk- Namrata Bhutoria
“‘I Wont Do It’ is not a negative or disruptive statement as many use it for frivolous understanding of freedom. It’s a deep response out of self respect, dignity and true destiny of a human being. We hope one does not misinterpret, misunderstand or abuse it. We sincerely empathise with the hurt and abused and agree to their right to be angry and yet recognise that action must not about dehumanising.Our character Nastena does not say I wont Do it with anger or vengeance, rather with deep breathing of her strength to live rather than die for honour or fear. With freedom comes responsibility ”
— Meaning of ‘I wont do it’
“Don’t imitate or role copy any of our character from the story.
We would like you to watch the play, or read about it or follow it with your own discretion and wisdom.
Here is a fact:
This is not your story, even if looks like yours. Your story and your call are
unique to your chemistry and environment. You can watch it and be inspired but in reality, can you or any of us know or understand Nastena?
This production is an attempt to present a story by adapting what we understood as a collective of people. We were part of several conversations over the last two years. And the final synthesis was mine."
— Disclaimer for the assuming
“It all began for me when I discovered that ecology sensitivity begins with respecting feminine energy in both women and men, and it automatically transcends to the Earth and other life forms. It’s the logical and intelligent respect of nurturing nature. And we are nature. At ColorAshram, we follow the system of living in one box, following what we truly understand. It begins with respect for everything that nurtures and is held in balance by all forces of Nature, except humans.”
— Why is it on Eco-feminism
Meet the Team
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Hari
Lead Male Actor
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Rajalakshmi K Murthy
Lead Female Actor
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Namrata
Director
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Souharda
Narrator
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Arun Baid
Supporting Actor
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Meghna Bhutoria
Supporting Actor
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Dhwani Naidu
Supporting Actor
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Kamakshi
The Story teller and holder
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Aryaa
Artist -set design & installation
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Seemanthini
Project Coordinator
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Arya
Costume Assistance
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Che
Script Builder
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Girish
Supporting Actor
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Bhavya
Supporting Actor
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Nabeela
Set design Support
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Griffith Allan Webster
Light, Sound, Installation incharge
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Donna
Production volunteer, social media help
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Ruchika Naidu
Costume Research & Execution
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Annapurna
Supporting Actor
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Akshara
Social Media Design & Execution
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Anupama
Assisting in rehearsals & Care for actors
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Anuroopa
Teaser reel & poster creator
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Shreshth Mohan
Supporting Actor
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Cava Students
Painting set banners
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Urja & Rohan
Costume Maker
What People Were Saying before the play..
“Mysuru has not witnessed such an endeavour, although Mysuru has a deep tradition of respect for art and culture. This event is an evolution and revolution of what is contemporary and yet so old”
— Ruchika Naidu
“You have always been the one to look within, to question what is obvious, to relentlessly search, to try to listen to the universe and talk to your soul... What do they say ? What are the stories they have to tell ? What is your truth? (as the truth of each one of us is different).
Your restlessness to not settle for what society attempts to decide for us, to question conventional norms that bind us, rather than setting us free; the conditions that stifle us, rather than help us grow...
I salute you, my darling, for being the woman to set an example to refuse a life of half-truths. Your endeavours to continuously work for the saving of the environment are commendable.”
— Ramanjit Kaur
““Nothing Namrata does is conventional. I am waiting to witness the full adventure she has embarked on..
Her manifesto is the best thing I've read about building not just a team for a performance but a healthy community for all, through our commitment. Bravo all “
— Kamakshi
“We are very happy to learn about your production and very impressed. Unfortunately on 30, I have a prior announced online talk on ‘wetland conservation’ which I need to honour. We will catch up at a later performance or peep in to a rehearsal / preview if such things are possible. Your Idea of crowd funding is also good. We would like to contribute Rs 2000 towards production. Do let us know how you prefer it. I am sure it is going to be a memorable event. You have our best wishes”
— Ravi Kumar, the WaterMan
“Watching your journey has been nothing short of inspiring. You’ve risen through self-belief, resilience, and relentless effort — and now, you’re not just standing tall, you’re lifting others with you.And that’s so important!!
Your confidence radiates, your purpose is powerful, and your commitment to making a difference in society is truly admirable. I love watching you walking this path with your head high and your heart open — the world needs more people like you..”
— Shiree Arora
“Wishing the best for the Play, Namrata. Mysore needs you and I’m so glad you all are coming together and doing something like this. Wishing you guys love and luck, loving everything I’m seeing on Instagram”
— Harshvardhan Rai
What People Were Saying after the play..
“Congratulations for your efforts to produce something so much out of the ordinary. It was very impressive”
— Anil Kumar, KalpaShetra Foundation
“Good morning, Namrata. What a stunning performance last night. I think you took Mysore by storm”
-Mohan
“To my wonderful, colourful theatre family,
As the curtain closes on what has been a truly unforgettable run, I want to extend my deepest, most heartfelt thank you to every single person who was a part of this journey. I Won’t do it !
This experience felt like a blessing. If I was able to find comfort on that stage, if I was able to connect with the audience and convince them through my acting, it was entirely because of you—the incredible backstage team. Your tireless work, your care, and your compassion created the energy every actor dreams of. It is the lifeblood that allowed us to shine.
As our beloved director always says, this was not just a play, but an experience. I truly believe this story will extend beyond the theatre walls, giving hands, saving, and giving courage to those who need to say "No" to difficult but necessary situations in their own lives.
Being a part of this has rekindled a powerful passion for acting within me. My hope is that our paths will cross again very soon so we can continue this beautiful journey together.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. You are the best team an actress could ever ask for.
With immense love and gratitude,
-Rajalakshmi Murthy
“Our play was stunning. Our director has raised the bar for expressive yet minimalist performance, certainly in Mysuru.
With the sheer fresh sensibility of the director's vision, I wouldn't have been surprised, if we had flopped like Chaika the monumental play for all of Moscow's Academic Theater's existence“
— Kamakshi
“it was a powerful play...subdued acting...Excellent musical score, very sombre & ominous, artfully done settings with minimalist presence...on the whole a scary reminder of what could happen in an authoritarian regime..every generation needs to be reminded of it”
— Ravi Joshi
“This is speech less.....the movement,the music and the context of this scene has always touched my heart and soul.....so much is filled in our hearts and we all want to live & breath freely....its our freedom which no one can take away from us,we just have to take that one step and choose what we want and what we don't want.....we all want to say NO to many things and we can, then what is stopping us....just take that step forward and "Breath & be free"......much love to all of you....thanks to Namrata Bhutoria Kamakshi and the entire team for giving me this experience of life to cherish”
— Ruchika Naidu
“Huge congrats to @Namrata Bhutoria, and team for their gorgeous theater production last night! So lyrical and poetically rebellious. Loved the natural dye and hand made set designs from ColorAshram! You know our shoot last summer gave a little spark to this magical production”
— Sandi Higgins
“Was a truly unique experience. Loved the play, the sets, the direction, the ambience. Look forward to the next play”
— Kusum Aggarwal
“..it was a powerful play...subdued acting...Excellent musical score, very sombre & omninous, artfully done settings with minimalist presence...on the whole a scary reminder of what could happen in an authoritarian regime..every generation needs to be reminded of it”
— Meera Korwar
“..Thank you! The young people really brought the story to life... And with what intensity, OMG!
— Dr Latha Muthanna
“.. every moment of it and I can’t wait to share the gallery. What a treat!
Sonia Frydrich, our volunteer photographer
“Congrats, it was a moment of poignancy. A great milestone for Mysore . I had to be there. It is changing the face of theatre in Mysore.”
— Shohaib
“Thank you so so much for giving me this opportunity . I feel like I've learned a lot. And had so much fun in the process. Truly the best play I've worked on.”
— Anupama
Contribute towards the Production of the Play
We want to crowd fund some of the production and rehearsals with your support.
Crowd Fund target: Rs.175000
ColorAshram is bearing the cost of directing, rehearsals, artworks-costume dyeing. painting & social media work
We are happy and grateful to The Jagannath Centre for Arts & Culture, Mysore to become our space partner and collaborator
Our co-founders, Namrata has put in Rs.10,000 and Arun has put in Rs.25,000 to the fund
Many people like supporting actors, volunteers, supporters have donated their time and energy to making of the play. The cost of sound and light will be taken out from ticket sales.
Current status of contributions from others received: 20th November: Rs.134000
OUR DONORS