Winsome threesome

DIWAN SINGH BAJELI

Mohan Rakesh Natya Samaroh featured some sensitive plays focusing mostly on women – their importance and exploitation.


The three-day Mohan Rakesh Natya Samaroh organised by Sahitya Kala Parishad, Delhi, is a significant step to discover fresh talent in the field of Hindi playwriting. Over the years, this annual festival has been evoking tremendous response from theatre lovers as well as from young playwrights to see the award-winning plays selected through an All-India competition organised by the Parishad. Through this competition, started in 1982, some plays like “Taj Mahal Ka Tender” and “Court Martial” were discovered and ever since these are being frequently seen on the stage.
The festival opened with “Dilli Jo Ek Shahar Tha” written by Danish Iqbal, who has distinguished himself in many creative fields like theatre, film, television and script writing. Directed by Bharti Sharma, a graduate from National School of Drama and well known for her sensitive stage direction and acting, the play deals with the ignominious defeat of Nasir-ud-Din Muhammad Shah at the hands of Nadir Shah followed by the massacre of the people of Delhi and indiscriminate plunder of the royal treasury. As the play unfolds the rise and fall of Muhammad Shah, its focus centres on the treachery of subedars and military chieftains and court intrigues that are responsible for the defeat of the emperor. In contrast, Noor, an accomplished courtesan who loves the emperor for his humane qualities and patronage for art and culture, displays rare courage and unshakable loyalty for the defeated emperor. In her confrontation with the conqueror she inflicts moral defeat on him and refuses to surrender to the lust of the brutal invader.
A properly constructed dramatic piece, the dialogue, especially in the scene that shows the confrontation between Noor and Nadir Shah, is at its dramatic best. Deep Kumar as Nadir Shah is brilliantly cast. As soon as he enters the scene the production acquires dramatic momentum. Bharti Sharma as Noor gives a convincing performance. As Noor she faces Nadir Shah with dignity and courage. Mohit Tripathi's Nasir-ud-Din Muhammad Shah is alcoholic but he retains his sanity, common sense and appreciation of the arts.
Mere puppet
Prize-winning play “Kahan Mera Ujiyara” by Nairanjana Shrivastav, a young playwright, poetess and feature writer, is directed by Surendra Sharma, a seasoned director and founder of Rang Saptak. Against the backdrop of ancient Egypt, the pathetic story of an Egyptian Queen is revealed. She is a mere puppet in the hands of her ministers and priests who force her to marry her own son. Unable to face her formidable enemies she along with her slave-turned-husband, commits suicide. The play opens inside a pyramid with the dead king surrounded by slaves who indulge in polemics on the morality of their impending death and with them court secrets will also bury. The play changes direction and its dramatic conflict becomes weak. The conflict appears to be resolved abruptly.
The best part of the production is its imaginatively designed set which could be transformed into various locales – the inner part of the pyramid, the place where rituals are performed and the chamber of the queen. The production conveys its message that women in all ages whether a queen of a housewife are exploited by a male dominated society.
The festival ended with the staging of Meera Kant's “Uttar Prashn” under the direction of eminent director Satish Anand. Presented mainly through the female point of view, it indicts men including Lord Krishna, for their anti-women world outlook. In recent years, Meera has emerged as a sensitive dramatist who explores various themes within the framework of a dramatic structure.
The milieu and characters are drawn from the Mahabharat and through these characters the contemporary struggle of women to get themselves empowered is conveyed logically. Satish's production is neat, well-rehearsed, evoking period atmosphere and brings the characters alive.
Ashish Sharma as Krishna impresses the audience with his stage presence, style of delivery and movements. Saptpani as queen Yashomati gives a powerful performance. Her queen is bold, intelligent and farsighted and is able to frustrate the evil designs of her courtiers and priest to dethrone her.