New Delhi: There are some acts that leave an indelible impact on you and your perception about various things in life. One such play is Pankaj Kapur’s one-act play of his novella ‘Dopehri’ that not managed to strike a chord with the audience but also received a standing ovation at the ongoing theatre festival Bharat Rang Mahotsav at NSD. Being an ex-student of NSD, the actor’s delight to be back to his alma mater was quite evident in his performance.
‘Dopehri’ was written by the critically acclaimed actor 20 years back. The story revolves around the life of an old woman Amma Bi who’s almost living alone in a ‘laal haveli’ in the Nawabi city of Lucknow with only two people attending to her; her servant Jumman and her husband’s friend Dr. Saxena. When one delves deeper into the play’s title, it might seem to be a misnomer as the protagonist’s life is neither warm nor sunny.
However, as the play unfolds Amma Bi’s journey from loneliness to self-discovery grabs your attention so much so that you actually start considering yourself as an integral part of her life. Sabeha, who enters the scene as a paying guest not only becomes a daughter to Amma Bi but also ends up helping her to rediscover her own identity – Mumtaz Siddique – which had got lost in the maze of relationships.
While there’s only one man narrating the tale on-stage, you’ll find yourself in awe of all the characters who enter and exit via Pankaj Kapur. And there comes a point where you forget that there’s just a single man on stage, courtesy his brilliant performance. From Amma Bi’s impactful tone to Jumman’s submissiveness; every character leaves an impact.
The stage setup takes you through the various nooks and corners of the mansion in a mesmerising way. The huge mansion, in which she was bought in as the bride, now lies amidst the dust and a leafless tree with kites clinging to its branches; a symbolic representation of her own life. Juxtaposition of a bare tree with a beautiful lamp at another corner and a wooden rocking chair at the centre; everything is just tailor made to fit the mundane life of the protagonist. Another striking feature of this play is the perfect sync of music and lighting which bathes the stage according to the varying moods from the story.
Needless to say, this act is such a fine play of gamut of moods and situations that as the end approaches, you find yourself with moist eyes and a faint smile.
Kapur and his wife Supriya Pathak have set their own production house Theatron with ‘Dopehri’ as its first production. ‘Kanak Di Balli’, ‘Alberts Bridge’ and ‘Panchvan Savaar’ are only some of the noted directorials from the actor.
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