'Majahabi' - a play directed by Mithilesh Singh staged in Patna on 13.11.2017

Blog pageview last count- 45513 (View current figure on computer or web version of 4G mobile)

Live up to the standing you carry in the eyes of people 

(Drama Review in English - by Hemant Das 'Him')

हिंदी में इस नाटक की दूसरी समीक्षा यहाँ पढ़िए http://biharidhamaka.blogspot.in/2017/11/13112017.html

Sakina, a beautiful though sturdy woman is fighting with her conscience on the point whether she should go along the cosy life she has been able to weave for herself facing host of huge difficulties or should make a move towards upkeep of people's faith in religious institutions.  In a strange contradiction of the turns, a woman presumably a harlot is keen to maintain the religious dictum hardily whereas the authority of the religion is himself strongly against any of such move. An ideological fight ensues between the partners of an illicit relationship and ultimately Sakina loses her life.

Sakina had come to the house of Hashmat as her wife with her two children and that is why she and her children from earlier relationship are not accepted by the mother of Hashmat. Her husband Hashmat turns out to be a boozer and is used to come to his house fully stoned. The mother-in-law insults her with biting words every now and then. But Sakina is also not the less. She responds in the same language showing stances even harder verbally and physically. Being forced to be used as a playground for the demonstration of the proverb 'tit for tat' the house of Hashmat's father turns into a perfect chaos. The old headman of the family tries his best to pacify the wife and the mother of his son. But, you know, when two 'Sarees' come to fighting each other, even the strongest 'Shirt' on this earth can best suit as a silent spectator. At this tumultuous juncture, a muslim cleric well known to the house gets to visiting frequently.

As Husband is a penniless drunken thief sort of person she is helpless from all corners. Naturally she is attracted towards the cleric Maulana Barakatullah who shows a lot of sympathy for her and more importantly offers money to her empty hands. Sakina and Maulana spend good time together and relationship slips into a physical one.

When the session of merrymaking precipitates in the form of pregnancy of Sakina, Maulana is disturbed. He fears if people knew that this child is his then his position as 'Imaam' would be endangered. He advises Sakina to get aborted. Sakina is non-compliant and asks Maulana to forsake the religious post of 'Imam' so as to save the people's faith in 'Imamat' from getting hurt. Maulana believes that the religious post of 'Imam' is a saviour for him from by concealing his wrongdoing such a illicit relationship. Sakina is killed by Maulana.

Though Sakina is seemingly wrongdoer while making love to a man other than her husband, the audience do not abhor her as whatever she does is just a measure to keep her existence up. When her mother-in-law and husband are not maintaining her financially, there should be someone to take care of herself and children. Maulana helped her innumerable time emotionally and financially though is disliked by the audience because he did not stand to his credentials. 

Another parallel anecdote  shores the drama up enormously. While sleeping Sakina sees that there is one 'sadhu' (saint) his with two disciples. One old businessman comes to them and requests to keep his jewelry in their safe custody as some robbers are likely to enter his house. The saadhus take his jewelry. After some days the man comes again to them and asks for his jewelry. The head of 'sadhu' orders his disciples to return his wealth promptly and escort him to his house safely. The disciples comply the order but they are irate when returned. They ask as all of them are just posing as sadhus in daytime and make plunder when it is night,  why his boss returned the easily got wealth of the businessman. The boss says that it is true that they loot others at night but in daytime they are posing as sadhus and people regard them as the same so their faith should not be hurt. 

The above dream of Sakina openes her eyes that ok she and Maulana are in illicit relationship but at least now Maulana should resign from the post of cleric (imaam) so as not to deceive with the genuine faith of people in the religious institution. The rest story you know.

The original story of Shamoal Ahmad with the title 'Oont' is remodeled as the present script by Mithilesh Singh who was also the director of the play. His direction was fine and the actors lived up to the demands of the characters. The sher-o-shaiyaris (poems) by the team of singers were presented on-stage and the experiment of presenting the singers on stage in the form of TV screen was marvelous. Their melodious songs and shayaris kept the audience enthralled all the time and the play never lost its charisma. The other factor of the charisma was the glut of romance all over the whole sequence of the play. Sakina, a beautiful woman comes into love first with a handsome young man Hashmat and then with another handsome cleric Maulana. The play is full of amorous visuals inclusive of the bed scenes. Though of course, the director has taken care as it should not reduce to sheer sensuality. Watching this play was a happy experience for the whole audience. 

The floor of the stage was used extensively by the matured actors with lighting and sound well ensuring the seamless delivery of the sequences. The costumes and make-up were also up to the mark. Though the message coming out of the of shayaris were not fully aligned with the oncoming narrative of the story, they were used as gap fillers and making the saga somewhat more musical. The stage design with the towers of mosque standing in the background was appealing as the whole play was centred on the very issue of the  upkeep of genuine religious faith of people. Though the stage setup of singers in a TV screen was experimental and was perhaps a successful attempt of adding pure entertainment value regardless of strong link with the story. Sakina, Hashmat, Maulana, parents of Hashmat, sepahis-inspector and all others presented good acting. The whole team should be applauded for presenting a superbly entertaining play with a an impressive delivery of the of a very pertinent message for the present time that -''akidat ki kadra honi hi chahiye'' means integrity must be upheld. 

Manish Mahiwal (Maulana), Priti Kumari (Sakina) , Babli Kumari (Multani), Uday Sagar (Rahmat Ali) , Rajni Sharan (Begam Rahamat), Raas Raaz (Hashmat Ali), Sujit Kr, Abhishek Anand, Dipak Chauhan, Ashish Kr Vidyarthi,Virendra Kr, Yogesh C. Srivastava, Md. Ashif, Surendra Kr, Amit Raj, Md. Imran, Md. Johney etc. were on stage actors. While Ravi Bhushan was on lighting, Abhinmanyu and Uday were behind costumes and make-up, stage-design was made by Ranjit Verma.

........

Review made by : Hemant Das 'Him'

Photograher:  Hemant 'Him'

E-mail: hemantdas_2001@yahoo.com