DSDO presented the play "Aao Tanik Prem Karen" on 16.7.2018 in Patna

Crooning in the midst of tempest 
हिन्दी में पूरी समीक्षा  यहाँ पढ़िए - यहाँ क्लिक कीजिए

It's undoubtedlly a man's world where both man and woman work outdoor but it's only woman who is supposed to take full charge of indoor chores. Not only this, if a man protrude his working hours to late night it is just an occurrence of nasty workload but if a woman returns late just for  an hour it's a sign of  bad character if not adultery. A man can flaunt his impudent love affairs with three damsels before his wife in all of its possible ramifications but a woman is worthy to be forsaken if she dares to narrate even her single childhood affair with some male. It's only possible in man's  world where a daughter cannot express her choice before her father and has no way but to elope with no sign of reconsideration in the heart of her father. The show presented  beautifully all of these issues in an emphatic manner. 

But yes, it was not just a running commentary of conjugal fight, the show digs further to strive for engineering cordiality in the bickering life-partners. After all, the ethos evolved through centuries can not go away in a jiffy. And for that you have to make continuous efforts for generations. Obviously life is short and why not enjoy it with the life partner who is otherwise very considerate and good-hearted one. See, he is not alone to blame for creating this man-dominated society. So, why not focus on the love moments which you have missed since last thirty years because of office works and family responsibilities. Whenever the wife felt her internal drive for love all her gesticulations were brutally ignored by her husband because either of tiredness or the self-erected barrier of chidrens presence. After all, what wrong would have happened if the husband told "Oh the colour of curtain is superb, the food you served was incredibly savory, the sari you wear is magical and your smile is fabulous!" And the viewer would consider such a disgruntled wife not less than a goddess who even while being in completely different mood bears the salacious attack on her fleshy body without any protest just to satisfy his physical urge.

And we must salute this Indian couple who even after a series of tearing ideological fight builds up an understanding in their sixties to embrace each other with true emotionality. This is sheer magic of the playwright who in the midst of all vortex and tempest of horrid hostility, sailed the story through an intensely passionate air of man-woman love in the climax. The audience remained lost in the play while their identities were being lived by the actors on the stage.

It would be true to say that Vivek Kumar (husband) and Rubi Khatun (wife) were not just acting they were breathing in the characters. A fantastic show of their mettle by the two only actors playing husband and wife. Their facial expressions were telling and dialogue delivery was moving. The countenance, the emphasis, the movements of eyes and lips were coming from the souls. This all was scripting more than the words of playwright and creating  a perfect real-life tension as found in every couple in your and our houses. 

The kitchen rightly occupying a prominent space just in the left middle of the stage was an apt thought of Probodh Vishwakarma (set-design). Opulent sofa, curtain and table-cloth constituted an ambiance where people may concentrate on relationship matters. This arrangement was done by Jitendra Kr. Jitu (set-decoration),  Lights of Ravi Verma was flawless and showed its prowess also when both husband and wife were engaged in warm amorous conversation while letting both of their feet hanging down through the front side of the stage. Md Jafar Aam selected very poignant popular songs fitting well in the scenes and used them precisely. Rajesh Kr,  Suraj Prakash,  Kr Uday Singh, and Dr Shalendra also contributed to this play  value-ably. 

The credit must also go to the director Swaram Upadhyay who took the best from the actors out.  The selection of spots on he stage where a particular dialogue would be delivered was brilliant!  Swaram knows it well that direction  is not synonymous with commands but it is the other name of letting the actors do how they feel. The show survives in the minds of the viewers as a  reminiscent for lifetime. 

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Review by - Hemant Das 'Him'

Photographs by - Binay Kumar

E-mail of the editorbiharidhamaka@yahoo.com

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