Patna: Abhinay Arts Rangmandal, one of leading theatre groups in Bihar, staged a deeply moving play ‘Budhi Kaki’ at Saint Xavier’s Public School auditorium here on May 17.The emotionally charged performance left theatre lovers glued to their seats and tugged at their heartstrings from curtain rise to curtain fall.
Originally written by literary giant Munshi Premchand, the story revolves around a helpless old woman abandoned by those she once trusted with all her heart.
Budhi Kaki, left alone after losing her husband and sons, transfers all her property to her nephew Budhiram, hoping that the rest of her life will be spent peacefully and comfortably.But no sooner does Budhiram gain control of the property than his and his wife’s behavior towards Kaki changes completely. Kaki is treated as a burden in the house and is denied even square meals.
During the engagement ceremony of Budhiram’s son, the aroma of delicious dishes becomes too much for the starving old woman to bear. Driven by hunger, Kaki reaches the cooking area near the large pan of food, only to be publicly scolded by Budhiram and locked inside a room. The only person in the family who truly loves and cares for Kaki is Budhiram’s little daughter, Ladli. She secretly brings her own food and feeds Kaki.
The climax hits home when Rupa sees Kaki eating leftovers discarded near the cooking area. The scene serves as a wake-up call for her, filling her with remorse. She finally serves Kaki food with respect and care, but the damage has already been done.
The artistes pulled out all the stops to breathe life into their characters, with Manikant Choudhary and Kumari Anju need special mention as their portrayal of characters ‘Buddhiram’ and ‘Budhi Kaki’ was superb.
The play was adapted for stage and directed by Manikant Choudhury, the founder of Abhinay Arts Rangmandal. His deft handling of the narrative and keen eye for detail were evident in every scene, ensuring an engrossing viewing experience for the audience.
On the stage: Budhi Kaki: Kumari Anju
Ramdeen: Suman Kumar
Advocate/Dayal Babu: Ramesh Singh
Buddhiram: Manikant Choudhary
Mukhram/ Sutradhar: Rahul Goswami
Lado: Mayosha Bhagyalaxmi
Rupa: Divya Bharati
Off the stage:
Direction: Manikant Choudhary
Music: Manya Raj Laxmi
Make Up: Suman Kumar
Light Design: Rajib Roy
