Jaipur: The city theatre aficionados were in for a real treat on April 30 as ‘Jaisa Tum Kaho (As You Say)’, written by Jayavardhan, conceptualized and directed by Keshav Gupta, was staged by the artistes of Universal Theatre Academy at the Krishnayan Auditorium of the Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK) in Rajasthan’s Jaipur on April 30.
The play proved to be a rollercoaster ride—equal parts laughter and lump-in-the-throat emotion.
Rooted in the spirit of Kabir’s timeless wisdom—think “act in haste, repent at leisure”—the play, a family drama, unfolds through the playful banter between a husband and wife. But beneath the lighthearted exchanges lie a deeper, bittersweet truth: the growing trend of children flying the nest for greener pastures abroad, often leaving their parents to grapple with empty homes and heavier hearts.
The play also features satirical commentary regarding the working style and professional status of lawyers. The role of the domestic servant is portrayed in the manner of a jester or comic relief.
Throughout the play, the anguish of loneliness—and the ensuing complications—are depicted through a blend of humor and satire.
The play zeroes in on an elderly couple struggles with loneliness after their son settles abroad. In an attempt to fill the void, the landlady decides to take in a tenant. As the tenant hails from the landlady’s own village, she feels an emotional bond with him; consequently, instead of collecting rent, she continues to provide him with financial assistance.
What starts as kindness soon becomes a bone of contention between the couple, setting the stage for friction at home.Meanwhile, the household help steps in as the comic spark, cracking jokes and cutting through the tension, while quietly pulling the strings that keep the narrative moving forward.
The play also takes a cheeky dig at the legal profession, adding another layer of satire to the mix.
The story takes a twist when the son, settled abroad, suddenly returns home, and the play concludes—shifting abruptly from comedy to pathos—on a deeply poignant note. Through this production, a satirical critique is also leveled against the fascination with foreign lands prevalent in Indian society and the attendant realities associated with it.
Through wit, irony, and a fair share of tongue-in-cheek moments, the production holds up a mirror to society’s fascination with life abroad, reminding the audience that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
Keshav Gupta’s deft direction and the artistes’ strong portrayal of characters contributed to the success of the play, bringing to life the complexities of an elderly couple’s relationship, the agony of loneliness, the void left by a son settling abroad, and the tensions arising from the arrival of new people in their lives—evoking hearty laughter from the audience at times, and moving them to tears at others.
Some scenes clearly stole the show, lingering in viewers’ minds long after the curtains fell.
Keshav Gupta’s light design and Ishan’s evocative background music added the icing on the cake, perfectly elevating the emotional impact of the performance.
On Stage: Purushottam Rana (Arjun Dev), Lakshmi (Richa Paliwal), Kamal Saxena (Madhav Avatar), Deepa Saxena (Yashaswini Jangid), and Mangal (Aman Kumar)
Off Stage: Kedar Goyal (Voice-over), Keshav Gupta (Lighting), Riya Saini (Makeup), Oshi Gupta (Costume Design), Ishan (Background Music), Ram Kishan (Set Design), Jugal Kishore Khatri (Set Props), Aryan Singh and Maitreya Singh (Backstage Support), and Seema Gupta (stage Manager).
Established in 1992 by Keshav Gupta, a dedicated theater personality who has done his PG in Drama from Rajasthan University, Universal Theatre Academy was initially associated with a school and cultural programmes. From 2025, it has actively been involved in theatre festivals, street plays, workshops, seminars etc.
