Bhubaneswar: ‘Abhijana Tanka Biruddhare (A movement against Him) was staged at Bhanjakala Mandap in Bhubaneswar on May 1, on the first day of the monthly Natyadhara series.
While coming to the auditorium, I was caught in the ubiquitous evening traffic jam. By the time I reached the auditorium, the play had already been started.
When I entered the auditorium, it was like I could hear a pin drop. The theatre lovers seemed to having an engrossing viewing experience.
In no time, I found myself swaying with the story. The play was adapted from a story written by none other than legendary music director late Prafulla Kar and it was published in his short story column ‘Saunta Kahani’ in the Odia daily Dharitri. I had the opportunity of meeting him on several occasions and during our chit-chat he told me that the stories are actually inspired from daily happenings of life. He had the remarkable ability to narrate the changing contours of daily life.
The play revolves around two characters – Kalia, played by young theatre artiste Prakash Kumar Mohapatra and Dinesh Babu, played by noted theatre personality Naveen Parida.
Kalia is a Divyang person who lost his two legs in a train accident. An alcoholic, he moves around in the locality, on a trolley. Every day, he comes to the temple and hurls abuses at the God, holding Him responsible for his state.
“In society, there are many such people who are committing crimes, yet they are living happy and luxurious lives. On the other hand, You have ruined my life for a minor crime like traveling in a train without ticket. Why? Why You are so selfish?” he would ask.
One day, when he is hurling abuses at the God in front of the temple, the priest along with some youths starts beating him up. Just then, Dinesh Babu arrives and comes to Kalia’s rescue. He takes him to his house in his car.
At home, Dinesh Babu and his wife takes care him. After applying medicine on his wounds, they offer him some food. Dinesh Babu gives him alcohol as well.
Then Dinesh Babu wants to know Kalia’s past.
Kalia says he, his brother and sister-in-law were leaving happily. His brother was labouring hard to make him educated. He was reading in a college. He was in love with a girl and both decided to live together after college. Like any other day, one day he was traveling in a train without ticket. That day, he ran out of his luck. A TTE came towards him while checking tickets. Fearing punishment, he jumped off the moving train and came under the wheels. His two legs had to be amputated. His brother spent a lot of money to cure him. But thereafter, he noticed his brother and sister-in-law quarrelling. One day, he eavesdropped them quarrelling and realised that he was the centre of their quarrel. That day he decided to leave the house.
After giving him a patient hearing, Dinesh Babu gives him some money and asks him to start a new life.
Cut to Dinesh Babu’s marriage anniversary day. He and his wife are cutting cake when Kalia along with the youths who hangs out near the temple and the priest enters wishing both of them a happy marriage anniversary.
Then Kalia in tearful eyes says, “Sir, I am running a shop near the temple. I am selling flowers, coconuts and other Puja articles. The good news is that my brother and sister-in-law are staying with me. I am living a happy life now. But, what I am today is due to you.”
The theatre lovers were seated glued to their seats all throughout the play till the artistes and designers took a curtain call.
While all the artistes did their best, senior theatre personality Naveen Parida and Prakash Mohapatra portrayed their characters brilliantly.
Pragyandutta Sahu’s minimalistic stage design and Debabrata Pattanayak’s play adaptation, dialogue and direction need special mention.
In a scene, Dinesh Babu describes how birds visiting to his rooftop help each other.
Here, the director wants to send out the message that if we help each other and live peacefully, then there would be peace and happiness everywhere.
I wish this play should visit theatre festivals across the nation.
