Bhubaneswar: Odia play ‘Sesharu Aarambha’, in English it means ‘beginning from the end’, revolves around an aged couple who are married for 35 years.
After living together for long 35 years under one roof, Chandrakanta Mishra and Chitralekha decide to part ways. They are no longer on speaking terms. To get their daily chores done, they employ servants. While Biju is to obey Chitralekha’s orders, Beauty is for Chandrakanta. They even consult an advocate to file a petition for divorce. However, the court rejects the petition, stating the couple hasn’t furnished sufficient valid reasons for divorce.
On their marriage anniversary day, they separately ask a family friend named Ratikanta, who has a medicine shop, to bring poison for them to kill mice.
At night, they wear new clothes, cut cake and have favourite food. In the meantime, Chandrakanta mixes poison in his glass of juice in absence of Chitralekha. Similarly, Chitralekha pours the entire bottle into her glass in Chandrakanta’s absence. Later, they drink their juice and fall into deep sleep, sitting on sofa with heads resting on each other’s.
In the morning, Ratikanta, Biju and Beauty have to break open the door as none of the couple answers their knocks on the door.
In the room, they find motionless bodies of Chandrakanta and Chandralekha on the sofa, in a sitting position.
Here, the director gives a twist to the story. Ratikanta, instead of crying out of surprise asked Biju to bring a glass of water and sprinkle water on them. Upon this, they regain consciousness, bringing smile on Ratikanta, Biju and Beauty. Ratikanta then reveals that he gave them sleeping solution, instead of poison. Thus two lives are saved.
The play has a happy ending with Biju and Beauty exchanging garlands.
While rising cases of suicide are being reported every day, the play’s message was loud and clear that suicide can never be the solution of our problems.
Director Satya Jena tried his level best to make the play a complete package of entertainment. It had romance, tragedy and comedy. The flow of the play took the audience along with it, giving them little time to get out of it. They remained glued to their seats throughout the play.
As always, Nabin Parida did full justice to his character. His performance was quite up to the mark. Similarly, Sonika Sahu, Bipin Mishra, Bijay Rath, Subhashree Sahu and Deviprasad Das did justice to their roles of Chitralekha, Ratikanta, Biju and Beauty respectively.
The stage design and minimal use of props need special mention.
But, the furniture, though looked innovative, didn’t go well with this reviewer. In the entire set up of the drawing room, they stood out as odd man.
A clock was used in the play. It was hung on the wall in the room. But it was a dead one. Had it been a ticking one, it would have been better.
Shakti Prasad Mishra’s music played a character in the play. Stage craft by Trimurti Art.
Written by Dillip Balabantray, the play was staged by Bhubaneswar based Labanya Theatre and it was it’s 27th play.
