Kolkata: The Kolkata theatre aficionados were treated to a thought-provoking performance as Subhasgram Abirbhab Theatre Society premiered its latest production ‘Anyo Kono Samay’ at Muktangan Rangalaya on July 27.
The play didn’t let the theatre lovers down as its director Dr. Bishal Bhattacharya offered this hard-hitting reality-check to them wrapped in the form of a play, staying true to the belief that theatre is a mirror to society.
Penned by Sanjoy Chattopadhyay, the play stood out not only for its gripping story telling but for its gut-punching commentary on the state of society and the unseen monsters that wear the mask of civility.
Set in the corruption-ridden Raninagar municipality, the play revolves around three pivotal characters — Ranjan (played soulfully by Deep Bhowmik), his love Nandini (a moving portrayal by Tiyasa Chattopadhyay), and the antagonist councilor Gunodhar Samanto (Deepak Chatterjee, convincingly vile).
What begins as a simple tale of love and resistance quickly spirals into a chilling depiction of abuse of power, false convictions, and social injustice.
When Ranjan, an upright and outspoken youth, takes up the cudgels against Gunodhar’s illegal empire, he ends up being framed for a heinous crime — the rape of Nandini — committed by Gunodhar’s own hired goons.
As the plot thickens, Ranjan is sent to jail, and the audience is left to pick up the emotional wreckage left in his absence.
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As the audience found they were completely immersed in the play, they were left with some poignant questions: Why did Nandini remain silent in court? What becomes of Gunodhar? And most of all, will Ranjan rise again like a phoenix from the ashes?
Beneath the surface, ‘Anyo Kono Samay’ subtly invokes echoes of Tagore’s Rakta Karabi, drawing parallels between the king’s tyranny and today’s syndicate-driven political reality.
It reminds us that behind the smiling faces of some in power, wolves often lurk in sheep’s clothing.
The theatre lovers praised the entire team for its courageous take on issues that reflect the current social and political landscape.
The wise use of some poems of eminent writer and playwright Nabarun Bhattacharya in the play not just makes the play more appealing but also suggests the director’s brilliance.
While Deep Bhowmik, Tiyasa Chattopadhyay, Deepak Chatterjee did a commendable job, the other artistes like Sagar Banik (Nanka), Sourav Das (Kishore), Souomitra Gupta (Professor), Gopal Biswas (Bishtuda), Pratik Modak (Chitka) and Pinki Das (Chandra) tried their best to give justice to their characters.
The scenography by Dr. Bishal Bhattacharya, stage and set designed by Richik Bagchi, lighting by Bablu Sarkar, and music by Sabyasachi Pal, need special mention as they came together like cogs in a well-oiled machine in making the staging success.
As the curtain fell and the audience started to leave the auditorium, there was one thing on everyone’s mind-the play urges to look within and around, to recognize the Ranjan in yourself, and to question the silence we often condone in the face of injustice.
The theatre group, Subhasgram Abirbhab Theatre Society, saw the light of the day on March 13, 2020 when the whole world was fighting against an invisible enemy, Covid-19.
Brainchild of Dr Bishal Bhattacharya, it is five-year-old, yet it has already created a name in the state’s theatre world by staging thought-provoking plays like ‘Kalbaisakhi’, ‘Abak Tikakaran’ and ‘Dine’.
