Chaitra - The Advent of Life

September 1, 2008 | Filed Under Theatre & Movies 

Happened to see a play today. It was called Chaitra. My first play in Pune. It was performed by students of National Center of Performing Arts in association with National School of drama. The play was directed by Mohit Takalkar. It was announced that he was leaving for London soon to work with the Royal Shakespeare Theatre for a few months. I hope he comes back, he is an amazing talent and theatre in India needs him. The two plays (his) that I have seen and he has directed seem to be inspired by the theatre of the absurd. Waiting for Godot by Beckett is the best example of such plays.

Chaitra is based on Tagore’s lyrical play and has sufi touches to it. Needless to say I thoroughly enjoyed it.

It was performed in two acts. One act was in the lobby and the second was in the theatre. The play was being shown inside Pune University at an auditorium called Namdeo Sabhagriha. The theatre was packed on both days and it just tells how beautiful an audience Pune has. Pune is probably culturally at par with Calcutta. Both the cities have an intellectual audience and love art. I am glad to be in this city.

In the first act I particularly liked the character of Kavi Rakhshasi Bhushan, played by a girl, playing man in a moustache, who for her dimunitive frame had a great throw of voice. In fact most of the students showed talent and the play was entertaining as well as thought provoking - like theatre of the absurd should be. Great team effort and it’s an absolute must watch.

Earlier in the day, I woke up from my afternoon siesta because of a loud bang. It almost felt like a bomb had exploded. But it was probably a cloud burst. Pune had heavy rainfall in the evening. I had bicycled to the auditorium. Oh! yes I have bought a bicycle :). On the way back, I had to bicycle back in the rain.

As I was bicycling down a gentle slope of the university campus on a dark road with lots of rain splashin on my face, I wondered if that was what happiness in its purest form was. I was smiling and breathing through my mouth. Chaitra, which means Spring seemed to have paid a personal visit to me in another form.

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