Nasseruddin Shah nites!
For the theatre-lovers and Nasseruddin Shah aficionados, it was indeed a thrilling weekend. The Down Syndrome Association of Tamil Nadu along with Madras Round Table #1 and Mukthi, an NGO that is engaged in the making of artificial limbs for the physically challenged people presented two fund-raising plays ‘Ismat Aapa Ke Naam’ and ‘Dear Liar’ directed by Nasseruddin Shah at the Music Academy.
The events kicked off with the screening of a short film on the diagnosis and treatment of Downs Syndrome. ‘Ismat Aapa Ke Naam’, the Hindi play staged on Saturday was based on three women-centric short stories written by the Urdu writer Ismat Chugtai. Nasseruddin, Ratna Pathak and Heeba Shah enacted the roles of the three protagonists in the stories. The first was Heeba Shah’s realistic presentation of a rural woman who unexpectedly gives birth to her child in a crowded railway compartment. The second is the portrayal of an abandoned Mughal queen Gori Bi, enacted by Ratna Pathak Shah. The third is of course the rendition of the lively and amusing Lajjo by the unrivalled Nasseruddin himself. All three stories are joined together seamlessly into a beautifully textured and touchingly crafted drama. Indeed it was a completely novel experience to the house full of audiences of the evening.
‘Dear Liar’, the next day’s play was enacted by Nasseruddin as well as Ratna Pathak. The play explores in detail and depth the relationship between the actress Patrick Campbell and the famous writer George Bernard Shaw. The two-hour bonanza designed for the evening was presented as an ensemble through the string of letters Shaw and Campbell had written to each other. The deep relationship between them finds expression as Shaw names Ms. Campbell as an enchantress and when the elusive yet intelligent actress affably calls him an entertaining clown, named Joey. Forty years of the lettered relationship comes to a close when Shaw approaches old-age and Ms.Campbell, after encountering domestic failures, explores a brief career in the movies and dies a quiet death. Both Nasseruddin and Ratna bring the relationship alive through a enjoyably kinky representation. The typically English setting, costumes and props and the soft musical riffs transported us to a completely different world and time.
Both the plays won avid appreciation from the audience because of its classic and punchy highlights and flawless presentations. Both are indeed grand demonstrations of the success of such message-oriented plays that were choreographed in the most dynamic fashion. The credit of the success is equally shared by Nasseruddin Shah for his craftsmanship and execution and also by the enchantresses of the evenings, Ratna and Heeba.
