Is everybody fine?
DIWAN SINGH BAJELI
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“Sab Kuchh Chakachak” is a feather in the cap of Sanskaar Rang Toli.
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Sanskaar Rang Toli (Theatre in Education Company), National School of Drama, has been presenting meaningful and entertaining plays for children, pioneering a strong movement for children’s theatre in the country. Among its memorable plays are stage adaptations of Prem Chand’s short stories, highlighting his moral realism that stirs young minds, helping them grow as right-minded human beings.
Its latest production of “Sub Kuchh Chakaachak” is yet another feather in its cap. The production is significant in more than one way. It deals with the most burning issue of our times, about the development through dispossessing farmers of their land.This highly complicated issue is presented in artistic terms comprehensible to the young audience.
Directed by Kirti Jain, a senior faculty member of NSD and its former director, the script is conceived through objective observations and interactions between the director and the cast. It has been given a formal dramatic shape by writer and actress Vibha Deshpande who was part of GRIPS theatre activities in Berlin and, on her return to India, had directed and written Indian GRIPS plays. The Hindi translation is done by Chetan.
Real life
It all begins with five students of an affluent public school working on a project about future India . One of the students is from a village. As the students collect materials, interact with farmers and observe the social conditions in which they live, the students confront issues that are stark and painful. They try to weave images of the rural landscape with the contradictions that underlie the process of progress and development in a capitalistic society.
The action shifts to different locales - urban and rural. The acting area of Sammukh auditorium in NSD is imaginatively used to move dramatic action in a rhythmic and smooth manner. Similarly, it offers glimpses of high society, its hypocrisy, its affluence and its exploitative and inhuman class character in the midst of the miserable living conditions of the masses. Some of the scenes, like the forcible uprooting of farmers from their land and home are perceptibly conceptualized and effectively executed. These scenes shock the conscience of the audience and awaken the social consciousness of the youngsters as they confront the real face of development. They feel impelled to sympathise and support the cause of the farmers.
This is not to suggest that a grim and tense atmosphere prevails throughout. The students’ interaction with the grandmother of Harish is lively, as they are touched by her humanity.
The imagery created in the denouement aptly reveals the human cost involved in the so-called industrial growth, in the era of liberalisation and SEZ. The scene is designed to warn of the social chaos and misery thatreckless capitalistic development could create. The use of songs, set to easily accessible tunes, reinforces the intent of the production, imparting it aural beauty. The title of the play “Sub Kuchh Chakaachak” -- everything is plentiful -- is mordantly ironic.
The value of the sleek production is enhanced by brilliant performances, particularly by Purnima Kharga as the grandmother and Sunder Chhabra, who appeared in a variety of roles, and Barnali Medhi as Harish’s mother.
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