Plays from the past, relevant to our times
What’s common to Saif Ali Khan’s portrayal of Langda Tyagi in the film Omkara (2006), Shahid Kapoor’s descent into madness in Haider (2013), the rib-tickling ride of Gulzar’s 1981 film Angoor, and the chaos of Sharat Katariya’s 10ml Love (2012)? Well, all of these were from films adapted from Shakespearean plays, and fans in the Capital now have a chance to rejoice. An adaptation of the Bard’s comedy Taming of the Shrew, is coming to Delhi.
Called Albeli Naar, the play is a part of a three-day theatre festival organised by Three Arts Club. The first day will have performances by schoolchildren, the second will feature Albeli Naar, and the play Hatya Ek Aakar Ki will be staged on days three and four.
Albeli Naar retains the classic story of the courtship of Petruchio and Katherina, and shows how Petruchio tries to ‘tame’ her, but in languages like Hindi, Bundelkhandi, Urdu, Haryanvi, and Punjabi, says director Sohaila Kapur.
Amit, who plays Petruchio in the play, says bringing characters from a different time and place to the modern Indian context was interesting. “What was relevant to European society centuries ago is still relevant to some groups of our society today. My character is shown as getting married for dowry, but he also loves the girl. He treats his wife as someone to be tamed but is proud of her strength.”
Director of Hatya Ek Aakar Ki, MK Raina says it took him two months to come up with the production. “It’s a 60-yearold play that was forgotten. But I knew the play very well and studied it to dedicate to Gandhi, on his 150th birth anniversary. This play is about the assassination of Gandhi and [shows] a mock trial,” says Raina. “There will be a sudden realisation that we haven’t been able to resolve the issues that existed when Gandhi was assassinated.”