The complex relationship of Arjuna and Chitrangada in Mahabharata raises issues of beauty, feminism, racism and patriarchy that continue to engage our thought processes even now.
Rabindranath Tagore’s drama Chitrangada had explored its nuances in depth. The timeless quality in Tagore’s writing finds a theatrical representation by Bengaluru-based theatre group Red Polka Productions’ Chitraa , a modernised English version of Tagore’s work this week.
Handling mythological interpretations on stage is not easy, but directors Prataya Saha and Shatarupa Bhattacharyya didn’t find the challenge insurmountable . “Theatre gives a creative liberty to interpret a character from various perspectives. We didn’t want to go by the conventional idea of Chitrangada as the queen of Manipur. The idea is to help the audiencerelate to the narrative. We didn’t have to work hard for that,” they explain. . Chitraa explores beauty standards set by society and the way in which it is externally perceived. For instance, the director duo wanted to do an allegory in beauty enhancing jobs, where people go under the knife.
Tagore’s version reinterpreting the epic story for the transient nature of beauty, appealed to them. It’s believed that the writer set out to pen Chitrangada as he travelled from Calcutta to Shantiniketan by train across different seasons. What was once greenand blooming were withered with time, he found. Shatarupa says, “His writing was ahead of his time and nothing of what he’s written has changed now too.”
Prataya Saha and Shatarupa Bhattacharyya
Prataya who has translated and Tagore’s work in English comes from a film background and Shatarupa from theatre; the amalgamation of ideas works to their advantage. Shatarupa says, “It’s a mixture of two different visions that create a third dimension to a story.” Perhaps that’s why many viewers have called Chitraa , a cinematic experience. The use of orchestral music, dance, drama besides situational humour offers variety.
Flexible production design helps them adapt to venues quickly. “The change is more on the artistic process. We know how to make the play work with minimal props, it’s something that can be packed in a car. I started my theatre career in Hyderabad at Lamakaan, this is place has people who are very aware and conscious of good art,” Shatarupa mentions. The duo hopes to take the play beyond metros and have worked hard to ensure Chitraa’s appeal beyond the Bengali community, with some creative liberty in the initial portions of the play, and by trying to present it as an intense romance relevant to the modern woman.
(Chitraa by Red Polka Productions in association with Lahe Lahe, starring Surya Vasishta and Anshulika Kapoor will be staged at Lamakaan on June 2, 7.30 pm)
