It seemed an ordinary day for five women travelling by the Metro. Until the train stalls due to a technical glitch. And the women get talking. Thus unravels the lives of a socialite, a middle-aged woman, a house maid who is a single parent, a woman working in the corporate sector, and a police inspector. This is the plot of Pooja Pandey Tripathi’s play Ladies Compartment that will be performed at Atta Galatta, marking their tenth show.
Directed, produced, and co-written by Tripathi with her sister, Aarti Pandey, Ladies Compartment addresses the daily struggles women face, and has a strong local flavour. “That is because the dialogues are a mix of Punjabi and Haryanvi,” says Tripathi. “As they get talking, the women learn from each other’s problems,” she says, explaining the plot further.But the play isn’t exclusively for women. “I remember a girl had insisted her boyfriend accompany her to watch the play. After the show, he came to tell me how much he enjoyed it, and said this was the best thing his girlfriend has ever done for him,” Tripathi laughs as she reminisces. The play also has a narrator, who is a transgender. “The play is a look at how even though there will always be problems, it is your attitude that determines how you deal with them.”
The show has received an overwhelming response, says Tripathi, “We got a standing ovation!” The second play shifts gears to tell the story of men. “It is called Men’s Department. This is the first time we are performing it. I think we should not differentiate between genders when it comes to problems. People think men have it easier than women. They have problems too, but don’t talk about it.”
Men’s Department also revolves around the stories of five men. “They are childhood friends who meet after 15 years. One is a struggling actor in Mumbai, who comes to Bangalore to catch up with his friends. They don’t talk about their problems as openly as women, but during their conversations they realise they can support each other. There is a husband who finds it to difficult to take either his wife’s or mother’s side. Another is in a financial soup. One is physically abused by his wife. And then there is the bachelor who people think have everything sorted, but he too has problems.” There is the narrator Chotu, “He does odd jobs like delivering goods and serving food. He comes from a village. Hethinks the glitter and glamour of city life is just a façade, and that in comparison one grows up as a well-rounded individual in the village.”
Tripathi is a physiotherapist by profession. She has been acting since her school and college days. “I stopped pursuing theatre while doing my Masters because I barely had time. After completing my studies, I always wanted to work for an NGO. I got a job to teach 60 to 70 children with disabilities. When my child was three-years- old, my husband encouraged me to do theatre. I met performing arts practitioner Nav Kishlay and did a play with him. This was more than five and a half years ago. When I am on stage, I forget everything, I am in the moment.”
On a typical day, Tripathi completes her chores, her work, and starts rehearsals by eight at night. “The women actors I got from my apartment. The men are mostly bachelors who come over for rehearsals.” Tripathi adds that her endeavour is to make theatre accessible and, “to break the notion that only young, beautiful women can play starring roles. A 34-year-old woman can play a young girl. It doesn’t depend on her looks, but on her acting skills.”
Ladies Compartment will be staged on February 26 at Atta Galatta, at 7 p.m. and Men’s Department at 5 p.m. For tickets visit: www.bookmyshow.com.
