Shudrka Hyderabad, an amateur theatre group, presented Mahasweta Devi’s play Aajir at Lamakaan last weekend. The Bengali play dramatised by Debashish Chakraborty, and adapted and directed by Swapan Mondal drew fairly good gathering. The writer through her plays has always written about the socially and politically exploited humans to raise awareness in society. Aajir is the story of a slave held by a bond signed by an ancestor — a slavery that denies him the right to love, marry and live a life of dignity.
The 75-minute play opens in darkness with the characters walking in with candles, replicating a village atmosphere. The protagonist, Pataan, played by Swapan, is the slave of zamindar (landlord) Mataang (Raja), whose ancestors had signed a bond for Rs. 3. Mataang firmly believes that Pataan is his slave till death and he has no right to seek independence since the zamindar possesses the bond that his grandfather had signed years ago. Pataan has tried to run away twice, but both times he has been caught and punished for his freedom missions.
Mataang’s wife Manibani (Sohini) is sympathetic towards Pataan as the zamindar has no respect for her. She encourages Pataan to marry a gypsy woman, but the woman Pataan wants to marry, turns him down because he is a slave. His inner feelings find expression in a poetic way that “An aajir, you! An aajir, you! No escape for you! No escape for you! No life for you! No world for you! An aajir, you! No escape for you!”
Manibani is jealous that Pataan has shown interest in a gypsy woman. She convinces Pataan to elope with her and promises to give him his bond thus setting him free. They run away from home and Pataan insists on having the bond, finally she discloses that the bond has turned to dust. Pataan strangles her for cheating her. When the zamindar appears on the scene, he too states that the bond has withered away. The thought of freedom and he is no longer a bonded labourer brings immense joy on his face, but it is short lived as he is taken to the police station for the murder he has committed. The play has been very neatly presented and held together by narrator Soma, who also doubles up as the gypsy girl with her Banjara father played by Badal. The play saw some lighter moments when the father-daughter duo is on stage.
Enacting the ethos of Pataan is very difficult, but director actor Swapan has done a commendable job. Actors Raja, Arindam and Sourabh have brought their characters to life really well, be it the swaying of drunk zamindar or the sick, coughing villager. The other actors included Krishna, Ramakanth, Srinivas, Lakshman, Badal and Bijoya. The use of stage, and the props with people emerging from behind to act has been very intelligently handled. Even, the scarves that were needed in between the scenes were nicely pinned to the props. Each actor knew how he had to enter and exit. In short, it was a well-presented play that teaches us that we must respect our fellow human beings.
