These indie theatre productions from 2018 remain powerful commentaries on women's agency and social constraints that Indian audiences still grapple with today.
Verdict
Ek Akeli Aurat (Rating: 3/5) — A compelling premise held back by directorial choices that underutilize both actor and set design.
Hatak (The Insult) — Saadat Hasan Manto’s exploration of a sex worker’s exploitation and dignity, powerfully directed by Ali Ahmed for contemporary Indian theatre audiences.
Ek Akeli Aurat
Venue: Lamakaan
Playwright: Dario Fo & Franca Rame (Original Title: O Femeie Singura)
Director: Suhas Bharve
Production: Rangadhara The Theatre Stream
Plot:
A woman is trapped, metaphorically and literally in her house. She surrounds herself with the trappings of a family life and possessions. She is encumbered by an injured brother-in-law and a young child. Her teenage daughter has flown the nest and her overbearing and suspicious husband has locked her in, to keep her and her young lover apart. Can she break free?
Review:
Poonam Chandana Golecha does a good job of portraying the character she was given. She was convincing as the distressed middle-aged housewife. She, however, should not have been asked to break character and mouth lines of the other characters.
These could very well have been recorded and played as audio cues. This and many other directorial flaws brought this play several notches down from what it could have been. The blocking consisted primarily of her pacing across the breadth of the stage. Neither the elaborate set nor the actor was properly utilized.
Rating: 3/5
Hatak (The Insult)
Venue: Lamakaan
Playwright: Saadat Hasan Manto
Director: Ali Ahmed
Production: Darpan Theatre
Plot:
A kind-hearted sex worker, Sugandhi is cajoled by her long-term client Madho -a constable from Pune- into giving up the trade. He makes many promises of making her a respectable woman as soon as he is able to sort out his financial woes. Life goes along ‘merrily’ for Sugandhi until one night, her pimp Ramlal takes her to a seth, who inspects her with his flashlight and quickly spurns her. How does Suagndhi deal with this insult? Does her life unravel? Does she find true love with Madho?
Review:
Director Ali Ahmed and the set designers made extensive use of the multi-level and multi-layered space at Lamakaan. Erecting tea stalls, lamp posts and recreating the cramped bylanes of Kamatipura or any other red light district of the Bombay of yore with finesse. Alas, this is all that was appealing about this performance.
The acerbic nature of Manto’s writing was diluted by insipid performances that were at once under-prepared and mechanical. The opening sequence where we see the writer Manto in the flesh but not in spirit set the wrong tone at the outset. The lifelessly delivered lines in chaste Urdu added nothing to the play and could have entirely been avoided. How the Director allowed his actors to fumble their way through lines, repeating them often and the worst of all delivering most of them with their backs to the audience is beyond me.
The text was rich, the performance lacklustre. What could have been a good a production, was let down by poor acting, terrible light and sound design. Ali Ahmed should have more faith in his abilities and demand a lot more of his actors.
Rating: 2/5
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ‘Ek Akeli Aurat’ about?
The play follows a woman trapped both literally and metaphorically in her home, surrounded by family obligations and possessions. Locked in by her suspicious husband and burdened by dependents, she struggles to find freedom and reclaim her agency.
Who wrote ‘Ek Akeli Aurat’?
‘Ek Akeli Aurat’ is written by Dario Fo and Franca Rame, with the original title being ‘O Femeie Singura’. It was adapted and directed by Suhas Bharve for Rangadhara The Theatre Stream.
What is ‘Hatak’ (The Insult) about?
‘Hatak’ explores the story of Sugandhi, a sex worker promised respectability by a constable client. Saadat Hasan Manto’s play reveals the exploitation and humiliation she faces despite promises of a better life.
Where were these plays performed?
Both ‘Ek Akeli Aurat’ and ‘Hatak’ were staged at Lamakaan, a renowned venue in Hyderabad known for supporting indie theatre and experimental performances.
What did the critic think of ‘Ek Akeli Aurat’?
The critic gave ‘Ek Akeli Aurat’ a 3/5 rating, praising Poonam Chandana Golecha’s performance but criticizing directorial flaws including breaking character and underutilizing both the set and actor’s potential.
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