What Plays Can Teach Us

 Why is Shakespeare famous? Due to his plays. And why are plays important, especially today where everything seems screen-based- so much that you sometimes wonder if you are really alive, and pinch yourself to be sure.

I would think that plays are a unique art form. Film of course is easier to do and store, and distribute. And it has an important role to play in entertainment and education. But there is an immediate connect with the characters in a well-enacted play, that is magnetic, and irreplaceable. 

Pic above- a wonderful play I saw at Pune recently, called The Greatest Show on Earth. 

Last three or four years, I saw many plays. In Bangalore, I was lucky to have watched Naseeruddin Shah in two (he was mesmerising), and Vinay Pathak in one (funnily, called The Last Lear, after Shakespeare's King Lear). In Pune, I saw a few Marathi plays, with some good actors and directors- both male and female. 

Some classic Marathi plays were remade into films as well. I liked Natasamrat with Nana Patekar in it, and Katyar Kaaljaat Ghusli with Shankar Mahadevan and Sachin playing the major roles. 

I think the subject comes through more forcefully in a play than in a film. I would strongly recommend that you try them out, if you haven't. You won't regret it.

The Merchant of Venice Comes to Indore

The canals and mansions of Venice came alive, through the unusual love story of Bassanio and Portia, and a couple of other couples, at the IIM Indore auditorium last evening. A brilliantly assembled ensemble cast performed the Bard's immortal play to perfection. Shylock, the Jew, contrasted well with the generous Antonio and his gentleman friend Bassanio.

Some of the cast was changed to female characters in this adaptation, to good effect. The Duchess of Venice (Kiara), for instance, replaced the Duke, and Lancelot, the servant who switches jobs from Shylock to serve Bassanio, was also played by a female, and quite effectively portrayed by Prachi. Students from the IPM, PGP and FPM came together to play all the roles. Shreya Surana played Portia like a veteran.

The major characters- Shylock, Portia, Antonio and Bassanio, and the supporting characters- friends of these two, the Princes of Morocco and Bombay (a change from the original), and the lady in waiting, and others, were just right for their roles. The set design, lighting and sound added to the impact, not to mention the wardrobe/dresses which made the women look beautiful, and the men elegant. It was a hat-trick of sorts for Shweta Kushal, the director, who earlier directed Where There is a Will, and The Importance of Being earnest at IIM Indore. Some glimpses of the play-

 The diabolical Shylock casts a menacing shadow..

 The court of the Duchess of Venice. (above)

 Dramatic moments involving Bassanio (above), and the servant and her mother (below)

 More drama involving Portia and Antonio (above)-

 The cast (above) with the Director (centre) and a couple of backstage supporters.

 The backdrops of Venice were effective in creating atmosphere

Portia (in disguise) with Shylock, and her/his clerk and accomplice while pronouncing the judgement.

Shakespeare Updated 2017

Applying the timeless quotes from Shakespeare's works.

He came, he saw, he conquered- Modi in U.P.

To be, or not to be- RaGa as the face of Congress.

The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.- The wal of Kejri.

Men at some time are masters of their fates. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.” -- U.P. voters

Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. -  Applies to a lot of people strutting around in our lives. (You can have a go at applying it.)

Anopheles on Floods, Bombs and Love Stories

Anopheles, my old friend (she is a females mosquito with whom I have intellectual conversations about the world, for those who are new to her) was back, and we started talking about disasters.

I let her know about the deep tragedy caused by floods in three states. And asked for her reaction.

She said, "We'll get some new places to settle in, I hope."

Stunning as it was, it brought home to me the fact that one man's flood could be another man's (OK, mosquito's, in this case) fortune. Shakespeare had also said something linking floods and fortune, I vaguely remembered from my literature class in school.

"Like human beings settle on the banks of rivers, we settle in the remnants of floods" she shrugged. Then she asked me what I do for entertainment these days. I said, "Watch half-witted love stories, Ranjhana being a case in point."

"What's the love-story you mention about?" she wanted to know.

I struggled to explain " Well, it's about a loafer who is in love. The law of Equality, Liberty, Fraternity says that loafers have equal rights to fall in love with anyone they want. And the object of their love has no choice in the matter, if the director so chooses. So she does, but then she plots to get him killed, because he was responsible for getting the guy she really loved, killed. It's an eye for an eye, and that's the end of the loafer who is a lover-boy." I could see a look of disbelief cross her brow, and stay there."

"Let us leave love stories behind, and talk of something else. They are too depressing," I suggested.

Like what?" she asked.
"Bombing of Buddha temples?" I suggested, going from deadly love stories to just deadly live stories.

"Who is Buddha?" she innocently asked.
"He was a great soul who preached non-violence, and the way of enlightenment."
"And this is how you pay him back? By bombing his temple?" she seemed indignant.

I had no sustainable defence. I had to say, I was ashamed there were people who were so lost that they did not know what they were doing any more. Lots of them.