‘Kinu Kaharer Thetar’, arguably the best play written by Manoj Mitra, an outstanding theatrical personality of West Bengal, that has been sought to be transcribed in Hindi ‘Kinu Kahar Ka Thitr’, satirically portrays the system of domination and exploitation perpetuated by different institutions and practices of the inhuman establishment in a style which absorbs the kernel of rural dramatic culture. The members of the troupe of Kinu trying to present the drama Ghantakaner Pala are now all dead but they appear again and again to present the misdeeds of the high ups only to be stopped by the establishment by force. It proves the historical continuity of the protests of the marginalized against the exploitative establishment and the latter’s forceful gagging of such protestation.
The play portrays a rural dramatic troupe back in the British rule in India staging a political satire entitled Ghantakaner Pala before a rustic audience of Putna, an imaginary village. The poor and naïve Ghantakarna who, losing his job to the quirks of the trickster Bhaanr, is getting employed under the Raja as the ‘shajakheko officer’ as his only throwback—- the self-proclaimed criminal of the crimes committed in Putna. The Raja conveniently appoints Ghantakarna for this task in order to win his political battle against Laatshaheb who shamelessly jockeys for political power and openly defies the Raja’s political maneuvers. Ghantakarna and his wife, Jagadamba enjoy the financial comforts offered by this employment. Despite the initial turmoil within her conscience, Jagadamba’s lust for wealth prevails and she lets the innocent Ghantakarna accept death sentence given by Laatshaheb to the trusted Minister of the Raja for abusing a woman– a feat that enables Jagadamba rise to the position of the queen. However, this time Ghantakarna not only refuses to shoulder the responsibility of the King’s crime but himself is going to commit the crime of murdering the King, Minister and Laatshaheb, the three arch representatives of the inhuman system. At this juncture, enters a policeman, ordered by the politically powerful men from the real world, and disallows the complete performance of Ghantakarner Pala. The masterstroke of Manoj Mitra’s satiric vision cannot be missed here for this intrusion reflects with more immediacy the dehumanization at work eating into the ugly political fabric of colonial India. And though Manoj Mitra’s play is set in a time different from ours, we feel its contemporary relevance.
About the author An actor par excellence, Manoj Mitra (b. 1938) formed his theatre group ‘Sundaram’ way back in 1957 and has acted in, directed, organised and written many plays over the years. His works have been translated into many languages and produced by countless directors like Ratan Thiyam and Rajendar Nath. He is the recipient of many awards in the field of theatre including the Sangeet Natak Akademy Award for Best Playwright.
DRAMATISATION: MANOJ MITRA ADAPTATION AND DIRECTION: SWAPAN MONDAL PRODUCTION: SHUDRAKA HYDERABAD DATE OF PERFORMANCE: AUGUST 23, 2015 TIME: 8 PM DURATION: 1 hour 15 minutes LANGUAGE: HINDI VENUE: LAMAKAAN
Entry - Free.