The Hindu : New Delhi News : A tragedy brought alive through laughter

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Saturday, Feb 03, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

A tragedy brought alive through laughter

Parul Sharma

Musical comedy "Mallaika.Sherraffat@oldagehome.com" to portray ageing in a new perspective

HARD-HITTING: Spotlight on the elderly

NEW DELHI: A spoof on "bindaas'' Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat will be staged at India Habitat Centre here this weekend, portraying ageing in a new perspective.

The musical comedy, titled "Mallaika.Sherraffat@oldagehome.com", is being presented by the non-government organisation HelpAge India to raise awareness about the concerns of the elderly through the entertaining and absorbing medium of theatre.

The play unfolds in "Jolly da Ghosla", a pay-and-stay home for the elderly run by good old Mr. and Mrs. Jolly. Each resident here is peculiar and different, yet they integrate well and enjoy simple pleasures of life like a game of cricket and gossip.

A tongue-in-cheek commentary on contemporary issues facing senior citizens, the play takes one through their trials and tribulations while weaving in topical issues like sealing of commercial properties in residential areas and nursery admissions.

Throughout the play comic situations are created.

Sample this: The elderly learning Salsa from Shamlal Dawar; getting "health tips" from a spa expert; being lectured by a team of hysterical doctors. They even face a threat of eviction before Mallaika Sherraffat makes an entry into the old age home.

Talking about the play, HelpAge India chief executive Mathew Cherian says the effort is to highlight the fact that the aged need attention.

Loneliness and insecurity

"Close to 1.5 lakh old people in Delhi live alone, are prey to crime and loneliness. One in eight aged nationwide feels uncared for. Be it loneliness, the increasing demand for quality old age homes, ailments of the aged, the empty-nest phenomenon or technology outpacing the elderly -- a whole lot of issues are brought to the fore by the various characters," he says.

"In the past five years, the demand for quality old age shelters has risen exponentially and yet there are only about 3,000 known homes in India," rues Mr. Cherian.

The play has been written and directed by Sarita Vohra, founder of "Living Room Theatre", using real-life situations and experiences.

A motley group of professionals from various walks of life as well as senior citizens themselves have been cast in the production.

It will be staged this Sunday evening at India Habitat Centre's Stein Auditorium.

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