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Hilarious A scene from “ Kambakht Ishq”.

The two main characters are quickly set up as two old hypochondriac patients in a doctor’s clinic. Kishan played by Fareed Ahmad ensured a steady stream of laughs. His animated delivery and exaggerated expressions made him most entertaining. Radha played by Munmun was good but sometimes, albeit briefly, slipped out of character in either gesture or stance. They discuss medications and medicines but are clearly young at heart. Their ailments serve as an excuse to come closer. With Kishan listening to her “dil ki dadkan” they flirt surreptitiously. Their farewell exchanges are not phone numbers but “Livergen…” and “Haajmola…”

This brief interaction is the impetus to change. From a malcontent complainer Kishan turns a young dandy who is caught whistling and galloping up the stairs. He dowses the house with scent and conspires to have it all to himself. Kishan’s son Jai (Vishwajeet) authentically portrays his incomprehension at his father’s transformation. Radha’s daughter Leela (Manpriya) is equally clueless. Unknown to them is that Radha is the cause of Kishan’s recovery and the source of his sudden vigour.

In a delightful exchange of roles, the son interrogates the father, like a father. He asks about the sudden appearance of flowers. He demands to know what is happening. To the children’s shock Radha and Kishan reveal their newfound friendship.

The humour perceptively rises a notch in the second scene. The exchanges between son and father become side-splitting. The son tries to rein in his besotted father. The father complains. He cribs. He cries. He threatens suicide. He wails, “Yamraj ji mere bete ko uthalena”. He chastises, “Mujhe qaid kyon kar rakha hai, kya main Anarkali hoon?” The exchange gets even more entertaining when Kishan announces that Radha is pregnant.

The children are authentic in their reactions to their parent’s announcement. While Leela slowly accepts the situation, Jai is convincing in his horror. In the penultimate moments, the play takes an interesting twist.

While the script is easily entertaining, a few gambits are merely slapstick. The play opens with a dance number by the four-member cast. The dance slips between parody and performance. Intended to be grand, it fails to impress. Tuneless singing and weak dance spoofs only make the youngest members of the audience laugh the loudest.

The play proved to be an entertaining evening with a simple message. Loneliness makes people unwell. Companionship keeps them happy.

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