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Getting to love the traitors

Towards understanding A scene from the play.

Today is Nagasaki Day and Sohaila Kapur is commemorating it in two ways: one, by paying tribute to the efforts that aspired to connect people torn apart by differences, and two, by triggering a thought that peace be understood and regarded as a val ue of life.

For that, she presents “The Traitors”, along with two Delhi-based NGOs Sangat and Kriti at India Islamic Centre this Friday evening at 7.30 p.m. Written by Tripurari Sharma, the play in English is set against the backdrop of 1857 and is divided into two time zones: flashbacks where the characters live out events during the First War of Independence and ‘their’ present, seventeen years later when they come together and the drama unfolds. “The play is derived from a true story and we have fictionalised it. It is rumoured in and around Kanpur that one General Wheeler’s daughter, Stella and a native soldier, Ali, lived together as a family for over 15-18 years after 1857. The play takes it further by simulating a situation in which Stella tries to make contact with the main family after Ali’s death. For that she must reconcile with Ali’s daughter’s bitterness towards her father. Stella must also answer Edward, a person of her community, who feels that she has betrayed his race. Both she and Ali are seen as “traitors” by their respective communities. It points out that a new beginning is not easy and connections with the past often face heavy consequences in the present,” Sohaila sums up the play.

That such plays inspire others makes Sohaila happy. “After watching plays like this, ‘Jailbirds’ on domestic violence and ‘Ouch’, a hilarious take on how reality shows misguide young aspirants, young NGOs, directors and actors come to us and ask where they can find a producer so they could also stage such meaningful plays. It feels great that this generation is ready to take up the cudgels,” she says.

So popular is “Jailbirds” penned by Smita Bharti that Loksabha TV, of which Sohaila is a part, would screen it by this year end as a telefilm. “It would be the first episode of a series on women’s issues on the channel,” she shares.

“Ouch!” is a part of the Hungry Hearts Festival that opens in October, along with “As the Sun Sets,”, “Jazz” from Mumbai, “Nawab Saab Qibla” and “Bulleshahi” from Pakistan and “The Maids” by a British group.

For tonight’s show of “The Traitors” at the India Islamic Centre at 7.30 p.m., students can get tickets at Rs.200 instead of 250 on producing an identity card.

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