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All for the theatre
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‘Nati Binodini’, staged recently at the Museum Theatre, paid homage to the Bengali’s actor’s contribution to drama
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Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam
Script, the strongpoint A scene from “Nati Binodini”
Nati Binodini might have been a woman of ‘disrepute’ in the Bengal of the 1870s but today she endures as an iconic figure of the Bengali theatre scenario. “Nati Binodini”, the play, based on the story by Brajendro Kishore Dey,
pays homage to her contribution to drama as an actor and patron while dexterously fusing in history and the religious flavours of the time. Such a play may not appeal to today’s audiences, the subject and the setting being rather alien, but it is nevertheless an important dramatic piece. That’s why the Ajit Panja-directed production in its 196th show in the city’s Museum Theatre, by the Bengal Association, elicited so much interest.
Turning point
Binodini overcame enormous odds to succeed as an actor. A gifted vocalist, her career on stage spans just not the theatrical productions of the day but also the establishment of drama as an important art form in Bengal. The famous Star Theatre was set up by her mentor Girish Ghosh and admirer Gurmukh Rai, a Punjabi businessman. But strong were the biases that she had to overcome and they often exhausted her. Meeting the Paramahamsa was a turning point in her life. Ramakrishna believed that theatre was important for it could educate audiences like no other medium and it was he who blessed her in her journey. He was master to her mentor Girish Ghosh too.
The play traverses through her trials, and, through its many characters, moves effortlessly through various layers, effectively using history to set the social context of the times. And great were the times too! Theatre was soon to see a resurgence with the presence of dramatists such as Girish Ghosh coming into their own. With the advent of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, social mores too would be challenged.
Politician-cum-actor
Former MP and politician Ajit Panja, who played Ramakrishna, conveyed his innocence and simplicity in an understated style. The actor went through the nuances of the role with dexterity and charm. Ably supported by the others in the cast, his was a performance that was received well by the audience. Using minimalist props, the play conveyed its message through songs and well enacted roles. Lighting was used intelligently and helped create an atmosphere, especially in the scene where the Paramahamsa blesses the actor Binodini. While the play’s strongpoint was the script, the songs tended to interfere with the pace and caused unwelcome breaks in the action. Religious in nature, the play would have appealed to a younger audience, had it been edited better.
PAROMITA PAIN
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Mangalore
Puducherry
Tiruchirapalli
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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