Lalit Gupta
JAMMU, May 8: ALG Cultural Society’s presentation of Hindi play ‘Tota and Aaina’, here today, came out as a scathing satire on those who go to any length for lust of power. Based on a story that centers around legendary King Vikramaditya, the play had a contemporary relevance especially in the backdrop ongoing political fracas which is exposing the unclothed tussle to get into power..
Written by Moti Lal Kemmu and awarded with State Academy Award in 1983-84, the original play in Kashmiri translated by G S Raina, had been produced as part of one and a half month long theatre workshop held under the direction of Padamshree Moti Lal Kemmu and sponsored by Ministry of Culture, New Delhi.
The play plot takes up from the point where Raja Vikramaditya’s servant Mangal Das in a tapovana has entered into the body of the king who had earlier trans-migrated his soul in a parrot’s body to alleviate the suffering of the she-parrot whose mate had been killed by hunter’s arrow.
Mangal Das in body of the king asks two wandering actors to cremate his own body, which they do following the royal order. The king in body of the parrot after being captured finds himself in the custody of jeweler. Raja Vikram (Mangal Das) returns to his palace, but his trusted wazir and Rani become alarmed with his change behavior.
In a fast turn of events, Rani’s parrot dies and she faints, Mangal Das leaving behind the body of King enters into the body of dead parrot. The parrot/king, who being wise had earlier helped in dispensing justice in the royal court enters into his own body. Thus ending the cycle of events that had started with Mangal Das’s lust of power.
Today’s performance, directed by Moti Lal Kemmu, assisted by Ravi Kemmu and designed with elements drawn from Sanskrit dramaturgy was an entertaining affair. Appropriate costumes, background musical score helped in creating the historical ambience. The lyrics sung by chorus emerged as cause and effect commentary on the fast changing chains of events. Manoj Bhat’s recitation of poetry also left a mark on the audience.
The comic sequences involving wandering ‘nats’, Adrang (Danish Kapal) and Sadrang (Rohit Verma) came alive with actor’s synchronized movements executed with perfect timing of dialogues. Vishal Hanjura as Raja, Meenal Peer as Rani and Vinay Pandita as Danawazir also acted well. Others in the cast included Pooja Tikku, Anchal Sawhney, Deepshikha Sharma, Priyanka Pandita, Sheetal Sharma, Vinay Suri, Arvind Koul, Anil Singh. The actor in the chorus and crowd were Waseem Anjum, Pankaj Anand, Rohitshiva, Arvind, Vinay Suri, and Rakesh.
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