Sex, Morality and Censorship, an attempt at a review

This play was staged at Prithvi. My first attempt to watch it was scuttled as I had to catch up with a friend. The second attempt was rejected by the chowkidar who felt it disturbing to the sensibilities of other audience, if I royally entered the play just 10 minutes late. I then had to take the tickets for the next show after a 3.5 hours gap.

The one thing that attracted me to the play was that it had something to do with Vijay Tendulkar.

The play was supposedly commissioned for a madam in Delhi, who wanted people to be aware of difficulties faced by Sakharam Binder, a 1971 play by Tendulkar. This play could have been inspired by the movie Adaptation where the original play and it's struggles are intermingled freely.

So we had the story of the play's struggle and also glimpses from the play playing in a random order. Somebody also wanted to give a hat trip to Dylan, so the same was arranged, through a projector.

The setting is a conversation between two players, one a lavani dancer and the other a fat protagonist. There is a delhiwallah historian for good measure. So these three discuss everything under the Sun and after some time the original director of Sakharam Binder also joins in.

The scenes enacted of Binder were the most impressive, especially the portrayal of violence against women. The first lady Binder brings in was a pretty skinny lady. And she is repeated oppressed upon. I really freaked out when Binder kicks her repeatedly. Just imagine playing this part, waiting for a kick to land on your shoulders anytime soon, and then waiting.

The character I liked the most was the second woman Binder brings in. They rarely make those characters anymore in real life. She has this huge smudge of a bindi on her temple, is mostly chewing a paan, and her swagger is unapologetic and very far from a typical woman's. She also pulls her sari in and out with ease, and at a pace which only comes by practice.

I guess the cultural elites should watch this play, for the culture shock that's in store for them.

I kind of liked lavani, the Maharastrian dance, I don't know why is it not more common elsewhere in other cultural programs in colleges or fest etc.This was the first time I saw a lavani.

The price of the ticket at 200 bucks was more than what I am used to in Rangashankara. But from Bombay's standards it appears ok, even slightly benevolent on poor souls like me. Shiv Sena, among other jokes had a proposal to reduce theater rates across Maharastra( which sadly was rejected). I whole heartedly support them in this quest. Bring on the orange flag.

Things I picked up

• There is a censor board for even the plays. It was initially called the Tamasha board, but some snob somewhere had a problem with that word, so the name has evolved.
• There is some act, initially designed by Britishers which still is applicable to screening of the plays.
• The Britishers banned some historical play, full of metaphors, I have forgotten the historical characters, but one of them represented Tilak, the other Gokhale etc.
• Some plays have not been given censor certificate and have been screened as private screenings, some other as annual subscription gifts etc.

The play was impactful, especially when the shiv sena dude( this is not an oxymoron) breaks a pot, on stage and Binder abuses his women.
I have realised that, that art is usually is valued, which represents the society as it is and not the SRK, or Javed Akhtar's son's movies which merely cater to aspirations or pipe dreams which we all have.

I am done.Thanks.

One last bit, if someone finds the script please send it to me. Would love to read it.