ANIKET SANDHYA – The Play

THE PLAY…..

In the contemporary landscape, T.S. Eliot’s portrayal of “hollow men” finds resonance as our modern society progressively undermines age-old values, questioning traditional family bonds. The erosion of these principles leads to a disheartening sense of alienation within our family structures. The narrative unfolds with Viswadeb, an octogenarian facing relocation to an old-age home due to frailty, highlighting the societal tendency to view aging individuals as liabilities. Karnadeb, his son, anticipates his own impending “uselessness” by societal standards, recognizing the looming challenges. Meanwhile, Priyatosh and Malabika, a young couple, grapple with conflicting emotions and responsibilities amidst shifting dynamics.

Amidst this turmoil, Papu, embodying infantile innocence, becomes a poignant voice protesting a society that devalues its elderly. The play intricately weaves generational shifts, societal values, and emotional bonds, offering a compelling reflection on the urgent need for compassion, empathy, and a reconsideration of priorities in the face of evolving societal challenges. It serves as a stark reminder to navigate the complexities of a changing world with a renewed commitment to familial connections.

DIRECTOR’S NOTE…..

The play has been written, directed or produced to depict the critical present and the inevitably appalling future. While composing and producing my play on a self-centric modern familial arena, I envisaged two old non rude protestants, an octogenarian music crazy fellow, partially paralyzed, but enjoying to survive anyhow on listening to old music, while his son, a wise lecturer of 60 years sharing his father’s pain and helplessness of solitude (both the father and his son are now wifeless). There is a little sharer of this pain of solitude the 9-year-old junior most member of this family supervisors- a modern careerist Bank employee-couple, who ignoring their wise and active father-in-law and their only little son recently plans to send the infirm octogenarian to a well- run old age Home. Their dear child utters the ultimate protest !

The set and light design is made with the help of the able set and light designing persons, while framing the set design, on the voluntary suggestion of untimely demised theatrical talent Joy sen. The set design has borne a symbolic division of three separate parts on the foreground stage. The middle or centre represents an old room with old gramophone, old records and C.Ds. and old fading pictures of the musical tytans of the yester years. The left part of the stage only holds a chair and an old table where an old phone set and some files are visible. This is the room of the sensitively sympathetic Lecturer who off and on visits his unfortunate paralyzed father through a middle door of this room. On the extreme right, is a room for the Bank-employee couple and their little, sensitive child who off and on steps out of his study to give company to his dear grandy (great grandfather) and enjoy it. I have designed the total play separately focusing on its three parts of three generations, backed up by the little child who represents protesting fourth generation. The crux of this symbolically realistic play is its music design, enriched by a series of popular old songs both classical and non-classical.