PATH’s incisive surgical depiction of decrepit social values

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, August 1: The huge leaps that scientific and technical horizons have made have resulted in man competing with man in a race that entails a mad rush to nowhere. Ever since the thought process stirred man into action, the direction of society started being guided by a wobbly rudder.  With time, man’s expectations grew to an extent that social values and morals started crumbling. Today, it is difficult to decipher the dividing line between ambition and selfishness. Gone are the days of family bonding, trust, friendship and social concern. Today, man’s life is besotted with self-interest, selfishness and greed that he has to attain a temporary solution to his unending, abstract pursuit. He is in a state of degenerated illusion and so is the world, the society around him. PATH’S (People’s Association for Theatre) latest presentation at the Motilal Nehru Public School (MNPS) auditorium on Tuesday, August 1, ‘Bin Bati ke Dwip,’ is an incisive surgical depiction of decrepit social values that forces the each person in the audience to consider one’s own concept of the social system he is living amidst and if he is a part of that mad race.

A master in the art of drama presentation, weather-beaten and assured Director Md Nizam once again proves his mettle in delivering hard social punches ever so softly that the hit is felt long after the blow has been dealt. He does not disappoint this time either. Chhabi Das, who has gained allround experience with every outing in every department of theatre presentation, supports director Nizam in executing the theme and purpose of ‘Bin Bati ke Dwip’ with the required cutting edge.

The play moves at a well-planned pace leaving no space for ennui. Set designers Suman Saurabh Kumar and Rupesh Prasad have done a fantastic job with able assistance from Shailendra Kumar, Shubham Nishad and Mani Pradhan. Light scheme as executed by Satyam Singh and Vikas Kumar highlight the tone of the situation. Dipesh Singh and Nitish Roy adroitly handle the background musical effects that further the effect of the script’s narrative. Costume designer Asutosh Kumar Singh and makeup artists Sushma Pramanik and Rupesh ‘Tarzan’ add panache to the portrayal and presentation of the characters on stage.

Recitations by Chhabi Das, Arpita Srivastav and Md Nizam form the effective prelude to a soul-biting dramatic presentation of a submerged reality that mirrors man amidst self-effacing values that dominate the sense of tattered morality.

Asish Kumar Singh (Shivraj), Neha Kumari (Vishakha), Saba Sheikh (Manju), Martin Joseph (Anand) and Vikas Karmakar (Natwarlal) sink their teeth deep into the flesh of their characters and the effect is outstanding. Kudos to them for their sterling performances which even the connoisseurs of theatre would more than willingly agree to with a standing ovation. ‘Bin Batik ke Dwip’ by social explorer and playwright Dr Shankar Sesh has found ample justification in PATH’s reassuring presentation of a conscience piercer that will continue to pinch till long after the umbrellas have been stowed for the next many summers and  monsoons.