A story of downtrodden- yesterday and even today

If you thought that the story of disputes between brothers is an old formula and works only in soap operas, hold your thoughts because this formula is a hit even in theatre.

Here, not only is the issue stated but also explored suitably. Based on the novel by Anand Kumar and directed by thespian Ranjit Kapoor, the classic play Begum ka Takia, originally conceptualised in 1977,weaves spreads magic till date. So it did too when performed at Kamani Auditorium by NSD Repertory as part of their Summer Theatre Festival.

Begum... is a sober narration of how two brothers fall prey to the game of money. Set in a village, the play revolves around the lives of Meera and Peera, who are bricklayers. While building a takia for fakir Dariya Shah, Meera stumbles upon a box of wealth hidden in the ground, becomes greedy and leaves the village overnight.

On the other hand, Peera stands by his ethics and sinks into the abyss of poverty as the fakir goes missing and it gets difficult for him and his co-workers to sustain work without pay. Peera does have the fakir’s money but maintains that it doesn’t belong to him and so doesn’t use it for his personal needs.

Meera, meanwhile, returns a wealthy saudagar (trader) with a wife who boasts of a rich lineage. His wife’s brother and uncle also accompany them but the new entrants are suspicious of the camaraderie that the brothers share. The moment the younger one gets married, the gap widens between as the women fight and both men get stuck between women and wealth. However, Peera chooses to stick to his morals and emerges as a ‘hero of honesty’ in the end.

Bagum ka Takia is not just a tale of two brothers who share the same blood, the same bread and the same roof, but a story of how blood turns to water when the issue of money emerges in their simple lives. Also, the subjects of greed, desire and karma are locked in a tussle as mortals struggle with their dreams and ambitions.

The intricate and absorbing patterns of the vicissitudes of life are unravelled by Faqir Darya Shah and their realities are revealed to the viewer through the eyes of his disciple, Qatra Shah. Even in a simple plot, the story contains many teachings.

The lighting techniques are impeccable especially in the scene where Ronaq Begum’s brother and uncle guard the construction of their palace at night. The play is a full two hours and 40 minutes- almost the length of a movie. It does bear a cinematic impact where the director makes sure not to waste even a single crucial second in scene change to ensure the narration is tight.

The narrative is uncomplicated and thus the audience easily connects to the characters; Palash Protim Mech who plays Peera and the wife of Meera -  Ronaq played by Anamika are commendable and keep everybody entertained throughout. While Palash is absolutely nonchalant, no matter who seeks money from his carefully kept potli, Anamika portrays the character of an affluent and arrogant lady with a lot of nakhras. A trained classical singer, Anamika shares, “Every nuance and tone of the character of Ronaq is visualised by the director. And since I am from Lucknow, it wasn’t difficult fror me to associate with the culture.”

She confesses, “When we first revived this play in 2010, all of us were scared if we would be able to take it to that level of success where it originally was but to our amazement we get a full house each time. The enthusiasm to watch this classic has never seen a decline.”

The director also agrees to this and shares why this play is so close to his heart. “Begum ka Takia was my first professional production with the NSD Repertory when I joined in 1977. Its theme is extremely close to my heart and is much more relevant in the contemporary times because the play provides you with answers to the questions of life.

It doesn’t limit itself to delivering a message but is cathartic and makes you experience honestly till the time you are viewing it on stage,” says Ranjit.
Truly, a tale of the downtro­dden, yesterday and more so today!