Wait for Godot is finally over

Unlike in the original, Godot appears in this version of the famous play

On July 7, Irish playwritght Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot was given an Indian makeover by members of Sansaptak Theatre group and titled Return of Godot.

The play is a satire on the original version that declares that Godot never comes. In this play, he arrives as the metaphor of the degenerated post-modern multi-nationals under the garb of globalisation and liberalisation. 

The characters of Gogo and Bhabha search with futility for Godot who can relieve them of their queries. They move about discussing all forms of societal issues like corruption, price rise, inequality, class distinction and the evil influence of media on innocent masses.

Hard hitting dialogues like sadak ke kinari gareeb bacho ki photo leke reality dikha rahe ho and Desi janta bhi toh hijda hi hai, brought home some ugly truths of our society.

New characters have been liberally introduced in the play. There is a eunuch who fits in as a metaphor for just about everything; an old woman who symbolises the older generation which trusts the younger people to take care of their future but is ill-treated. 

Every new character was well etched. The character of the eunuch is uninhibited and outspoken. She speaks of the lacunae in the system and the wrongdoings of corrupt politicians. She also advises Gogo and Bhabha to clean up their systems from within since they are filled with physical, economic and political garbage.

The play discusses the positive impact of cleaning out corruption from the system. Godot who appears at the end of the play epitomises all the evil in the world. 

Amrita Banerjee who played Godot, says, “He is a corporate monster who represents America, 9/11, disasters and wars. I represent a realisation. I am a God of war.”

Torit Mitra, who wrote the play 25 years ago, thinks of it as a montage without a fixed storyline. “It speaks of protest and anguish. It’s a Marxist discourse and explores elements of false democracy, chauvinism and secularism. The hero of the play is a hijda - a metaphor of everything.

Anjan Basu, the play’s director says, “Our purpose was to present a contemporary, energetic and conscious generating play. Waiting for Godot is not limited to any generation in particular. Globalised symbolism was the predominant theme through which the character pointed out the virtual reality in which the current generation lives.”