<p>Aren’t we all fools in love? Actor-director-playwright Manav Kaul reflects on this theme in his musical 'Pyaar Aadmi Ko Kabootar Bana Deta Hai', staged in Bengaluru last week. The play traces the journey of three inseparable friends — Raju, a tea stall owner, Salim, a tailor, and Sunil, an aspiring writer — exploring romantic love.</p><p>Salim is purportedly in love with the gorgeous Meenakshi, his tuition teacher’s daughter, and the two lovebirds communicate through letters. The narrative unfolds with minimal props, as the three friends compete, outdo, and support one another. Three young women — Meenakshi, Nina, and their friend — flit in and out, first appearing as Macbeth’s three witches and later metamorphosing into the men’s love interests.</p><p>Sunil is roped in by his friends to write poetic, eloquent letters to help them win over the objects of their love. However, he often plays mischief, writing letters that might put the women off. Eventually, he graduates to writing about an imaginary character, Pappu, who, lured by his words, actually appears on stage!</p>.Folk-metal meets Karnatik in TDT’s new single.<p>The lighting was bright, enhancing the theme of amour and optimism. It was interesting to note how Salim, the lover, and his rival, Sunil, changed into red — the colour of love — when they were about to unite with their women. The characterisation was strong, with all the actors doing justice to their roles, and the women displaying impressive dancing prowess. The cast shared great rapport and demonstrated quick improvisational skills. One of them expertly broke the fourth wall (the imaginary boundary between actors and the audience) by offering my companion a “love letter.”</p><p>However, I found the storyline confusing and lacking in sophisticated theatrical techniques such as dramatic irony, juxtaposition, and foreshadowing. It also lacked a dramatic climax —aside from Salim confessing that his entire affair with Meenakshi was a lie. The theme felt contrived and run-of-the-mill. It was difficult to pin down the central theme; perhaps the playwright was suggesting that perfect love exists only in the imagination and not so much as an objective truth.</p><p>Mohit Aggarwal’s music was a breath of fresh air. On the whole, the play was lighthearted and offered a few laughs. Manav Kaul has written 13 plays, exploring nostalgia, existentialism, alienation, and displacement. In this play, he comes across an excellent actor, but his writing and direction leave much to be desired.</p>
<p>Aren’t we all fools in love? Actor-director-playwright Manav Kaul reflects on this theme in his musical 'Pyaar Aadmi Ko Kabootar Bana Deta Hai', staged in Bengaluru last week. The play traces the journey of three inseparable friends — Raju, a tea stall owner, Salim, a tailor, and Sunil, an aspiring writer — exploring romantic love.</p><p>Salim is purportedly in love with the gorgeous Meenakshi, his tuition teacher’s daughter, and the two lovebirds communicate through letters. The narrative unfolds with minimal props, as the three friends compete, outdo, and support one another. Three young women — Meenakshi, Nina, and their friend — flit in and out, first appearing as Macbeth’s three witches and later metamorphosing into the men’s love interests.</p><p>Sunil is roped in by his friends to write poetic, eloquent letters to help them win over the objects of their love. However, he often plays mischief, writing letters that might put the women off. Eventually, he graduates to writing about an imaginary character, Pappu, who, lured by his words, actually appears on stage!</p>.Folk-metal meets Karnatik in TDT’s new single.<p>The lighting was bright, enhancing the theme of amour and optimism. It was interesting to note how Salim, the lover, and his rival, Sunil, changed into red — the colour of love — when they were about to unite with their women. The characterisation was strong, with all the actors doing justice to their roles, and the women displaying impressive dancing prowess. The cast shared great rapport and demonstrated quick improvisational skills. One of them expertly broke the fourth wall (the imaginary boundary between actors and the audience) by offering my companion a “love letter.”</p><p>However, I found the storyline confusing and lacking in sophisticated theatrical techniques such as dramatic irony, juxtaposition, and foreshadowing. It also lacked a dramatic climax —aside from Salim confessing that his entire affair with Meenakshi was a lie. The theme felt contrived and run-of-the-mill. It was difficult to pin down the central theme; perhaps the playwright was suggesting that perfect love exists only in the imagination and not so much as an objective truth.</p><p>Mohit Aggarwal’s music was a breath of fresh air. On the whole, the play was lighthearted and offered a few laughs. Manav Kaul has written 13 plays, exploring nostalgia, existentialism, alienation, and displacement. In this play, he comes across an excellent actor, but his writing and direction leave much to be desired.</p>