Play brings Shambhu Mitra, Utpal Dutta closer

KOLKATA: The fact that stage personalities Shambhu Mitra and Utpal Dutta followed two different philosophies and that there was a silent one-upmanship between the two is perhaps known to all theatre lovers. The two never came together on stage, and there's no doubt that they would have weaved magic had they performed together. A theatre actor and playwright of the recent times, Surajit Bandopadhyay (of Hamlet fame), dared to imagine this and the result is Sri Shambhu Mitra - a recently launched play that has created ripples among the audience.
There are several surprises in store throughout the two-hour play, staged by theatre group Natyaranga. It deals with the deep-seated beliefs and philosophies of Mitra. While Utpal Dutta professed himself as a propagandist, Mitra's messages were presented through subtle allegories. The storyline progresses by bringing to life famous characters from Mitra's plays. They ask him questions and try to resolve issues that they have been living with ever since they were created. It is during the course of such conversations that the need for bringing together the two pillars - Dutta and Mitra - of stage arises.
So you have Ballabhacharya and Shonoka from Chand Baniker Paala trying to convince Mitra about the futility of most of life's purposes, Nandini from Raktakarabi asks that one question which is believed to have started a long row between Mitra and his talented actor wife, Tripti: "Why did you play with the key ring while she was delivering her dialogue?" Mitra replies, "I did not wish to distract her, it was just a prop. She mistook my intention and thought I was not paying attention."
There are several other characters from Mitra's plays who ask him questions about why he left the IPTA and later, Bahurupee. Mitra goes on to explain that his tryst with Oedipus was actually an eye-opener because it taught him to accept life's harsh truths.
The Mitra-Dutta conversation has been strategically placed in the play. "You will see how the two discuss not only their own philosophies but also each other's distinctive styles. Initially, they have a lot of reservations about each other and you could even spot cynicism. Finally, in the course of their conversation, they soften up and even appreciate each other's point of view," said Swapan Sengupta, director of the play. The poignancy comes through when they admit that in staying apart from each other during their lifetime, both have ended up being losers.
Surajit will play Mitra on stage. However, there will be some places where Mitra's voice will be heard from the background. These dialogues will be delivered by Rudraprasad Sengupta.
This is staged through a climactic point in the play when Mitra is seen apologizing for having a possible hand in restricting the entry of media critics who were pro-Dutta, to his play called Galileo.
"While we fight and compete on the issue of ideology, theatre as an art genre will go on forever," the two finally resolve.
Surajit Bandopadhyay, the brain behind the play, is presently in Dhaka to act in Bibhash Chakraborty's Hamlet and was hence not available for his comment. The music for the play has been directed by Swatilekha Sengupta while the stagecraft has been planned by Koushik Sen. Natyaranga has consulted poet Shankha Ghosh in every stage of the play.
Sengupta said that he was extremely happy lending his voice to the character. "It was an extremely interesting project, conceived and transacted intelligently. We who knew Shambhu Mitra the person and were lucky to see him in action,
have learnt much. This representation will be a memorable one for the present generation," he said.