Theatre review: Othhoi Jol

Director: Bratya BasuDuration: 160 minutesCast: Debshankar Halder, Soumitra MitraRating: ***1/2Love knows no limit. It usually gives two hoots to age, time, and most importantly, morality. And when it hits you, it usually makes or breaks you. No wonder, we are often asked not to underestimate the power of love. Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay’s Othhoi Jol tells such an unexpected and untoward tale of love that blooms between two mismatched individuals. Clearly, the subject is not what Bibhutibhushan’s works usually deal with. The play follows the path of the novel and makes it an entertaining watch.Simple storytelling is the forte of the play. Shashanka (Debshankar Halder) is a proud doctor in a village. He is also the moral custodian and hence, is one of the revered men in his locality. Along with his followers, he intends to contest the union board elections. But his mundane life with wife Suro (Rajeshwari Nandi) and children takes a dramatic turn when he falls for a dancer,Panna (Suparna Moitro Das). Hence, Shashanka — the moral keeper of the village — takes a dip in a sea of sin and lust and has an extramarital affair. At this point, what happens next becomes immaterial in front of the moral dilemma of the middle-class doctor.Besides the simple storytelling, what really makes the play stands out is its acting and teamwork. The seasoned actor that he is, Debshankar enthrals effortlessly. Rajeshwari as Suro presents the right balance of a pragmatic yet emotional wife. Suro’s journey from the confident housewife to a scared, insecure woman is a treat to watch. But the story is largely about Panna, and Suparna portrays the lust, lustre and pain of a dancer with no respect in society with elan. She changes her emotions seamlessly on stage and that’s fascinating to watch.The play is proof of the solid teamwork that has gone into its making. The revolving stage, well-structured lighting and costumes — together these keep it from becoming a sloppy production. The well-researched music, which includes Khyamta and other relevant tunes, makes the two-and-a-half-hour play a total entertainer. Moreover, Ujjwal Chattopadhyay deserves applause for weaving smart humour into the script.Othhoi Jol, as a novel, is not a nuanced and layered story. The play follows the same path. However, it stands out for its solid entertainment value. Watch it. You surely won’t be disappointed at all.