This Telugu play tackled gender issues with élan

Plot: Written by actor-cum-playwright Jhansi Laxmi, Purusha Sooktam is the story of a couple living in an urban setup. The play begins with them having a heated conversation about masculinity and femininity and the different roles they play in the society. What follows is a series of arguments that create a rift in their relationship. During the argument, the female character asks her counterpart why men shy away from talking about their emotions and internal issues.The question hurts the male character’s ego and he, instead of answering the query, backs such a behaviour saying that’s what masculinity is. The woman then asks can gender roles be unlearned and what will be its consequences on the society. These questions slowly break the male character and he starts to open up.
Review: Purusha Sooktam is a thought-provoking Telugu play with two unnamed characters, played by Vamsee Chaganti and Jhansi. Through the exchanges between them, the play attempted to look into some of the core emotional issues between men and women in a family and encouraged dialogue on toxic masculinity — a term coined by scholars to refer to stereotypical masculine gender roles and their influence on emotions.
Considering the intense subject of the play, director Jhansi’s decision to employ a minimal set worked in favour of the production as it helped the audience focus entirely on the characters’ antics and dialogues. By using contrasting black and white colours in art design and costume, the director successfully differentiated both the genders — while the woman was dressed in white, her counterpart donned a black attire. In the acting department, both Vamsee and Jhansi successfully brought out the emotions of both the genders and managed to grip the
audience with their polished diction and subtle antics. Their sharp exchanges were the highlights of the play. The smooth flow of the script coupled with intense dialogues and some acute light play and background score made this production an interesting watch.
However, it wasn’t entirely devoid of flaws — especially the writing. While on one side the play tried to break gender stereotypes and advocated that it’s okay for men to be soft and expressive about their emotions, it also backed the notion that certain emotions are gender specific. The play failed to establish that it’s not biology but society that confines males and females to particular masculine and feminine profiles. It also touched upon issues such as the role conditioning plays when men evolve from boys, their inner struggle to bring out
certain emotions and why women are more vocal about certain issues.
Verdict: Purusha Sooktam was a wonderfully designed play that discussed male and female conflicts and their gender roles in detail. It was a breath of fresh air for those who are tired of watching run-of-the-mill Telugu plays dwelling in either mythology or brainless comedies. By choosing to play the female character and casting Vamsee as the male, director Jhansi had a solid cast and their chemistry on stage was a treat to watch. Through all the arguments and exchanges, the play highlighted a pertinent fact that a harmonious relationship between masculinity and femininity is the foundation of a progressive society.