Theatre Review: Retelling familiar tales with fresh perspectives

Theatre Review

:

Bheemayana

Director:

Dr Shripad Bhat

Cast: Nithin, Yadhuraj, Prithvi Raj, Prajwal S, Prabhanjan, Vinutha Simha, Brunda Vikram, Lahari Bharighat, Tejas Raje Urs, Satyaprakash, Hoysala, Dhakshineshwar, Ullas Prajwal, Sanju and others.
Language: Kannada
Genre: Mythological drama
Duration: 2 hours
Rating: ***
Plot: Bheemayana is based on the famous Malayalam novel Randamoozham by MT Vasudevan Nair. Tracing the Mahabharata from Bheema’s point of view, the play depicts the major events in his life – shedding light on his actions and the circumstances that made him who he was. The epic is made relatable as it moves away from the traditional narrative to one that is more realistic. Translated to Kannada by Parvathi Ital and adapted for stage by Samkutti Pattankari, this play enables the viewer to understand how the same story is so much different when seen from a different character’s perspective. From Bheema the adolescent to Bheema who is on his final journey to heaven – the story of a conflicted, passionate and pure-hearted Pandava comes to light.
Review: The play’s skillful use of simple stage props is commendable. Small hitches, however, break the flow in an otherwise well-executed screenplay. The choreography could have been a little more synchronized as the lack of coordination hinders the smooth flow of visuals on stage. One actor who shines with the way she executes the dance pieces is Lahari Bharighat, who plays Hidimbi. Her grace and poise are praiseworthy. Nithin, who plays Bheema, delivers all that his role demands. Brunda Vikram excels in bringing out the lesser known shades of Kunti’s personality. The music, especially the voice of Anush Shetty, the lead singer who also played the tabla adeptly, lingers on and complements the screenplay beautifully. The exchange of words between Hidimbi and Bheema is, perhaps, the most impactful section of the play. It is executed to such perfection that one is left wanting more of their interaction.
However, the play shows a very one-sided aspect of Bheema, emphasizing on his struggle to really confront and communicate his family. In fact, the show brings out more layers to other characters than it does to Bheema. The good and evil shades too seem a bit a too imbalanced – either a character is scheming or helpless. The middle ground between these two extremes remains largely unexplored, and is left to supernatural elements.

Final word: There are so many good performances by actors. The stage set, although minimal, marries simplicity and creativity effectively. Given that the play is being performed for the sixth time, the screenplay could have been a lot more polished. Overall Bheemayana, despite the lapses in movement coordination and the lessened focus on Bheema, is not one to be missed. There is never a dull moment in the play and while there are lots of little aspects that can be fine-tuned, in all, the drama is engaging and relevant. It urges one to retrospect and consider things with a fresh perspective. Who knows, the same story might seem entirely different. All one has to do is empathize.