Theatre Review: When the sidelined and silenced raise a din

Theatre Review: Sandhaana
Director: Surabhi Vasisht
Cast: Pooja Rao, Rani P Vishwanath, Jyoti Salunke, Vyjayanti V Adiga, Pooja Bharithaya, Chukki, Varshini, Naveen, Abhinay Kolalmath, Raghu Dayear, Prasad Cherkady, Nalin Kumar, Karthik Kalmadka, Sumana Narayan, Anand Parikh, Shreyas Murthy
Genre: Historical drama
Duration: 75 mins
Rating: ***½
Plot: Namkampani’s Sandhaana is about the Kurukshetra war as seen through the eyes of the dasis of the Kaurava clan.This play brings out the angst of the dasis, as they are constantly torn between their belief that the Kauravas will win the war and their worry that the war will only bring bloodshed and despair. Simultaneously, the Kaurava king, Dhritarashtra, and his sons, notably Duryodhana and Dushasana, get ready for an audience with Krishna, who is on his way to discuss a peace treaty. The events put the Kaurava queen Gandhari ill-at-ease. How the consequences of these events overlap with each other and affect the impending war form the the narrative.
Review: This play’s telling of the oft-discussed Kurukshetra war from the unique standpoint of the stereotypically sidelined dasis makes it a refreshing take on a known tale. All the actors deliver their roles with poise. The deafening applause for Prasad Cherkady as Shakuni and Abhinay Kolalmath, who essayed Gandhari, prove that the audience has favourites. For certain roles, the artiste-character’s gender are dissimilar, but the actors carry it off with finesse. MD Pallavi’s music leaves quite an impression, and credit has to be given to the actors for their bewitching live performances (Pooja Rao’s voice is one that stands out). Sridhar Murthy keeps up with the current trend in Kannada plays by thinking up an intricate set design. The way simple cloth is creatively used to make different scenes deserves praise. While a slightly longer version with a less abrupt climax might have made for a more smooth-flowing screenplay, one wonders if the abruptness was a deliberate emphasis on the unpredictability of war and life. Either way, the play ends too soon and leaves the viewer wanting more.
Final word: This play is quite the package for entertainment — noteworthy music, well-choreographed action sequences, scenic stagecraft and commendable acting, you’ve got it all. Kudos to first-timers Namkampani for this theatrical offering.
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Rating Scale:
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