Bhishmotsav A theatrical galore

The magic of theatre is, in its ability to stir the penned stories, in the minds of those witnessing it. Such was the magic of Bhishmotsav, a series of skits performed as a part of the three-day event, to commemorate the birth centenary of the renowned Hindi writer- Bhisham Sahni. 

Director Seema Bhargava Pahwa brought forth the simplicity and depth of Sahni’s literature through the grace and poise of legendary actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah and Manoj Pahwa amongst other renowned artists. Based on five of his short stories, Oob, Yaadein, Dholak, Sir Ka Sadka and Samadhi Bhai Ramsingh, she took her audience through a time lapsed journey of different characters and their stories.

Staged at Epicentre Gurgaon, the 145-minute long performance where five individual stories were performed in a narrative style with one actor performing numerous characters, the act was loved by the audience. “Absolutely mind-blowing, it was an enriching experience and I am so glad to witness it. Naseer Sir’s last performance was my favorite and I loved the way he transcended into such diverse characters with ease and grace,” said Suman who has been a part of Delhi’s theatre circuit. Her husband, who himself is a theatre enthusiast added, “For me the star of the show was Ratna Pathak Shah and the way she convincingly played an old woman.”

Dealing with diverse subjects, Seema chose these five stories because of their ability to transcend the era they were penned in, “They are still relevant, and I have been reading Sahni’s works ever since I was a kid and I felt the need to revive his works” said Seema. 

The stories had contemporary themes such as a teacher’s boredom in an examination hall in Oob; a woman and her sacrifices in Sir Ka Sadka; an educated young man dismissing customs but accepting them when an outsider appreciates the same customs in Dholak; the sound of the times bygone and the memories that lighten up a corner, when two old friends meet in Yaadein and the hypocrisy of a society in Samadhi Bhai Ramsingh. Underlying each theme was a deep understanding of human nature and the complexities that entangles our society. The fragile nature of human psyche which makes a thin line between good and evil even thinner and the way a mob mentality works, was portrayed flawlessly.

An unpleasant incident occurred in the afternoon show where an audience member misbehaved with Naseeruddin Shah, making him stall his performance. When Shah asked him not to take pictures, he got into an altercation with him. Shah said: “People should know how to respect theatre as it is very distracting for an artist who is giving his 100 per cent to keep the audience engaged. Though I have been into such situations before, this person was particularly rude and I wanted to give him a piece of my mind, but I couldn’t find him.”