Recently the capital was gripped by, 3 Sakina Manzil, showcased as a part of Desires Unlimited's first vintage theatre festival - Epoch.
Power-packed performances by Puneet Sikka and Tarun Singhal who essayed the role of Shashi and Comrade Shashi left the audience spellbound. The 100-minute play revolves the love story of these two characters set in the back drop of the Bombay dock explosion. Each of them alternately remembers the time they spent together and the fateful day - 14 April 1944- that drew them apart and tore the city they lived in.
The play - 3, Sakina Manzil - has been written by Ramu Ramanathan, and was directed by Deepak Dhamija is set in pre-independence juxtaposed with the world being ravaged by World War II, and gradual establishment of the Hindi film industry. There are references to how Dev Anand had come as a fresher in the industry and by the end of the play , Comrade Shashi tells the audience how he had emerged as a successful hero. Amidst all this turmoil begins a beautiful love story between the protagonists. As Comrade Shashi walks in for a job at 3 Sakina Manzil, he immediately falls in love with his namesake. It is love-at-first-sight for her as well.
Tarun's performance as Comrade Shashi is etched well. He is able to bring about the transition in the character beautifully as the older Comrade Shashi reminisces his interaction as a young man with his love - Shashi (also his employers daughter). His co-actor Puneet too justifies her role as she transforms from the young Shashi expressing her love moving to the older one as she recalls the tragedy of the explosion and losing her love.
The plot is subtly designed to take you back in time and revisit the tale of these lover's lives simultaneously revealing the horrendous explosion. On the fateful day of their expected meeting 14 April 1944, Bombay habour is ripped by a huge explosion. The Bombay Dock Explosion left the citizens in shock and created chaos and devastation, simultaneously being responsible for separation of the two silent lovers. Separated by destiny, the two lead different lives as they set forth in life after the accident, only to meet again after five decades and recount their versions of the love story.
Power-packed performances by Puneet Sikka and Tarun Singhal who essayed the role of Shashi and Comrade Shashi left the audience spellbound. The 100-minute play revolves the love story of these two characters set in the back drop of the Bombay dock explosion. Each of them alternately remembers the time they spent together and the fateful day - 14 April 1944- that drew them apart and tore the city they lived in.
The play - 3, Sakina Manzil - has been written by Ramu Ramanathan, and was directed by Deepak Dhamija is set in pre-independence juxtaposed with the world being ravaged by World War II, and gradual establishment of the Hindi film industry. There are references to how Dev Anand had come as a fresher in the industry and by the end of the play , Comrade Shashi tells the audience how he had emerged as a successful hero. Amidst all this turmoil begins a beautiful love story between the protagonists. As Comrade Shashi walks in for a job at 3 Sakina Manzil, he immediately falls in love with his namesake. It is love-at-first-sight for her as well.
Tarun's performance as Comrade Shashi is etched well. He is able to bring about the transition in the character beautifully as the older Comrade Shashi reminisces his interaction as a young man with his love - Shashi (also his employers daughter). His co-actor Puneet too justifies her role as she transforms from the young Shashi expressing her love moving to the older one as she recalls the tragedy of the explosion and losing her love.
The plot is subtly designed to take you back in time and revisit the tale of these lover's lives simultaneously revealing the horrendous explosion. On the fateful day of their expected meeting 14 April 1944, Bombay habour is ripped by a huge explosion. The Bombay Dock Explosion left the citizens in shock and created chaos and devastation, simultaneously being responsible for separation of the two silent lovers. Separated by destiny, the two lead different lives as they set forth in life after the accident, only to meet again after five decades and recount their versions of the love story.