Back where she belongs

A spring in her step,her passion for theater and her effervescent nature belie her age. At 73,Padma Bhushan recepient Sai Paranjpye proves that she is still young at heart as she presents her new play Aalbel. This production marks Paranjpyes return to original play-writing after more than two decades.

Inspired by French existentialist author Jean Paul Sartres No Exit,Aalbel revolves around three men,charged with murder. All of them are confined to a single jail cell in a tense atmosphere of mutual distrust. The initial simmering hostility and volatile tensions gradually lose their edge,as the trio begins to share their experiences,stories and traumas. Despite an immense difference in their backgrounds and mental framework,they realise that a common thread that of humanity binds them together.

Explaining what prompted her to helm this play,the director says,I had read No Exit when I was very young. It influenced me tremendously. It was about three men who go to hell after their death. The play was thought-provoking. However,Aalbel is completely different. Its not a remake. Paranjpye confesses that she was compelled to write a new play after the media reacted negatively to her reviving her earlier productions this year. When I revived my plays Sakkhe Shezaari and Jaswandi,I was constantly plagued by questions from the media. They would ask me,Was I falling short of ideas? I was so peeved that I decided to write a new story and that was how Aalbel was born.

The cast is an interesting mix of talent. Bappa,essayed by singer-actor Shrikant Dadarkar,is a man heading a school for tribal girls who is doing his time for killing a guy who attempted to rape his blind daughter. Jagtap,a seasoned actor from the experimental theatre,plays Sada,who has murdered his wifes lover. Stage and film star Milind Shinde essays the role of Bhairav,the third convict,who is a contract killer and has committed 17 murders.

Elaborating on how she chose the cast,the director said,Milind Shinde,who plays Bhairav,fit the role like a glove. I had planned to cast Shrikant for my film Saaz. However,things didnt work out and that role was eventually essayed by Raghubir Yadav. But I was impressed with Shrikants personality and when I was penning this play,I thought he would be perfect. Many people recommended Umesh Jagtaps name. He has acted in several Marathi experimental movies and plays. Initially I was sceptical about him but after working with him,I can say that he is one of the finest actors I have ever worked with.

Paranjpye also says that though all three protagonists are murderers,they have an innate quality that will compel the audience to like them. Bhairav talks of his past travails in the play and despite his misgivings,and you cant help but sympathise with him. Sada is a decent,happily married man who kills his wife in a fit of rage but repents later. He has been in prison for 14 years and is immensely likable. Bappa is a cultured individual who brings out the best in each of the inmates.

Known for her uncompromising stance on realistic portrayals,Paranjpye visited Mumbais Arthur Road Jail to get an idea of the interiors of a prison. Jail superintendent Uddhav Kamble showed her slides of cells and inmates. During the visit,the director realised that handcuffs are not used by inmates,and that the benches have to be made of cement as wooden benches are easily broken by convicts. Such nuggets of information have been woven thoughtfully in Aalbel. Combining practical insight with modern multimedia technique,Paranjpye has included five vibrant video clips depicting flashbacks in the play. These video clips lighten up the proceedings and provide the scope to include a female cast in the play. The actors in the video clip include Veena Jamkar,Rajshree Sawant,Madhav Abhyankar,Vandana Khandekar and Gautam Joglekar.

The plays title is interestingly a distortion of All well, a routine check-up call that is conducted by jailors. Contrary to its subject,Paranjpye says that Aalbel is an entertaining play that compels people to think. I like to entertain people. I try to make a piece of art as appealing as possible. I have always strived to reach out to the public.

Aalbel premiered at Mumbais National Centre for Performing Arts on December 24

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