KHIDKI Play Review

Tram Theatre Productions' KHIDKI is a beautiful, subtle peek into the lives of two friends meeting each other after a long time. Ananya (Dipna Dariyanani) is the rebel child, and Prerna (Shweta Tripathi), the quiet conformist. The two girls are friends from a long time ago. But as they grow older their paths go further and further away from each other, until one of them is hurtled back to her 'home'. KHIDKI's story unfolds as the girls attempt to figure out a way to connect their present to their dramatic past.

The story begins from the point where Ananya and Prerna meet after a considerable time has lapsed. The girls have grown into women. A tragedy in Ananya's life brings her back to her parents' apartment that is filled with numerous memories. Her neighbour, and one time friend, Prerna comes over to greet her and conversations begin anew. All is not as well as it used to be but the friends are at least cordial to begin with.

Conversations spin out of practically every object on stage because everything holds some form of childhood memory. From awkward talk, the two friends graduate to light-hearted conversation and their relationship becomes more defined with each meeting. Ananya, the rebel child, is always up to some mischief, but she finds an antidote in the conformist Prerna. Ananya is the pampered child, who usually gets what she wants, Prerna on the other hand is very careful with the few things she possesses. As they grow up, their problems go beyond 'bunking tuitions or getting a tattoo done', and at one point, Prerna refuses to back her friend. Ananya takes a step that turns their world around.

The two friends have made their choice and they separate from each other to follow their own paths. The 'windows' that look into their lives are left empty for years until they meet again. Object Theatre artist Choiti Ghosh's contribution to the play happens in the form of the box of memories that Prerna holds so dear. Little things that the two girls played with begin to fuel conversations despite the friction. A new story is told with each object and with each tale, a lost bond is rekindled. Subtlety is a huge factor here and it's the play's most significant charm.

A two-character play that explores silences, awkward pauses and contemplative moments, requires mature actors. This is an actor's script. While Dipna outwardly portrays her character's angst well enough, she is unable to make it more nuanced. Her Ananya flattens out at points where she should be taking charge and commanding the stage. Shweta, on the other hand, handles the sprightly, even nosey character she's been handed, much more deftly.

It is rare for a young team to pull off a mature piece. This is a story that reflects the young and urban generation. Director Sananda Mukhopadhyaya succeeds in keeping Siddharth Kumar's script simple and that enhances its beauty. The play explores the highs and lows of a relationship that one can unmistakably connect with. There are no loud hoo-haas or unnecessary attempts to grab attention. KHIDKI is just the quiet play that's been missing from Mumbai's stage for some time now.

*Aditi Sharma enjoys watching theatre and writing about it.