Written and Directed : Pratap Phad Cast : Shweta Gulati, Chitrashi Rawat, Atul Tiwari, Mustafa Burmawala, Savant Singh Premi and Siddharth Bodke
ANANYAA (HINDI) Review
ANANYA, written and directed by Pratap Phad, and starring Shweta Gulati as the eponymous heroine, is the story of how a girl-next-door goes to extraordinary lengths to live life on her own terms after an accident leaves her handicapped.
Ananya lives with her father and brother and is engaged to a wealthy businessman's son. It takes a while for the play to set up the story but soon after the accident, both Phad and Gulati's work begins to shine. Usually, a lot of commercial plays are weary of showing parents as selfish, they are parents after all. But in ANANYA, Phad takes a more realistic approach: everyone's loving and happy when things are hunky dory but soon after the accident, broken dreams and caretaker's stress begin to take hold of the family and a father's love is replaced with frustration, resentment and anger.
Often in such cases, the patient becomes pitiable, unable to help themselves or do everyday tasks independently. Gulati showcases this helplessness beautifully. In an especially touching sequence, Ananya's father and brother begin to fight over increased responsibilities post her accident. Gulati's Ananya wants to stop them from coming to blows and simultaneously comes to the realization that while she still loves them dearly, she has become unwanted by her family. The hurt that shines in Gulati's eyes is both tragic and beautiful. Gulati's hard work also shows in her changed physicality and the dexterity she had to acquire to play the role.
Originally a Marathi piece, also helmed by Phad, the play in Hindi is perhaps at its weakest when it comes to dialogue. Some of the lines, while they may have worked in Marathi, do not seem like they follow the cadences of Hindi very well. Parts of the musical score also seem to be too on-the-nose.
However, a wonderful story and screenplay, Gulati's strong presence, a pleasing performance by Siddharth Bodke in the second half that adds some much-needed levity to the story and realistic set design by Sandesh Bendre make this play an enjoyable watch.
*Neha Shende is an avid theatre-goer and enjoys watching old Bollywood movies in her free time.
