BADALON KA SHEHER Play Review

Divyani Rattanpal	Host-A-Performance \| Schedule

Writer : Shruti Mishra Direction : Shruti Mishra and Manish Chaudhari Cast : Shruti Mishra, Amey Mehta & Manish Chaudhari

BADALON KA SHEHER Review

There's something entrancing about city-themed plays. Not only are they incredibly rooted in their storytelling, but they also craft the city-as-character in itself-enlivening the play with the city's unique charisma and chaos.

What Nihal Parashar does so superbly for Patna in Patna Ke Superhero, or Bade Bhai Sahab (adapted from Munshi Premchand) does for Varanasi, is spectacular in that it makes the audience aware of the specific city's culture, spirit, and challenges. In the same vein, BAADALON KA SHEHER pays an ode to a bhasad-filled monsoon day in Bombay.

A Hindi comedic drama written by Shruti Mishra, it delves into the lives of two strangers - played by Shruti Mishra and Manish Chaudhari - whose paths cross in a fated encounter, wherein they must navigate their differences to arrive at common ground.

Manish Chaudhari plays his part with conviction; Shruti Mishra - with sincerity and warmth.

The play unfolds against the backdrop of Mumbai - conveyed beautifully through mise-en-scÃƒÂ¨nes authentically depicting locations such as a chawl, a beach, and an auto-rickshaw, among others.

Meanwhile, Amey Mehta plays a multitude of characters that define Mumbai - bringing humour and driving the action forward.

The story on its own does not have a major conflict, but its treatment is highly artistic. Shruti's signature choreographed sequences bring poetry to the performance, while the music by Ashanis Tuteja adds a unique flavour to the play.

There's also the leitmotif of an umbrella that must be discussed. It reflects the false sense of protection that the city offers from the rough and tumble of life.

Because as any Mumbaikar can tell you: Mumbai, as a city, is never truly yours. It's always distant - but the people you meet along the way certainly make for tiny islands that are then reclaimed.

The distance, the pathos, the heartbreak, the money struggles - all of this makes Mumbai. A city as much of dreams, as of daily nightmares.

*Divyani has worked as a journalist for The Quint, where she was also among the Founding Team members. While there, she also hosted and produced a podcast and fronted several standups. She's also worked for The Times of India group. She's now a theatre and film actor.

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