There are two important ideas that this play highlights. One, the consequence of taking uncalculated risks - in this case, a husband who has just started studying as a doctor, operates his wife's eyes and renders her blind. The other idea is India's folklore tradition of wives who are staunchly devoted to their husbands, as though they were gods.
One of the reasons that makes the play worth watching is that it depicts the life of a woman who worships her husband. While films, television shows, web series, plays, are now being made aplenty on adulterous women, this play is important because it brings to discussion the stories of women who remain resolutely loyal to their husbands.
The play depicts several situations in the life of a devoted wife. One, the patience with which the wife handles her sadness with restraint, the loss of her eyesight at the hands of her husband. Two, the way she helps a patient whom her husband refuses to see, and asks the patient to pray for her husband in return.
Three, how she deals with her husband's hidden willingness to marry a young bubbly girl so that she can take care of himself as well as his first wife.
The actors stand out in the play as it progresses. While the focus is on Priyall Ghore, the housewife, other actors also do justice to their roles. Vikas Rawat, Niraj Pandey and Ranjana Srivastav fit well into the roles. Aanjjan Srivastav appears in a guest role, lending some vital seriousness to the performance, for the audience.
The play begins slowly and takes time to engross the audience. However, after this slow start is out of the way, and when the play becomes all about the way this Damayanti-type wife deals with her troubles, it becomes intriguing. Like all good writing, the play is able to present all sides of the coin -- the peace that trust brings, and the way it also clouds judgement. It also shows the perspective of the husband who cannot think of marrying someone else but relents and then again changes his mind. There is also a happy ending for everyone.
DRISHTI-DAAN is based on a story by Rabindra Nath Tagore, and is written by Sagar Sarhadi, who died during the pandemic. Ramesh Talwar has been directing plays written by him in the last few months.
(*Tarun Agarwal is the author of Hope Factory: Business Ideas For Everyone and has directed a short film, Honesty Weds Dishonesty)
