Three decades after the film, Fire, that brought the relationship between two women in a middle-class Delhi home out of the closet, and a fair degree of queer representation in theatre and web series, if not much in mainstream cinema, there is still an uncomfortable silence around female bonding.
In the play THE CHAI QUEENS, that had its Mumbai premiere after acclaim and awards abroad, director Ramanjit Kaur, working from a script by Vikrant Dhote, takes a poignant look at the fractured lives of two women, who could not overcome the familial and social hurdles that came in the way of their love.
Years later, Babli (Taranjit Kaur) and Tejal (Archana Patel) meet at a wedding, and their memories engulf them. When faced with censure, Babli took the path of least resistance, got married and had a daughter; Tejal left town and sought solace in fleeting connections.
The two of them reminisce about the joyous days of their youth, the cups of chai shared, the innocent wedding ceremony of their two female dolls, the tentative awakening of forbidden desire.
Ramanjit Kaur's style of direction involves devising with the actors, which brings an enhanced level of involvement and immersion into the emotions of the characters they play. She also uses simple but imaginative props-a sari unfurled takes in a sensuous life of its own, the red alta footprints on a white sheet, the placing of roses in the beloved's hair. evoke moments of tenderness.
The two women have a lot of ground to cover when talking of their lives since their separation, but it also seems like they were never apart, because the intense love they had for each other never faded.
A sense of wistfulness suffuses the play, enhanced by the light design and music-a sense of what-if.., if they could have spent those lost years together, would they have been happier? That gap and the unexpected meeting does give them a chance to re-examine their feelings, and speak with the clarity that comes with maturity and experience.
The two actresses-both known for their work in theatre-- have worked to portray the intimacy of their relationship, so there is no awkwardness in their body language. Both also have expressive voices that add depth to their pperformances. THE CHAI QUEENS is a beautifully-crafted play that makes its statement gently, when so many productions dealing with social issues tend to become strident or melodramatic.
(Deepa Gahlot is a journalist, columnist, author and curator. Some of her writings are on deepagahlot.com)
