MEERA is definitely something that is refreshing and thought provoking. The young creative trio is writer Sneha Desai, director Darmendra Gohil, who is also a very talented actor, and executive producer Kajal Gadhia who has some creditable off beat productions in Gujarati theatre under the tutelage of her father Manhar Gadhia.
The saint poetess Meera is one of the most exquisite female characters in Indian religious history. She represents a free spirit, devotion, faith, happiness, and total submission to her ideal. She is also fiercely unconventional despite her times in a medieval Indian royal court. Renowned Gujarati poet Umashankar Joshi had written that 'Hato Narsinh Ane Meera Kharan Elmi kharan Shooran'( Poet Narsinh Mehta and poetess Meera- in the true sense of the word- were magical and fearless revolutionaries).
Although Meera's life seems simple, she is an enigmatic character. She never preached, nor established any cult. Nonetheless her life is an unwritten statement against age old traditions. May be it is these qualities that has attracted artistes from different disciplines to recreate her life, sometimes through her songs, and at other times through dance, drama, and in celluloid too. But more often than not these have resurrected only Meera's utmost devotion to Lord Krishna. This production however avoids the linear projection of Meerabai's life sketch.
Hema Desai and Sneha Desai's conceptualization brings contemporary relevance to the trials and tribulations of the saint by juxtaposing a young woman of today whose name is Meera too. She is facing an acute dilemma in her personal and professional life, and is stranded at the crossroads.
The modern Meera- a young widow, and an archeologist by profession is lonely and confused. Although educated, and having a career, she is faced with severe condemnation from her in-laws. On one stormy night alone at an excavation site, she encounters a nomadic woman of the same age as herself and finds that this woman shares her name. The dreamlike image of the saint Meera, no longer a queen but a commoner, reveals the secret of a woman's strength. She invokes the challenging life of the saint who chose to submerge herself in her devotion to Krishna, and be his consort.
The beauty of the play is that the life of the saint is not played out. It is through the conversations between the two women and the melodious bhajans (devotional songs) that the audience gets to put the saint's life in today's context.
No high drama takes place, and yet with simple meaningful dialogues, the audience is engaged. Dharmendra's direction is neat, simple and without any extraneous dramatic gimmicks. Kudos to his treatment and his casting of Neha Mehta - an accomplished actress and graceful dancer in the role of the nomadic woman who fills the stage with aesthetic brilliance. Her movements and dialogue delivery are enchanting. The petite Bhamini Gandhi as the modern Meera has also well portrayed her character of a woman struggling to break free of the shackles of social repression. Neha and Bhamini as Meera are like twins separated only by their social milieu.
The set by Amit and Kunal has a calming effect. Hema Desai's Bhajans are soulful. Had Neha Mehta actually sung rather just give lip movements, it would have been a more enriching experience. Hetal Chheda's costumes are well designed and appropriate for the two girl's contrasting personalities- one free and nomadic, the other all buttoned up.
If you want to enjoy something serene without the melodrama or the frivolity, then this MEERA has something good to give.
*Jyoti Vyas is a senior theatre and television person who has trained under Ebrahim Alkazi at the National School of Drama (NSD). She has written for publications such as 'The Asian Age' and the Prithvi Theatre Newsletter (PT Notes). She has also trained students in the Theatre, and is an important critical voice for Gujarati Theatre.
MEERA is definitely something that is refreshing and thought provoking. The young creative trio is writer Sneha Desai, director Darmendra Gohil, who is also a very talented actor, and executive producer Kajal Gadhia who has some creditable off beat productions in Gujarati theatre under the tutelage of her father Manhar Gadhia. 
