Direction : Shiv Tandan Writer : Shiv Tandan Cast : Anuj Rampal, Lauren Robinson, Vaibhav Kapatia and Zinnia Ranji
A FISTFUL OF RUPEES Review
If you want to watch a play that entertains you as much as a movie, then your search for it can end at Shiv Tandan's A Fistful Of Rupees. The play is a mix of slice of life episodes, commentary on political affairs, mild provocation, humour and drama. The overall story of the play is about Raghav, who has shifted to Mumbai after living in Singapore for very long. He feels a mix of emotions, like anyone would, and through him we get a bird's eye view of what one can expect in Mumbai.
The play engages you by touching upon a large number of subjects – anti-migrant political groups, religion as opium of the masses, small apartments, dying infrastructure, dreams, love life, wealth, education, life in different countries and more. It takes you through a journey of emotions but predominantly it is dark humour about how helpless Raghav feels in life. The play is full of quirky observations, such as, "But New York is pretty safe? Not for brown people, come on. My husband got mugged there four times in two years."
The performers form a lively bunch with a strange single colour uniform. One of the performers of the play is Niharika Lyra Dutta, who made her mark in the OTT space by playing a key role opposite Neeraj Kabi, in Paatal Lok. In terms of technique, the play is full of fast and non-stop repartee, with hardly a pause. It uses no props and beyond words, there is little that the play relies upon. Much like Raghav in the play, playwright-director Shiv Tandan studied engineering in Singapore before moving back to India. This is his first play for an Indian audience.
A FISTFUL OF RUPEES is, in a sense, a sleeper hit being first performed at smaller venues, winning a Sultan Padamsee Award for playwriting. It serves a variety of audiences --it is an entertainer and would be of interest to those who are looking at being engaged throughout the play and also to the audience that watches stand-up comedy, as well as those who follow current affairs. Like stand-up comedy, it exposes the decaying ecosystem for those who wish to pursue their ambitions in Mumbai, once hailed as a city of dreams. The play is special for those who find themselves caught up in choosing a city to call it home – it lays bare the impossible challenges that Mumbai, Singapore, and New York pose. However, the play would likely evoke a mixed reaction for those who watch a play to sit back and slowly introspect as unlike most plays in mainstream venues, this play does not offer a chance to reflect on the quips that flow all the time. It is certainly not for those whose taste lies in interpretation and adaptation of renowned writers as this play is unapologetically contemporary in every way. It is also suitable for all age groups as there is not much stress on adult humour.
(Tarun Agarwal has written a book, Hope Factory: Business Ideas For Everyone and has directed a short film, Honesty Weds Dishonesty).
