Written and Directed : Meghna Roy Choudhury Cast : Ipshita Chakraborthy Singh, Hrishabh Kanti, Aditi Arora,Ayush Thakur & Abhijeet Vikram Singh
KADAMBARI BY MEGHNA ROY CHOUDHURY Review
The stage has long been home to the most ancient of myths. Say for instance: the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, which demonstrates the intricate relationship between an artist and his muse, and has been told countless times in theatre and opera.
A not so ancient, but equally potent myth — one that showcases Kavi Guru Rabindranath Tagore and his dear friend, Kadambari Devi — gets told in KADAMBARI, the play backed by Paradigm Shift Arts.
A woman who was a deeply significant figure in the glorious poet's life — his sister-in-law, close companion, muse and source of profound emotional and artistic inspiration.
KADAMBARI retells the story across multiple dimensions: beginning from Kadambari's initiation into Jorasanko Thakurbari as a young child bride aged nine. Her husband, a well-lettered man, encourages Kadambari to take lessons from the younger brother. This turns both towards deep friendship, sharing poetry, critiquing works, and having deep conversations.
She encourages him to start writing and is her biggest supporter. However, pangs of jealousy begin creeping when the younger brother starts talking of marriage.
Kadambari cannot understand her feelings. What is this bond? One wrapped in deep intellectual and emotional companionship, but so mysterious.
While the bond remains a subject of much speculation, the fact remains that it cast an enigmatic shadow over the young poet Rabindranath — especially after Kadambari Devi's death by suicide at the age of 25.
The subject matter is highly emotional and tender, and director Meghna Roy Choudhary handles it with superb execution.
From an impeccable set design that takes us inside the grandeur of the Thakur household in Kolkata by means of a four-poster-bed, to the use of innovative storytelling tools such as puppet acting to enact the plight of the young child bride, she makes use of each tool to bring out a sophisticated performance.
The bed also makes us privy to the different intimacies at play — while also exploring themes of love, longing, and forbidden emotions.
It isn't just the inanimate objects worth talking about. The lifeline of theatre— the actors— do a commendable job in portraying the intense characters. From Ipshita Chakraborty's scintillating performance as Kadambari Devi in her youth, to Priyanka Singh's deft portrayal of Kadambari as a young child-bride, both actresses do a phenomenal job in highlighting the undercurrents of fragilities that had begun to plague the Thakur bahu as she grew of age. Aditi Arora does a good job as the other Tagore daughter-in-law.
The women are ably complemented by the men — actors Hrishabh Kanti, Aayush Thakur and Abhijeet Vikram Singh. While Kanti plays the role of Jyotirindranath Tagore, the grief-stricken husband of Kadambari Devi, Thakur plays the part of the youthful Rabindranath Tagore with dexterity. Actor Abhijeet Vikram Singh fosters a deep emotional anchoring to the play's universe.
Although the play has several time and space leaps, the actors defly weave them together, bringing emotional congruity to the story.
The sangeet aspect of the performance is managed effectively by music director Rahul Joglekar.
However, the play drags out at some times — especially for non-Bengalis as elaborate chunks are in the language. However, the actors try their best to keep the audiences engaged by virtue of their emotional performance.
KADAMBARI is a hauntingly poignant play. It explores several themes and leaves us, like Tagore, like Orpheus, with the longing to once again look back longingly at the muse. Alas, that can never be.
*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.
KADAMBARI BY MEGHNA ROY CHOUDHURY Play Schedule(s)
