They say dog is man's best friend. And a best friend makes no bones (pun intended) about pointing out your follies.
This is the basic premise of the play, AADMI, AURAT AUR KUTTA, which premiered at the Prithvi Theatre Festival, and is the Hindi adaptation of the play, DOG, WOMAN, MAN, written by Sibylle Berg.
Adapted, translated by Abhinav Grover, AADMI, AURAT AUR KUTTA is an exploration of a relationship between a man and a woman, as seen through the prism of their adopted dog.
The original play had opened at the Rampe Theatre in Stuttgart in 2001. But being performed here in Mumbai - where romance looms large - the play casts a shadow at saccharine representation.
With its unconventional, eccentric look at adult relationships, the play is a satirical reminder of how the affection and protection craved by a dog is mimicked by fully grown adults when it comes to romantic relationships.
It's also a chilling exhibit of how clinginess becomes militant.
Every drama is a see-saw of conflicting ideas. In this play, the tension is between the freedom to leave versus the leash of domesticity that ties dysfunctional relationships.
Seen from the point of view of a dog, the visual metaphors are quite striking in this play.
Actors Aarti Aney, Asmit Pathare and Dheer Hira hold on to the leash of the material tight (last pun... promise!). In particular, Dheer Hira's characterisation of the dog stands out.
Also kudos to Abhinav Grover, who has translated, adapted this play for bringing in an Indian touch, though it could have easily done with more of a relatability factor.
But all in all, the play, has many amusing takeaways.
The dog, for instance, is a reader of Camus, and like his preferred author, he too, ends up exposing the problems in human conscience and relationships. Quite fitting, must say!
In stark contrast to the simple needs of a dog, who is happy finding a way out of solitude after being adopted, his master and mistress - who have battled loneliness for too long - end up complicating their union by inventing new dramas and tensions born out of their insecurities, character flaws and childhood traumas. Because, as the dog says, "human beings don't hit on such simple ideas."
The 70-minute play is a brutally honest take on how a briefly intense romance electrified by fresh sexual desire slowly turns to dislike, and progressively worsens to hatred, aversion, and alienation.
But the most amusing takeaway in the play has to be the leash of domesticity that still binds the man and woman, albeit reluctantly - despite all the toxicity that's seeped into their relationship.
After all, as the dog says, "We dogs and human beings are in many respects related. For instance, we deal with catastrophes in the same way. We accept them."
*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.
