Direction : Nikhil Katara Writer : Nikhil Katara, Himali Kothari Cast : Santanu Ghatak, Asmit Pathare, Asif Ali Beg
THE BOSE LEGACY Review
Madhuri Bose is the grandniece of Subhas Chandra Bose and has a compilation of letters received by Amiya Nath Bose from her father, Sarat Chandra Bose and uncle, Subhas Chandra Bose. THE BOSE LEGACY is an adaptation based on these letters. The play is presented by Playpen Performing Arts Trust and Showcase Events.
The play is certainly interesting for those who want to understand the various aspects of the freedom struggle, since it captures several key episodes of Indian history such as various revolts, movements and partition. It also makes a comment on Indian leaders of the time, Gandhi, Nehru and Sardar Patel. We can get a sense of how Subhas Chandra Bose finds himself in unique circumstances as he does not join any of the well discussed camps of the time such as Congress, the ones who sacrificed their lives to give a message or the fundamentalists.
The production is articulately performed by the actors. There is hardly a moment of incompetence in the acting, lights or music. Since the play tries to familiarise you with historical aspects, the stress is not so much on creating emotional moments but in providing loads of content. The play becomes less absorbing in many parts because of the way the plot is built. A sense of what will happen next is lacking and the play can be slow moving for those who do not have a direct interest in the subject. However, the play justifies a watch because it presents a truckload of content.
One of the most striking parts is the interaction between Bose and Gandhi during Partition. Gandhi's stance about being helpless in front of his own men to whom he has delegated his power, Sardar and Nehru, who no longer listen to him, makes it a good point of debate. These are sensitive aspects which need to be discussed more often in public. We often miss the point that even a man of such moral authority as Gandhi could not convince his long serving disciples to let him have his way in the most important aspect of India's independence movement - the partition. This aspect of THE BOSE LEGACY can help open up a debate on how the best students of the best teacher are not good enough to lead a sensitive decision. We see Bose as a crucial figure who can see these facts from a distance. Most written works on this matter are either incompetent or are driven by affiliations. This play belongs to none of the usual affiliations and that makes it special.
With a little more entertainment value, the play could have gone a lot further. Perhaps, in the further editions of the play, this may change.
*Tarun Agarwal is the author of a book, Hope Factory. He is the director of a short film, Honesty Weds Dishonesty. He sees reviews as an art as much as an assessment of art.)
