Friday, November 23, 2007

Tumhari Amrita

A deliciously cold Delhi November evening, and a play that I had long wanted to watch.

Though the story was slightly predictable - impossible love between a socially accepted man and a self-destructive rebellious artist - the emotions that played out on the actors' faces as they spoke to us through their letters and their expressions carried me along. By the end, Shabana Azmi actually had tears glistening on her cheeks, and I, a lump in my throat. Without sets, props, music, costumes, 2 human beings sat at separate desks, spot-lit, and lived 2 lives as we listened.

Though the story is sad, it plucked at chords in me that I hadn't known I had. That something so uncertain, so ill-fated, should be so innocent and tender. That a relationship lived, and re-lived, through letters should make an uninvolved heart ache. That sometimes sorrow and grief can be devastatingly beautiful. I don't know what it made me feel. But somehow, with my simple life, simple pleasures, and uncomplicated state of heart, the play made me feel that I have not fully lived. That my heart and mind have not known loneliness, longing and passion to the degree that turns the being into the human. I am thankful for this unevolved state of 'being', but a little voice in my head keeps saying, 'You don't know anything because you have not felt anything.'

8 comments:

Sukhaloka said...

Are they coming to Kolkata any time soon? I do want to watch this, now.

Sorrow and grief - beautiful? They're really ugly, you know. Art can make them look beautiful. The real beauty lies in knowing that we're strong enough to stay sane, stable and in fighting form no matter what comes our way.

Anonymous said...

My dear *Thinking* girl, just touch wood! || Please, over such emotions, do not brood || Plays are meant to exaggerate || Not that I do them berate || You'll go through the whole gamut in motherhood!

Thinking Cramps said...

Suki: I really don't know. This was a special performance, and I managed to catch it by pure chance (I wasn't even meant to be in Delhi!) after 4-5 years of hankering after it!

I know you are absolutely right about sorrow. And I don't want to feel these things, as I said. It was the portrayal that somehow made me vicariously think these things and feel lucky and yet ignorant at the same time!

Aunty G: I completely agree \ It's just what I did see \ That affected a great deal \ Emotionally to feel \ And of course I know I'm lucky :)

Unknown said...

But somehow, with my simple life, simple pleasures, and uncomplicated state of heart, the play made me feel that I have not fully lived

Hell girl , dont even say such things and tempt providence .
I agree ,sorrow and grief can be devastatingly beautiful to the onlooker not to the people going through it .

Aapke Soniya played in Kolkata , but I would love to see the film - I can hear Shabana's voice .

soundcameraction said...

y isnt the writers name include in your article who made it possible for shabana & farokh to emote...

Thinking Cramps said...

Eve's Lungs: It was the dramatisation of it that had this effect, I guess. Quite immature of me to feel this way, perhaps.

What's Aapke Soniya about?

Sameer: The playwright is Javed Siddique and the play is loosely based on A.R. Guerney's 'Love Letters'. I think the information is available on the link to the play in my article.

Unknown said...

Aapke Soniya is the sequel to Tumhari Amrita. I can quite imagine the effect the play would have had . I can almost hear Shabana Azmi emoting. Sorry that's a typo in my earlier comment - should be "play" not film.

Oh and I've tagged you- shouldnt be too hard :)

A Muser said...

Girl, life is long and one never knows. But I will you'll never know the loneliness, longing and passion of unfulfilled love. Believe me, you're not missing out on much. And I've been wanting to see Tumhari Amrita for years and years. Sigh.