Spandan Docu Theatre

Drama but true

Samir Chattopadhyay

And again there is a commotion in the drama circle of Kolkata. Why? Because Sangram Guha again written a drama. And this time also the play has been based on a real story. This is the cause of so much hullabaloo. The fact is Kolkata is now virtually obsessed with plays repleted with a funny mixture of some text, some sex and a lot of poignant dialogue. But Sangram is not that run of the mill playwright. Intrinsically he is an out and out journalist. So his mind is always hungry for news, something new and notable. So Sangram is always poised to brave any risk to explore the truth. So Sangram always forwards towards a hair-pin bend.His previous productions are – '16 Milimetre' and 'Operation Flush'. these productions equally tormented the audience and the police. This is remarkable. Sangram can jerk the people. This time he relies on a more mementoes and dangerous story.

Consequently, the adminstration had to arrange security cover for Sangram and his team also.

What are the elements?

The present play revolves round the terrorist activities of Lasker-e-Taiba. So this story even stirred the defense ministry. In the year, 1998, the Navy started 'The operation leech-2' against the traffickers of arms and drugs. this is the story of the present play.

In the 'operation leech-2' Major Surinder Singh (father of the journalist daughter Dona Bedi) got died by the bullets of terrorists. In the encounter, 7 terrorist made their escape. Fara was one of them. He was one of the main culprits attacked the World Trade Centre and Pentagon of U.S. His name got implicated with Mohammad Atta, who is a Al-Quida terrorist. Fara and Dona met themselves in the house of Prof. A.K.Hassan of Delhi University. He used to teach international relations, and this professor also got murdered. But who committed the murder is yet to be divulged by the police. In the meantime Fara was arrested from a night club in POTA, on 22-10-02. Dona was also arrested for maintaining relations with Fara. On the other hand Dona died in the Tihar Jail due to lungs infection. There are so many breath-taking incidents.

About the production

Surely, this is good and magnificent production. Stage-craft is superb, without any gimmick, the playwright does not take recourse to melodrama. In every sequence, the director shows his praiseworthy restraint. In the introduction he is not superfluous. There are moments of breath-taking suspense and throbbing tension. It is really difficult depict such a real story successfully in the stage. But Sangram and his team successfully overcome the barrier. Full credit must go to the director.Scenes are not lengthy. Music & lighting moved the audience. In the role of Dona, Sampa Sen is mush-worthy with dignity and restraint. Shankar Prasad Banerjee in the role of Subedar Yusuf is credible. Sangram Guha splendidly portrayed the role of Srivastava. In the nutshell, everyone of the team exerted themselves fully.

Really a vibrant and vigorous production, from the first mile to the last mile.