After a great response to Tungabhadrar Teerey last year, theatre group Krishti is back with a new production, Kaalpurush, based on the eponymous novel by author Samaresh Majumder. Written in 1985, Kaalpurush, the third novel in the Animesh quartet by Majumder, charts the journey of Arko, the only son of Animesh and Madhabilata.
“The positive reviews of our play Tungabhadrer Teeray have encouraged me to experiment with another novel, Kaalpurush. This play, too, will be directed by me,” says Dr Sitangshu Khatua, the chief functionary and driving force behind Krishti. An academician, Khatua’s passion for theatre stems from his sense of social responsibility to cultivate and propagate the rich cultural heritage of Bengal.
Last year Krishti staged the widely appreciated play Tungabhadrar Teere, based on the novel of Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay, in almost all the renowned theatres of Kolkata and Khatua’s portrayal of the character of Maharaja Devaraya, earned him accolades from all corners.
“The play will trace the journey of a man, who fights many inner battles and emerges a winner. It also shows how one can turn all the energy to do something good for the society. Arko ultimately becomes so powerful for his social work, that he becomes a threat to the ruling party, which tries to eliminate him,” says Khatua, who is directing the play.
The play is about Arko, who grows up in a slum among hooligans and street children, turns into a confused and spoilt young man, who cannot connect with his father’s ideology or his mother’s personality. He hurls abuses, smokes and drinks with his anti-social neighbours Kila, Khurki, Kowa, Koyla, Bilu and others, disrespects principles, but is helpful and sensitive nonetheless. The play will see Arko go through an emotional turmoil when he gets involved with an upright artist Urmimala and a bar singer Jhimli at the same time.
Khatua hasn't deviated much from the original story while writing the script. "The story is set in the 1980s but in our play Arko is shown as a college-going youth instead of a school boy. Besides, I haven't ended the play on a pessimistic note. Though the hero gets jailed in the end, I have shown that the movement initiated by him is not stifled but continued by his comrades," adds Khatua.
Young theatre artiste Sumit Kumar Roy, who has been lauded for his acts in thespian Bratya Basu's Ridipus and Banijye Boshoti Lokhhi and other plays like Jyanto Hamlet, is playing young Arko. Actors Madhumita Sengupta plays Madhabilata, Gandharbi Khatua will be seen as Urmi and Amrapali Mitra will enact Jhimli. Sitanghshu Khatua will reprise the role of Arko's father Animesh.
"A lot of care has been taken to design the set and lighting plays a very important role. Protha Roy Nandi and Soumen Chakraborty has done great jobs for set and light designs, respectively. Composer Sourav Mukherjee has created an amazing score called Resurrection for the play," mentions Khatua.
Thespian Kaushik Chatterjee has overseen the concept and the choreography has been done by Prosenjit Bardhan.
The play Kaalpurush will debut on stage on January 13 at Gyan Manch, 6.30pm onwards. Tickets available at a Academy of Fine Arts counter