Playwright Anju Makhija's latest offering, Meeting With Yama is yet another 'meeting the greater force' play. What is it about Yama and his counterparts in the Hindu tradition that interest contemporary playwrights?
Playwright Anju Makhija's latest offering, Meeting With Yama is yet another 'meeting the greater force' play. What is it about Yama and his counterparts in the Hindu tradition that interest contemporary playwrights?
It's a hot and humid April morning when the actors decide to meet for the final rehearsal of their play reading. They quickly get comfortable with their charactersu00a0-- Denzil Smith's baritone brings Yama to life, Sanjeev Vatsa gets playful around his master as Subu (Yama's dog), and Naved Aslam plays the strict Chitragupta in his dealings with the newly-dead Brinda (played by Kitu Gidwani). Kitu's Peddar Road apartment is suddenlyu00a0 transformed into Yamapura.
Sanjeev Vatsa, Naved Aslam, Kitu Gidwani and Denzil Smith rehearse for
Anju Makhija's new play at Kitu's South Mumbai residence. pics/Bipin Kokate
The idea of an actual meeting with the Lord of Death seems a scary proposition, but playwright Anju Makhija has turned it into a playful scenario for her latest play. It is a fantasy setting, which stems from a personal curiosity to know more about the afterlife. "But we are looking at Yama and the other characters from a not-so-serious angle, not a deeply philosophical one," says Anju, who started writing the play after her parents passed away a couple of years ago.
Anju is not the first to explore Yama's character from a light-hearted perspective. Several Marathi plays have had seen Yama struggling to survive. One even had Yama stuck in a massive traffic jam, while in another he was unable to procure a death certificate. Still another saw Yama having a heart attack, and wondering who would take his soul to Yamlok.
Perhaps, the political and religious turbulence of the '80s and '90s played a crucial role. Ramu Ramanathan, whose play Curfew saw Yama stuck with the "dead man" because of a curfew, explains, "In the '80s and '90s, whenever I used to travel in India, I would get stuck because everywhere I went, there was a curfew." And so, in his play, Yama arrived to carry a soul back to Yamalok, but wasn't aware that a deal had been struck: if the "dead man" could survive the rahu kaalam (an inauspicious period governed by planets), his soul would continue to reside in his body. On cue, a Curfew was clamped and Yama was unable to return to Yamlok.
The other reason playwrights say Yama lends himself so easily to a play is his ability to "appear human". Anjuu00a0 agrees. He, more than the other Gods, gives the writer a chance to be more playful. "In Curfew, the Yama Mantra was set to the tune of Elvis," recalls Ramu. Even so, it's not just Yama who has been 'humanised' on stage. Adalay Mazha Thetar, a play by Pandit Satyadev Dubey, which was adapted into Marathi by Irawati Karnik, was one of the best new plays of 2009. The play portrayed the chaos that ensues when highbrow Indian mythological characters are played by crass Tamasha artistes. Pure delight.
The fact that references to Indian mythology give Anju's play a rich and layered subtext is an important reason why Gods often pop up. "In my play, Yama's character is seen criticising human nature by portraying its follies," explains Anju.
Cast speak: What would you ask Yama if you met him in person?
The rational Denzil Smith, plays Yama
I would ask Yama if they get Chicken Tikka where he comes from. Since what happens to you after meeting with Yama is inevitable, it's best to be prepared. Chicken Tikka, for me, is a metaphor for worldly pleasures. So, if Yama says Tikka is available, it wouldn't be such a bad place.
The practical Naved Aslam, plays Chitragupta
When I am face-to-face with Yamaraj, the only thing I would say is, 'Please spare me!' If I get the chance to say something more I'd ask him what it is that I have done wrong. Then, maybe I will try to strike a deal and find a way to wriggle out of the situation.
The impish Sanjeev Vatsa, plays Subu, Yama's dog
I'd tell Yama to either make an antidote to Viagra or withdraw Viagra from all medical counters because there's just too much competition out there and something needs to be done about it. Also, I'd ask him to control Mumbai's humidity, and gift us longer winters.
Listen in at the first play-reading of Meeting with Yama at today
At 6.30 pm at Prithvi House, opposite Prithvi Theatre, Janki Kutir, Juhu Church Road, Vile Parle (W).
Call: 26149546
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