Veteran film, television and theatre personality Raman Kumar says that he has done many serious narratives but comedy is something that describes him best. By Team Viva
Can you recall Govinda’s Sandwich where he juggles his time between two wives? Not only this but he also ensures that the secret doesn’t spill out. Playwright Raman Kumar’s Tera Kya Hoga Walia, presented by Felicity Theatre Delhi, is drawn on the same line. The phrase Tera Kya Hoga Kalia is the favourite of a thousand Bollywood lovers as it is reminiscent of one of the most loved Hindi blockbusters. Only this time, it’s not Kalia but Walia. By the two above instances, you would have got the drift that we are looking at something laughter inducing.
Director Raman Kumar tells us that this is a comedy of errors about a man trapped between two wives. The plot unfolds a crazy roller coaster ride and the audience will exclaim Tera Kya Hoga Walia! “Even though the idea of the play resembles Sandwich, the storyline and the treatment is very different. Tiku Talsania’s presence is crucial enough to make a difference,” says he, who is well-known for Sarhad Paar (2006), Saath Saath (1982) and Raahee (1987).
The narrative revolves around Aditya Walia (played by Tiku Talsania) who has two wives and keeps them in seperate homes in the same city. He juggles his time between both — Pushpa (played by Delnaaz Irani) and Anjulika (played by Harleen Kaur Rekhi) and tries to keep them both equally happy and satisfied. Things turn topsy-turvy when Walia meets with an accident and has to spend a night in hospital. As luck would have it, both wives register a complaint about their missing husband. In the process, two separate addresses are registered at the police station for the missing Aditya Walia. Thanks to the web of lies spun by Walia, things get complicated when cops from two police stations start investigating the case.
The plot gets funnier and more complicated when a top smuggler from Hong Kong enters the city and the police department is on high alert. They fear that the missing Walia with two addresses is the same smuggler and that’s when the heat is turned on. All hell breaks loose when both the wives come to know about the existence of each other. “What follows is an unbelievable comic journey full of unpredictable twists and turns that is sure to leave the audience gasping for breath,” says the director.
He feels that theatre has seen a complete transformation over so many years. The production, marketing, presentation, sets and the audience, of course, have changed a lot. He says, “In fact, today we have come to terms with what is happening all around. Theatre and films are nothing but a reflection of society. Earlier, it used to be more about classics and problems of the society. We still try to present that in our stories but it has also gone beyond that. More genres have come in. It’s not just about social issues anymore. It’s more about the common man today — the problems in his life.”
Raman is somebody who always tries to find a way to entertain his audience be it through any genre. He has done many serious narratives too but comedy is something that he feels describes him best.
“Comedy has taken the centre stage. Theatre industry is almost competing with cinema today. People are dropping their plans of going to the cinema. It has become convenient for them to watch films on their phones as these usually appear either on TV or on OTT platforms within a week. Theatre has become an outing for people. They do not mind travelling long distances to watch these live shows as they get to experience something live and nothing can beat that. Theatre is no longer for the niche audience,” believes Raman.
(The play will be staged today at 3 pm and 7 pm, and on Sunday at 11.30 am at Kamani Auditorium.)
