The charisma of Ismat Chugtai’s writing was seen in Hindi play ‘The Snake’.
The play was brilliantly staged at Shaheed Bhavan auditorium on Thursday. Directed by a known theatre artist and director Nazeer Qureshi, the play was performed by the artists of Karvaan Theatre Troupe, Bhopal.
The play ‘The Snake’ is a story written by Ismat Chugtai. Ismat Chugtai was an eminent Indian poet and writer in Urdu. Her writings are known for indomitable spirit and fierce feminist ideology. The Snake is also one of the stories by Chugtai written in Urdu that raises the questions on human nature. It reflects about the double standards in human nature which is just like the snake.
The story is about two siblings, one brother and sister. Their love lives, their characteristics and their look out for each situation are showcased in the play.
The play revolves around two siblings Zaid and Rafia. Their father is just expired and the play introduces Rafia in black suit. She is stitching a black cloth in her brother’s coat on which Zaid disagrees. He believes it is just a show off by his sister.
The other plot unveils the lovers of these siblings. Zaid is in love with Khalida and as far as Rafia’s love life is concerned there is a love triangle in her story.Gaffar is in love with Rafia, but Rafia likes Javed and on the other hand Javed wants a mature life partner and Rafia doesn’t fits in the picture.
Ismat Chugtai in her story relates Rafia’s nature with the snake. Rafia manages to woo Javed, but ensures that she will be in touch with Gaffar. The twists and turns explore different identities of human in the play The Snake.
There is one character Rahim Miyaan who adds comical fillers in the play.
All the characters impressed the audience with outstanding performance.