The Chhattisgarh mahotsav had a grand closure with Habib Tanvir’s masterpiece ‘Charandas Chor’ here on Friday.
Notably, the Chhattisgarh mahotsav was organised at Antarang hall, Bharat Bhavan for the theatre buffs to let them enjoy the culture and art of Chhattisgarh.
On the closure evening, Habib Tanvir’s one of the hit plays ‘Charandas Chor’ was staged by the artists of Naya Theatre Group, Bhopal. It was exactly staged before the audience when it was directed by Habib Tanvir. The mastery of his direction could be seen on stage with the presentation of the play.
Also, Habib Tanvir’s art and his theatre perspectives could be seen in the play.
The play is about a thief who promises his Guru that he will never tell a lie. The Guru asks him to give up his bad habits if he wants to become his disciple.
Curiously, Charandas is a man of principles an honest thief with a strong sense of integrity and professional efficiency. He makes four vows to his Guru, that he would never eat in a gold plate, never lead a procession that is in his honour, never become a king and never marry a princess, thinking all of them are far out possibilities for him.
later, his guru adds a fifth one, never to tell a lie and sets him of on his life’s journey which leads him to a kingdom, where the turn of events make him famous, and eventually he is offered the seat of political power which he has to refuse. later, the local princess gets enchanted by him, and proposes to marry him. This is when his refusal costs him his life. As he is put to death, he illustrates the inherent paradox in human existence, where truthful existence becomes impossibility, for the truthful and the accidentally truthful, alike.
The play was much enjoyed by the audience as they were taken on a journey to the world of lies and truth altogether. Also, on Friday, Ugrasen Kannauje and Rahas leela Company presented ‘Rahas’ which was also enjoyed by the Bhopal theatre lovers of the city.