The impressive collage of four short stories as Maithil Nari: Chaar Rang was staged here on Thursday at Antarang Hall Bharat Bhavan. ‘Mathil Nari: Chhar Rang’, based on the popular four short stories of well-known Mathili author Rajkamal Chaudhary was staged on fifth day of fest ‘Aadhya’.
Four short stories ‘Kutchh Unlikhe Patra’, ‘lalpagg’, ‘Kopal’ and Vaishnav’, highlighted pathetic condition of women as well as women empowerment. Directed by noted theatre director and former director of National School of Drama, Devendraraj Ankur, it was presented by Mailorang repertory New Delhi wonderfully.
The play begins with story ‘Kutchh Unlikhe Patra’ which talks about women education and dowry system. It is saga of a village girl who loves an educated person. She couldn’t express her feeling to him by letter because she is illiterate. When that boy came to know about this, it was too late and the girl was already married to another man.
Another story ‘lalpaag’ based on child marriage. Radhakant is a doctor. He is married to a village girl Tiru in childhood. He is not happy with his marriage as well as childish behaviour of wife. Also, his step mother also doesn’t like Tiru and she also want to get rid of her. So Radhakant informs Tiru about his second marriage. At the end Radhakant breakdowns when Tiru gives him lalpagg (a red turban of a bridegroom).
‘Kopal’ is a story of a girl who lives in village with her widow mother. She falls in love with a compounder and wants to marry with him. But village people do not support this. But an old man named ‘Padhwa Kaka’ get them married breaking all the conservative values of village.
The play concluded with story ‘Vaishanv’. It is a story of a widow girl who was sexually exploited by her father-in-law for past four years. His father-in law is rich person of village and calls himself ‘Viashnav’. At the end, she decides not to bear injustice and kills him. It is to be noted here that it is presented in narration with action form. Symbolic sets, lights and music were beautifully used.