A story that highlights the pain and pleasure of an artist in the making was all about the play ‘Nathmethia’.
Directed by Randheer Kumar, the play was staged wondrously by Raga Sanstha, Patna marking the sixth day of National Theatre Festival.
life of a common man is just like that of a bird that flies from place-to-place in search of food. He has to do odd works and has to live at alien lands living behind his beloved ones at home situated far away. Poverty stung with caste-differentiation deepens the misery of the main character and his group who belong to barber community.
Natmethia is about a man Bhikadi Thakur whose life is similar to that. Thakur along with his family lives in Bihar. Bhikadhi and his troupe earn their bread by practicing a profession of eunuchs.
They are highly skilled and often play part of female characters like Sita in Ramleela but they are not respected in the society. Even their wives have doubt whether they have really turned in their sex. Every now and then they have core fights with their wives over it. Every day they not only have to struggle with their profession but also have to prove their identities to their families.
But Thakur seeks solace only in his art. He believes that art is worship. One day the destiny makes a judgment in his favour. He gets popular and got a chance to perform in a big event. On one hand he performed and at the same time he receives a death call of his wife.
Yet the show goes on and he performs while he is broken inside. But as he says ‘art is worship’ on this theme the play ends.
The drama was presented in a different style and never lost its luster during the whole show. The wondrous acting with the blend of sharp sequences made this play watchful. The narratives were mixed with enthralling dance, singing and music. The group dance of eunuchs proved that the artists were not merely actors but highly talented singers and dancers as well.
The use of traditional music instruments added a zest in the performance. It was a extravagant show for the theatre buffs of the city.