The political parody ‘Bechara Mara Gaya’ marked the seventh day of National Theatre Fest at Antarang Hall Bharat Bhavan.
Directed by Ashwini Kumar Chakre, the play was presented by the artists of Mashal Theatre Group, Bangalore.
Bechara Mara Gaya is an adaptation of Dario Fo’s Accidental Death of an Anarchist. The play is a satire on the rampant corruption in the social system. The play is based in northern part of India.
The form of the play is slap-stick and yet it explores the grave issues of financial and moral corruption prevalent in the society. Bechara Mara Gaya is a satire not only the police administration but also at the hypocrisy of the entire socio-political system. This play is set in the northern part of India and the plot revolves around an investigation on the custodial death of a train-bombing suspect.
The central character of the play is a ‘Maniac’ or ‘Pagal’ who is a habitual imposter and has been caught by the police several times. The play begins with the ‘pagal’ in a police chowki being questioned by a sub-inspector. During the conversation, the ‘pagal’, get to know about an inquiry commission that has been set up to investigate the custodial death. The ‘pagal’ manages to fool the sub-inspector and his assistant and escapes, only to re-enter in the guise of the presiding judge of the inquiry. What follows is utter confusion, cases of mistaken identities which almost compel the officers to confess to their crimes. The tongue in cheek humour of the play explores the grave issues of financial and moral corruption present in the administration and the society at large.With natural acting and having the ability to take the audience into whirls of laughter the play was worth watching. The theatre buffs of the city enjoyed it whole
heartedly.