Manto’s portryal of women remains relevant even today, says Team Viva
Even more than 60 years after his death, Saadat Hassan Manto, the sub continent’s most well-known short story writer continues to be relevant through his works. His stories continue reverberate and have many takers on both sides of the border. His fight for freedom of expression and his sheer fearlessness is evident from his writing. Director Anil Sharma, through his play Bebaak Manto portrays the life of a prostitute, Sugandhi, who is warm-hearted and affectionate and craves for love and approval. She is exploited mentally as well as emotionally by her customers and other people in her life.
For Sugandhi, the approval from unknown men becomes important to prove that she is a good human being. The play narrates the life of a prostitute and her daily struggle where a pimp wake her up in the middle of the night, order her to get ready to take her to a rich customer waiting in a car. Irrespective of a bad headache, Sugandhi, agrees because she needs some money to pay for the school fees of her friend’s children. Sugandhi herself points out that for a few pennies, these women sell their body to unknown men and in the process, their souls get detached from their body and mind. They tend to become like blocks and stones because they are thinking of the material needs that can be satisfied with the money.
Prostitution is still looked down upon profession and people rather women engaged into the profession remain unacceptable in the society. But while prostitutes are not ashamed and do not hide their profession, it is their customers that hide their involvement with these women.
Even though she has been woken in the middle of the night, the rich customer rejects Sugandhi which breaks her down. This triggers a crisis, which has been rumbling inside her. The emptiness that has been gnawing her becomes a frightening and deathly silence. Her kothi which was always abuzz with customers gets enveloped in a deathly stillness.
The starting lines of the play kya apko malum hai is zamane ke kis dour se hum is waqt guzar rahe hai (Are you aware of the times that we are going through) is very significant if seen in the context of the current situation of women in our society. Sharma, says, “I don’t think anyone other than Manto has shown so much of interest in women-related issues.” Manto’s words and his portrayal of women continues to be relevant even today. Women in Manto’s stories usually have a diverse background and a strong personality. Actor Daksh Vashisht enacts all the roles with swift shifts from one to another in seconds, with appropriate change in voice for each of the characters.
The stage captures the essence of a small and shady kothi of a prostitute with pictures of god and goddesses, a single bed, a parrot cage and few sarees hanging from here and there. Saugandhi’s character upholds a powerful and an intelligent and ambitious woman with an understanding of her surroundings. Sharma says that theatre is a good way to make the masses aware of issues in the society.