MELBOURNE, 26 February 2022: At the outset, I admit, I am not a theatre critic. So, this review of ‘Na Hanyate’ (It Does Not Die) based on Maitreyi Devi’s eternal love story, It Does Not Die: A Romance, immortalized by many books and movies, is my entry into uncharted territory. The play’s staging in Melbourne at the Renaissance Theatre, Kew High School is commendable as a lot of hard work went into it led by director Harsiddhhi Mody. The around 2 and half hours play in Hindi with Bengali songs, slipped my imagination into long forgotten and forbidden stories anyone can relate to.
In days when talks of cultural purity are rife, a biographical love tale of the 30s cracking the established mold on stage is nothing but astonishing. This is Maitreyi Devi’s version of her love story with Mircea Eliade, a Romanian scholar who stays in her home and the inevitable happens. In fact, this is her response to Mircea Eliade’s version ‘Bengal Nights'(1933), translated into French and published as ‘La Nuit Bengali’.
In a nutshell, the simple but intense love story is reflected step by step in Harshiddhi Mody’s stage presentation. The play in two parts is spread out into episodes weaving the romantic trait between the lovers and the emanating cultural tensions. Songs and visuals are used to enforce the powerful strength of the narration. In fact, this is not just theatre. The live drama on the stage entangles the audience, proved by frequent clapping. They participate in the lovers’ happiness and agony. This is the script’s success.
I had read the synopsis and hence the curiosity was more about the interplay of characters on the stage. Mitra and Mircea could have been given more time and some of the songs shortened. This could focus more on the cultural uniformity of love and its universality. Some dialogues were a bit loud and some less audible. But the songs and music were the strength of the play. I enjoyed the Bengali songs. Maybe there were some who could not understand them. ‘Ganga Aye Kahan Se, Ganga Jaye Kaha Se..’ from the 1961 movie Kabuliwala with the background of Howarah Bridge visual gave the needed touch of colonial Bengal.
Tanmai Khairnar as Mitra and Hem Tiwary as Mircea were challenging roles done ably. The other actors were icing on the cake. It is always easy to suggest improvements in a stage presentation, but if the niceties of direction give a compact outcome, it is a success.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ (1999) with Salman Khan and Aishwariya Rai, and the earlier ‘Ek Pal'(1986) with Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah, were also loosely based on Maitreyi Devi’s story. This story seems to be eternal and director Harsiddhi Mody reinforces it. In fact, the play in Melbourne had a full house and feedback positive. The good news is the English version of the play will be staged on 4 June 2022.
TEAM – NA HANYATE
Mitra/Sumi/Sumitra: Tanmai Khairnar
Mircea: Hem Tiwary
Ghosh Babu: Amey Sane
Mr. Deboshish Sengupta: Vinay Nigam
Mrs Devika Sengupta: Namrata Sharma
Robi Thakur/Rabindranath Tagore: Gopal Ganwani Uma: Mittel Chanderia
Munna: Abhijit Sahsrabuddhe Shanti: Supriya Rana
Sergui: Rishi Kanojia
Story: Maitreyi Devi
Script Adaptation: Harsiddhi Mody, Gopal Ganwani
Production Coordinator: Nandini Rajan
Master of Ceremony: Punita Ganwani
Music: Amit Agarkar, Sarang Mujumdar, Writz
Singers: Sunil Chalisgaonkar, Atul Fotedar, Sayeri Biswas
Dance Choreography: Abhijit Sahsrabuddhe & Sejal Shah Background Music Coordinator: Komal Mehta
Lights: Sheetal Pradhan & Rishi Kanojia
Sound Engineer: Sandeep Chaudhary & Atmaj Patel Photographer: Sudeshna Roy
Songs & Background music selection & Director: Harsiddhi Mody
Producer: Khelaiya Productions
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