A tryst with reality - best describes the play’s experience. Written and directed by Nadira Babbar, FOOTNOTES OF LIFE is a play about ‘little known’ common stories that exist around us. An ensemble of four short stories, the play is a medley of overwhelming characters, relationships and emotions. And while the multicoloured vignettes of life make their way into one’s heart, stringing the play together is an ebullient telemarketer (a modern day sutradhar) who’s every call, steers us towards the next story.
The play opens with Arya Babbar’s brat like behaviour in the story ‘Dost’. When two boys- one rich and the other poor meet at a US scholarship exam, the disconnect between the affluent and the underprivileged becomes prominent. Weaved within the threads of the story is a realization that warms your heart. And while the issue of farmer suicide gets highlighted in this story, the social perils and consequently the mental trauma of old age come to the forefront in the second story ‘Musafir’. Brilliantly performed by Utkarsh Majumdar and Vibha Chibber, the story swings between optimism and pessimism, solution and destitution, revealing two distinct approaches to life. Specks of humour and Utkarsh Majumdar’s great sense of timing has the audience in splits and compared to the sudden climax in the first story, this one gradually takes you towards its end.
The next two stories flirt with the varied nature of man-woman relationship and get more and more intense as they move along. Once again Arya Babbar steps onto the stage; this time playing the role of a frustrated husband who is insecure, jealous and fickle minded about his wife’s commitment to the relationship. Bringing not much to the character, Arya Babbar’s performance is often raspy in nature. And while there are some striking moments in his enactment of a husband’s role they are few and far between. Peppered with a song, the story has some insightful moments. The best among the four stories is the last and final one, which is about an old couple. ‘Peele Gulab’ is a poignant and painful story about an unfaithful husband who returns to his wife after his longtime relationship with another woman comes to an end. The shock of being rejected by his lover leaves him deranged and dependent on his wife. Having played the role of irascible travelers in the previous story, Utkarsh and Vibha effortlessly slip into the roles of an old couple toiling to get over their past. The song ‘lagi chute na’ highlights the stories’ underlying emotions without being too obvious.
The stories penned by Nadira Babbar are profound and bitter sweet in nature. They make you sit up and accept the many shades of life that we might refuse to acknowledge otherwise. The theatrical rendition of these stories is however simple and old school going completely by the book. Sharp, discerning dialogues and humorous punches keep interest level high, while the short length of the stories prevents monotony.
The use of stagecraft is detailed and exacting. While the sets are kept realistic and as minimalist as possible, lights are used to create effects such as the movement of the train and to enhance memories and dreams. Since all the four stories are distinct from each other, the music score used works for all stories. Songs sung on stage also add to the mood of the stories. All in all the play is a bouquet of well-written stories that definitely deserve a visit.
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