News Stardom : kolkata, 21st. October 2021. Who is the man? From where he comes? Nobody knows his past. That’s why lots of storie are told about this strange unknown lonely man. Probably this homeless man doesn’t feel for his basic needs – food, cloths and Selter. Actually since he doesn’t belong to any society, hence getting what he wants is completely different from our needs as the members of civilised society.
In the morning when a red glow appears in the east, when the sweet wind sways the young paddy, a flock of birds arrives in droves, just then his work begins. Birds flock to and fro in the field. And with a strange sound from his mouth, the man also started running after them. He talks to them, fights, has fun. it’s his job and that’s also his joy! Not only birds, he also plays with rice plants, fields, river, sky and the whole nature. They are all of his true friends.
Villagers are very curious about him. The fear that surrounds him has always haunted the minds of these simple people like a black shadow. That’s why in their chat, various stories about that man came to light.
But the man runs around the field making strange noises at his whim and all day talking to plants, paddy fields, birds, laughing, quarreling, calling to love.
Every time there is grain in the field. When the rice ripens, its fragrance reaches the city, and then the owner leaves. The blood and sweat of the common man is plundered in an instant.
This is how the days are going. This misconduct was very normal for the people of the village. So they kept on laughing, rejoicing, singing, dancing and celebrating with whatever they got, despite the sadness in their mind.
And the man also used to spend the whole day with those paddy fields, plants, wings and nature. But just as the sun was setting, some unknown depression may be from the past engulfed him completely. Drops of water gradually flowed from the black hole in his eyes towards the ground.
One day an woman suddenly appeared in that paddy field. The man gets angry at the intrusion of other people into the realm of his loneliness. He immediately wants to chase the thin lady. But the woman stays on the ground with all her might.
Great funny news to the people of this village, the man is no longer alone, an woman has also joined him. In their conventional life, a new story is born.
On the other hand, these two people of the paddy field should gradually understand each other. They feel and love each other.
This is the first time the man feels his basic needs as a human being. He wants to make his home. He is eager to collect food for them. He wants to start a new life with the woman.
Then? Rice ripens again according to the laws of nature. Again the news reaches the city. Again the owner came to take the paddy.
But that paddy field environment has changed. The man is now aware of his basic needs. As a result, he stood up against the so-called owner with all his might.
The villagers think the man is crazy. They are scared. But gradually the man’s protest spread among the villagers. They become allied and stand behind the man with all their might
Ultimately the so called owner are frightened and stands back after failing to plunder the paddy.
It’s not a story of a particular man.
It may be the story of backward people of the society and the story is being excellently presented by Purbaranga.
The play is written by Malay Ray, based on a short story of Mani Mukhopadhyay. The story is based on basic human needs- Food, Cloths and Selter. Though the space and time of the play is imaginary, nevertheless we may imagine that background of the play may be the remote rural areas of Bengal, may be the border areas of Odisha, Bihar or Jharkhand. This play is presented in the form of oral narrative. All actors will also perform as narrators. Not only that they will be used as props like paddy plants, birds, rivers etc.Though language of the play is Bengali, but it is used in different intonation. Director of the play is Rokeya Ray. Stage and props are also wonderfully designed by Rokeya. Not only that, the total stage props are constructed by the actors in the able leadership of Rokeya. Light has been beautifully and meaningfully designed by Malay Ray. Music and sound ambience are excellently created, some of which have been come from the mouth of the on stage actors. Some of the songs have been written by Malay Ray and some other traditional songs have been newly composed to create an wonderful ambience. Background voice Joydeep Sinha. On stage chorus sons are being presented by the actors of the play. The total effect music with sound ambience is being controlled by Tirthendu Dutta.
It’s a team production. It carries the legacy of group theatre. The performance of all actors are awesome. Nevertheless we have to specially mention the name of Rokeya. Beyond that Provat Tarafdar, Trishna Dutta, Debiprasad Dey, Sayonee Acharya, Jatirmay Dutta, Debashmita Ghosh, Upadesh Saha and Koustuv Roy and also all others actors have perfectly created their characters.
The play “LOKTI” is a little different from traditional proscenium theatre. It is presented in the form of an oral narrative. In the course of their narration all actors soon enter into the roles of characters they have talking about; they switch from one person to another, one character to another, assuming the roles of the raconteur in turn.
It’s a continuous journey. And in this theatrical journey actors are also transform as props such as paddy plants, birds, trees, rivers etc. This continuous smooth transformation from one character to another, from character to narrators and even from characters/narrators to props make the play very interesting. The stage crafts are also very different. Sets are also prepared within the period of acting the play. Each portion of the sets as well as props are being used continuously. The all props, some of which are shown as the part of the set are aesthetically used which may make the play meaningful and vibrant.
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