Stills from the rehearsals of ‘Daag’ | Photo credit: special arrangement
Dayco-directed by Suman Chakraborty and Shruti Rao, invites its audience to an exploration of class, ambition and moral struggle through the life of Bindiya, a tailor with aspirations for a better life.
Bindiya’s reality – a small tailor shop and a world of constant financial stress – collides with her lofty dreams. Suman, who wrote the story and first envisioned it as a short film, says his debut directorial deepened his bond with the material. “It’s surreal to see my words take shape on stage,” he says. As the performance date approaches, Suman acknowledges the enormity of his debut even as he embraces the challenges it presents. “I have learned so much in these months, and every rehearsal reveals something new,” he says, thanking his co-director Shruti. “It is a relentless pursuit to better understand this story and these characters.”
“I wrote Day imagining society as a pyramid, where power dynamics and exploitation, overt or subtle, dictate interactions at every level.”
Stills from the rehearsals of ‘Daag’ | Photo credit: special arrangement
Located near the base of the pyramid, Bindiya’s life is defined by daily humiliations as customers demand last-minute orders or pay less than her work earns. “In a way, Bindiya’s story reflects the lives of so many who serve without ever getting what they truly deserve,” says Suman, “and I wanted to wonder if this exploitation can ever truly end.”
To bring Daag’s With themes of class and survival for life, Suman delved into real-world observations, from childhood memories of sweet shop workers in Calcutta (who couldn’t eat the sweets they made) to interactions with local artisans. For example, his conversations with a local tailor provided insight into Bindiya’s world: her tools, techniques, and the mental fortitude required to endure long hours of craft with meager financial reward. He also drew inspiration from his professional life in the software industry, where “social status determines how people interact with each other, from parking attendants to coworkers.”
Challenging the status quo
Co-founded by Suman in 2019, Dramarsis has always prioritized plays with originality and social relevance. Their previous productions, Endsused absurdist humor to tackle gender roles, and Aparajita, celebrated female resilience through time. Of Daythe group faces the grim reality of class and power dynamics. “As a team, we strive to make our theater a safe space, both on and off stage,” says Suman. “Our goal is to tell stories that challenge audiences, while also respecting the creative voices behind each production.”
Suman admits that he has no answers to the questions his piece raises. “There is something deeply human about this piece, and it is not about solving anything, but about asserting our own roles in this hierarchy,” he says. “At the end of the day, Day is not just about Bindiya; it is about all of us and how we interact with the world around us.”
In exploring Bindiya’s story, Day opens a rare window into the psyche of a working woman with little control over her daily interactions, but an irrepressible desire to break free from her circumstances. The play’s conclusion leaves Bindiya – and the audience – pondering the broader human condition: what are the consequences of our collective dependence on hierarchy, and can personal ambition coexist with social responsibility?
Day (30 minutes) will be performed on November 2 at 6:30 PM at Ranga Shankara.
Published – Oct 30, 2024 1:45 PM IST