Showing posts with label play. Show all posts
Showing posts with label play. Show all posts

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Jabar Baro

This particular collection of Ray's dozen stories seems a bit disappointing as though it contains one of the most varied collections ranging from some of his short stories, punched with some of Tarineekhuro's narratives, culminating in the traditional style with a Feluda story and also containing, for the first time, a play and a couple of vernacular translations of Ray's english stories, but it lacks the regular Ray charm. Though Tarineekhuro returns in style with Mahim Sanyaler Ghatana, Ganatkat Tarineekhuro and Galpabolie Tarineekhuro, the twists progressing more unpredictably and enjoyably more than before but curiously Sakuntalar Kantahar lacks the characteristic Feluda wit and the Ray humour. The translations, courtesy Sreemati Bijaya Ray, titled Puraskar and Barnandha, matching in their theme and another very interesting aspect that the characters are nameless, but they are contrastingly enjoyable and gloomy respectively. Haaui is a refreshing play and as far as I can place it, this is an adaptation of one of the author's own short stories. Shilpi and Pratikriti are again thematically similar but while the first has a delightful twist the later is abrupt and disappointing. Abhiram begins with a promise of suspense augmented by its illustrations but the climax is almost totally predictable. But the best of the collection is Mrigankababur Ghatana which borders sci-fi and will be remembered by the readers for its classic blend of psychology, suspense and the signature twist which again reminds us of the master story teller. Brajaburo reflects another socio-psychological aspect which is enjoyable as a story and reveals the stark truth of loneliness.
So though it is a collector's item for completing the Ray works but some of the narratives are far from the average as far as the author is concerned. So readers may shop for it but might as well keep their expectations a few octaves low. The illustrations are though not all by the author but the others has done justice to the stories. These are at par will the original style of the author.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Natak Samagra Vol 2

The volume starts with Bishnu Dey's intrdocution titled Manoj Mitrer Biswaser Jagat that prepares the reader for the collage that awaits them in two sections - Purnanga Natak and Ekanka Natak, the later containing one-act plays while the former complete dramas.
It starts with the famous Sajano Bagan and Bancha its protagonist whose passion for his garden that he had designed from a small patch of land rejected by the owner of the land. But the garden under his loving care flourishes to such an extent that it becomes the matter of envy to the next owner who tries several ways to snatch it from Bancha. Several humourous sequences abound, but the drama carries an underlying message for the love of the land that will be remembered whosoever reads it or watches it. In the next Aswatthama, a mythological play based on the titular character of Mahabharata and set in the last chapters of the Kurukshetra war, it tries to sketch the events in a different light. The mood swings to a lighter note with Rajdarshan, where a materialistic man transforms to a rationale self, thanks to his adventure that Providence allowed him to experience. Then comes the eerie Nekre, the apparition that stalks the evil and fear of the werewolf permeates in the minds of the beholders until the climax that is even more engaging than the plot. In Darpane Saratshashi, the exploitation of women in drama has been narrated set on the day's of Girish Ghosh. Again this excellent compilation lightens the mood but touches on the plight of the poor in Siver Asadhyi, where the Almighty Siva and his family beholds the right and the wrong among the mortals during the festive season of DurgaPuja.
The one-act play section is even more engaging, starting with Sandhyatara, that deals with the everlasting disrespect to the parents by their children whose only interest in the elders remains focussed on the wealth they will be leaving and who doesn't care to give a damn for their sentiments. But the interesting twist in the final pages will no doubt make the reader enjoy this among the rest. Tapur Tupur deals with a more personal issue where a couple tries to evade disgrace in the face of their wretched finances. In the next the Chokhe Angul Dada is brought to trial in the Heaven where the Almighty shows his own faults to which this man was blind so long as he spent the days in Earth just by noting the shortcomings of others. Kaalbihanga is another social drama which seems too short for its completeness but no doubt can convey the message home. A humorous Two-in-One, is not so good as a plot but is only enjoyable due to its unique comedy. Next comes the perfectionist in the bachelor Madan whose humorous plight as he travels to seek fortune from his village leaving his ailing family to the city is narrated by his own lips in Aami Madan Bolchi is both enlightening and enjoyable. Prabhat Fire Esho is a wonderful drama that consists of several stunning twists that shows evolution of characters and the mask they possess.
The entire volume is enjoyble but for the content page that contains several gross mistypes which must be rectified as early as possible.