By RENU D SINGH
Juhi Babbar’s play, which was sponsored by Amar Ujala, was theatre with a difference. Having seen so many plays in so many genres, beautiful pieces of art and literature, 17 April changed the perspective with which people see theatre. Presented by Juhi Babbar Soni, ‘With Love, Aap Ki Saiyaara’ was simply outstanding.
I should be calling it a piece of wonder because when I see it from the gender perspective, being an activist myself, I find that the play was very truly justified, universal and cosmopolitan. It won’t be an exaggeration if we call this legendary play – ‘Le bouquet parfait des ‘emotions humaines’ i.e. the perfect bouquet of human emotions.
Secondly, the issues of gender which Juhi Babbar touched upon, and the way she presented them, I have never seen the monologuesoliloquy genre in such a powerful way. There were minimal props on the stage. The props were used to the maximum optimum and very few people know how to create all that magic and charisma with minimal manipulation of the props. The use of laptop by Saiyaara was simply innovative ‘jamais vu avant’– i.e. never seen before. One should see the play to witness this wonderful aspect.
Thirdly, while presenting human emotions especially on gender issues, the main character Saiyaara, which Juhi played, simply mesmerised the audience. People will never ever forget this play, because Saiyaara is going to live as Queen of Hearts and Minds– i.e. Reine des Coeurs et des Esprits. It looked like as if Saiyaara was all alive in front of us. Juhi played it in such a vibrant and vivacious soul touching style, the thought process behind this, her creation of an allegory in front of the audience and the effect of this allegory was beautifully stunning. The way Juhi presented the satire and sarcasm, the way she placed and played and intertwined the feather smooth transition of emotions like pathos, anger, remorse, so intense yet subtle, interwoven into the main story, is unsurpassed. The moments of comic relief were like dew drops on the canvas of art with great finesse.
Whenever the atmosphere was getting too intense, there was clever and funny participation of the audience keeping them all mesmerised and spellbound. Smooth transition from one emotion to another emotion is incredible because, in the making of films, such transitions are very easy because you have the option of editing and retaking shots many times. Theatre is real challenge with limited options. It is a do or die kind of situation. The artist has to do all these things with spontaneity and intensity. Every single character was played by the protagonist Saiyaara, herself, with flawless finesse. The deep rooted misogyny in human society is so well played by the director Juhi Babbar. Well played genre of soliloquy, nowhere was there any monotony despite the long duration of one and half hours of the play.
The play presents the voice of women and gender. Saiyaara alias Juhi is Le voix universelle du genrei.e. Universal voice of gender.
Our country is the host for G20, which is already going on, and I am very much part of it. This is the one play which should be performed on the G-20 platform so the voice of woman reaches all the stakeholders and state actors.
This play could have been a tragedy oriented plot with lots of pains and low moments and dark emotions but nowhere has Saiyaara placed herself as a victim. She is a proud survivor with so much of feminine grace and gender dignity. Everywhere we saw the protagonist evolving into a stronger and empowered version of woman. While Saiyaara is handling and facing the challenges, she nowhere is antiman because this is also our mission to see to it that we take men together. If we want to talk about gender, man has to be included so the audience finds her approach gender inclusive.
The play is wonderful and my best wishes to Saiyaara-Juhi Babbar Soni and her entire team. Saiyaara is a legendary movement in itself for the world of gender; showcasing the multiple metamorphic stages and states of Saiyaara’s gender journey.
(Renu D Singh is a Woman Rights Activist)
Pic courtesy: Rajeev Gupta/Amar Ujala
