Ever since I heard that Dramanon was going to put up a play based on the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, my ears perked up in anticipation. Dramanon who is known for a more trivial outlook at life and is more comfortable with the Anton Chekov, Neil Simon and Kanishka Dasgupta school of theatre, made me wonder how they would handle a more serious subject.

The trap was heavy sentimentality and a lot of hysterically crying people. Thankfully Dramanon avoided both options and chose instead to mount one of the most elaborate productions of their times.

The play was a series of vignettes, and I think that is where that fine dividing line between fade in / fade out of film and video was transported into an onstage pause that landed up being longer than acceptable and caused the story line to become a journey down stammer lane.

The acting was first class. Mention must be made of KD who wore his Indian garb pretty well and managed quite nicely without his quintessential Russian accent and Fur Cap. Also scintillating on stage were Pallavi Varma and Ratika Sant Keswani who brought their characters to life. Pallavi especially managed to give a sly dimension to her otherwise crybaby role. Ratika’s use of the accent was exemplary. Mayuri was a very elegant but a ‘no nonsense’ walk in, and provided some tangential dimension to the story.

Harika however was the one who walked away with the honours as she evolved from Executive Assistant to Mistress to Victim.

RK Shenoy as the Chief Minister was ‘solid’. And he controlled his urge to go slapstick for most of the time and that allowed us to see a refined side of him.

The chap who played Anderson (my apologies, I don’t remember his name) did a very good job even though it was a bit caricaturised unlike the other actors who ‘charactered’ their roles. Did his vision actually blind his sight? That was a question well raised and seemingly answered.

All in all, a good evening spent with long unseen friends and witnessing the use of the NIFT Auditorium as never before.