Dilip Guha ★ New Delhi : The renowned Kanupriya Theatre Company of Delhi NCR staged the play Anuradha, based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s acclaimed work. The new adaptation was performed on April 26th at Akshara Theatre, Delhi, adapted and directed by Aakshay Yaduvanshi.
Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay was a prominent Bengali novelist and short story writer of the early 20th century. Most of his works deal with the lifestyle, tragedy, and struggle of the village people and the contemporary social practices that prevailed in Bengal. He remains the most popular, most translated, most adapted, and most plagiarized Indian author of all time. Chattopadhyay’s stories are notable for their portrayal of women as autonomous individuals, free to make their own decisions. His narratives subtly convey feminist themes, presenting strong female characters without didacticism. This aspect of his work resonated with the creators, inspiring them to bring these stories to life on stage.
Anuradha has the typical characteristics of his stories: the motherly instinct and disposition of the heroine and a unique narrative style. She is forsaken by all, simply waiting for her fate—her marriage to an old man whom she is going to marry for mere food and shelter. Yet she remains cool and calm, looking after her nephew and an unrelated child.
The group is adapting timeless Bengali literature classics for contemporary audiences, delving into the multifaceted themes of life and love. These adaptations aim to highlight a woman’s unwavering determination to overcome obstacles for the well-being of a child. With a fresh narrative, compelling screenplay, and impactful performances, the team offered audiences something truly unique and innovative.
The play adaptation remains faithful to the original story’s themes of selfless love, loyalty, and the complexities of human relationships. Anuradha’s portrayal in the play has been widely praised for embodying strength and resilience in the face of adversity, staying true to the essence of her character in the story.
On the occasion, Director Aakshay Yaduvanshi said, “Theatre has always been the medium for humans to connect with humans. It goes beyond entertainment. It goes to the depths of human emotions, thoughts, and complexities. This goal is further enhanced by the nuanced narratives and characterisation that are Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s niche, which is why we chose to adapt his story, Anuradha, into a play.”
“We have been adapting and dramatising stories of Indian authors, particularly because while a play is structured, a story is fluid. It has infinite possibilities. Collecting those possibilities is a beautiful process resulting in an even more enriching creation.”
Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s stories beautifully encompass the true meaning of a woman, wherein she is free to make her own decisions, whether right or wrong. His stories are a true example of feminist narratives without a show of it, which is why we were drawn to “Anuradha”, he added.
The plot of the story, set in Bengal of the early 20th century, the iconic tale by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay revolves around its titular character, Anuradha, and the dilemmas that the society of that time has created in her life. Set in the era when a woman’s marriage was to be completed in her adolescence, the heroine of this saga makes her way into her 20s as an unmarried and socially outcast woman. Her pitiful situation is worsened by the failing financial condition of her family and the societal norms that close in on her, forcing her to lead a life of sacrifice by marrying an ageing widower who faces the harsh prospect of sustaining her life. Despite this, she remains composed and nurtures her nephew and a needy child, showcasing her maternal nature and embodying the tender, nuanced storytelling of novelist Saratchandra.
Her life takes a turn when the son of the Zamindar, Vijay, enters her life. And thus, begins the tale of Anuradha & Vijay. A tale of stolen glances. A tale of unspoken love. A tale of anticipation. A tale of unfinished love.
The artists of Kanupriya Theatre deliver exceptional performances on stage, transporting the audience to a bygone era with remarkable authenticity and finesse. The cast of Anuradha includes Rashmi Singh as Anuradha, Abhishek Jadli as Vijay, Lalit Tuli as Trilochan, Mohit Joshi as Baba, Anita Vohra as Parvati, Lav Prakash Rai as Gagan, Lucky as Harihar Singh, Anshul Sharma as Ajay Singh, Ishita Saxena as Anita, Reema Jasra as Prabha, Hritish Kansal as Vinod, Rianna Singh as Santosh, and Nipun as Kumar. Each performer contributes their talent to bring this timeless story to life with compelling emotion and depth.
The lead female protagonist in Anuradha is portrayed exceptionally well by Rashmi Singh, who delivers a remarkable performance as Anuradha. For Rashmi Singh, portraying the character of Anuradha on screen is an immense honour. She believes the story brings to life a profound depiction of society and highlights the resilience and strength of womanhood. She also views each day as an opportunity for growth and learning in this journey. Born and raised in Indore, Rashmi Singh began her professional journey in the corporate world before transitioning to the stage. Now based in Delhi, she joined the prestigious Kanupriya Theatre Company in 2023. Since then, she has featured in nearly 10 productions, including commercial plays, with lead roles in six. Her work spans genres—drama, comedy, and musicals—highlighting her range and versatility as a theatre artiste
On envisioning the story, Rashmi Singh shared, “Portraying Anuradha on stage is a deeply challenging yet personal journey. To connect with Anuradha, I explored Bengali literature, Satyajit Ray’s films, and real-life stories of individuals facing social and emotional hardships. Anuradha symbolises strength through restraint. In bringing her to life, the transition phase, especially romantic scenes, was very difficult, but I found a reflection of myself and every woman who strives to maintain her identity while navigating the pressures of a fast-moving world. Anuradha’s story is not just hers—it’s a shared experience of strength and survival.”
Abhishek Jadli, a theatre professional with over three years of experience, played the male protagonist of as Vijay. He has performed several plays in Delhi-NCR, having been the lead actor for many of them.
He expresses deep gratitude for being cast in the role of Vijay, a character he had long aspired to play. He acknowledges that Vijay possesses attributes and dimensions distinct from his personality, making the role both challenging and rewarding. To prepare, he has studied and, focusing meticulously on refining his body language, facial expressions, and dialogue delivery to ensure a profound connection with the audience.
He said, “For my role as Vijay in the play Anuradha, I worked extensively on voice modulation, body language, and characterisation to bring depth and authenticity to the character. I collaborated closely with the director to understand key emotional beats and improvised multiple times to fine-tune my performance. A Major challenge that I faced while playing Vijay was the internal conflict and emotional restraint of the character, where I had to convey intense feelings while maintaining a composed exterior.”
The play explores themes of duty, sacrifice, and the influence of societal expectations on individuals, resonating particularly with audiences familiar with Sarat Chandra’s work. “Anuradha” is fondly remembered by audiences who value its emotional depth and character development.
