Jammu, Sep 03: Natrang, a renowned theater company, brought laughter and reflection to its audience with the debut of the uproarious play ‘Commission,’ penned by the legendary Saadat Hasan Manto and directed by Neeraj Kant. The performance was a part of Natrang’s weekly theater series, ‘Sunday Theatre,’ and it offered a sharp critique of contemporary governance in the age of social media.
Set in a modern courtroom within the emperor’s palace, the play unfolds with the modern emperor and his two head butlers. This satirical portrayal of an emperor is one who boasts about establishing harmony between goats and lions in his realm to eliminate their ancient animosities. Amidst the laughter, it becomes evident that the emperor’s love life is in turmoil as he shares an uneasy relationship with his empress.
However, the narrative takes a twist when a ‘Fariyadi’ arrives, seeking justice for his laborers who met a tragic end at the hands of the empress’s archery-practicing sevikas in an open area. In a comedic turn of events, the emperor promotes his head butlers to the position of ministers and assigns them the task of investigating the matter and compiling a comprehensive report. After an extensive two-month-long process, the newly-appointed ministers present a mammoth report spanning a hundred thousand words, narrating the entire incident to the emperor.
As the emperor learns about the massacre, he sardonically claims superiority over Emperor Jahangir and dismisses the philosophical relevance of the past in the modern era. His response? An order to behead all the girls responsible for the tragedy. However, in a classic example of bureaucratic absurdity, the emperor insists on forming yet another commission before justice can be served.
‘Commission’ is a masterclass in humor and satire, with characters reminiscent of the Mughal era. The play offers a hilarious yet thought-provoking commentary on contemporary governance and the absurdity of escaping responsibilities through the formation of endless commissions.
The talented cast of ‘Commission’ includes Palshin Dutta, Chirag Anand, Abhimanyu Choudhary, Chaitanya Shekhar, Sumit Bandaral, and Sanket Bhagat. Lighting design was executed by Neeraj Kant, and the music score was composed by Mehak Singh. Sushant Singh Charak brilliantly presented the show to the audience, and Mohd. Yaseen ensured a seamless coordination of the performance.
Natrang’s ‘Commission’ is a satirical masterpiece that leaves the audience both amused and introspective, reflecting on the absurdity of contemporary governance and the comedic side of power dynamics.
