Completely a woman!

A brilliant performance by the cast of Sutradhar was a perfect end to an evening that showcased the life and works of Ismat Chughtai. The performances were a delight to watch

Sutradhar presented a set of plays titled 'Ismat Ki Kismat' at Lamakaan on Tuesday. The plays were based on the life and stories by Ismat Chughtai, an eminent Indian Urdu writer known for her indomitable spirit and fierce feminist ideology. Considered as the grand dame of Urdu fiction,

Chugtai was one of the Muslim writers, who remained in India after the subcontinent was partitioned. She brought to the fore the modernity inherent in the actions of the poorest of rural Indian women as well as the stagnation in the minds of the so-called urban elite.

Ruthlessly honest and deeply perceptive, she is known for her presentations of the truth of society and its women in the same nakedness with which she saw them. ‘Ismat Ki Kismat’ is a dramatised performance of three short vignettes.

The evening started with a narration of a letter penned by Sa’adat Hasan Manto on his view of Ismat as a woman, which was read out as a prelude. The three monologues staged had something distinctly Ismat in them. The first one was on Ismat’s life journey, whereas the second and third were adaptations of Ismat’s works.

Deepti Girotra acted as Ismat in the first monologue. She narrated few fragments about Ismat's journey, penned by the writer herself in the later stages of her life. The depiction of Ismat on stage was convincing, and it was an interesting portrayal of Ismat, her convictions and interpretations of a lover and a role model.

The letter narrated for this monologue quotes Manto as saying, “Yeh bhi kambkkhat aurat nikli.” Draped in a maroon cotton saree with black blouse, Deepti was perfect for the role as she seemed like a live version of the real Ismat.

The second monologue 'Saas' was written by Ismat and performed by Babli Yadav, who took on the roles of daughter-in-law, mother-in-law and a housefly! Babli surprised everyone while enacting the housefly. She showed the importance of a housefly, and the role it plays during the scorching summer while one is enjoying a siesta.

The act also displayed the relationship of a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. The actor fluidly swapped roles between the arrogant-yet-soft-spoken daughter-in-law, to the ever-cursing-yet-caring mother-in-law.

The last monologue for the evening was 'Chiddi Ki Dukki’, also written by Ismat. It was performed by Ratika Sant Keswani. The play is about Alima, who is not a staggering beauty, but is the only one who won’t fall in love with the handsome and elegant Abdul Hi, while every other woman in town yearns for him.

Alima, a well-educated young woman believes in a good heart and not just a face and looks. However, at the end, Hi falls in love with Alima and wants to marry her. The play ends with the signature statement, “Chiddi ki dukki, hukum ka eka.”

Meanwhile, director Vinay Varma narrated letters from Manto between each of the monologues. Overall the actors’ performances were sheer brilliance and the director certainly did a fine job.