Since 1960, theatre institution Nandikar has been a forerunner in regional and national theatre. With esteemed patronage —including that of Satyajit Ray, who designed their logo — and diverse productions, the group has created a legacy to follow.
Nandikar is back again after a hiatus of almost a year with Madhabi on 19 November, 2021 at the Academy of Fine Arts. A Bengali adaptation of Bhisham Sahni’s Mahabharata-based Hindi play Madhavi, the production was first directed by trailblazing actor, director, and one of the senior members of the group, the late Swatilekha Sengupta. The production returns with Sohini Sengupta in the lead role of Madhabi alongside veteran artist and senior-most member of the group Rudraprasad Sengupta as Yayati, Debshankar Halder as Galab, and Saptarshi Maulik as Tapas.
Swatilekha’s sudden demise earlier this year shocked fans and followers of Nandikar and the team took a much-needed pause to cope with the loss and to find a way forward. This time, the play will be staged in memoriam of Nandikar’s prima donna and will, in some ways, mark the group’s journey in her absence.
Veteran theatre activist Swatilekha Sengupta in the play 'Naachni'. nandikar.net
‘Madhabi’ and Nandikar without Swatilekha
Sangeet Natak Akademi and Paschim Banga Natya Akademi awardee, Swatilekha breathed her last on 16 June at the age of 71. Her last performance, in Parthapratim Deb’s play Naachni at the 37th Nandikar Theatre Festival in 2020, was the bookend of a prolific career on stage and screen spanning 68 years. From Satyajit Ray’s Ghare Baire (1985) to director-duo Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy’s Belaseshe (2015) and Belashuru (2021), she has left behind a rich legacy.
Swatilekha joined Nandikar in 1977 and along with her husband Rudraprasad Sengupta, had been an active part of the group. Under Rudraprasad’s direction, Swatilekha and their daughter Sohini gave many notable performances.
Before their hiatus, Nandikar’s last two productions were Madhabi directed by Swatilekha herself, and Naachni, in December last year at the 37th Nandikar National Theatre Festival. This time, the posthumous production of Madhabi “will not undergo any artistic or directorial changes,” says Sohini.
Team Nandikar has been rehearsing now with a large photo of Swatilekha in the room. “I often make eye contact with that photograph and it gives me power” says Sohini, who is known for her role in films like Paromitar Ekdin, Icche, and Abhijan and has directed plays including Alipha and Rani Kadambini.
Sohini is still coming to terms with her mother’s demise and often wears her sarees “for warmth.” Mentor Swatilekha taught Sohini not just discipline and hard work, but also artistic and technical knick-knacks, which have shaped the latter into the artist she is today. Being the daughter of two such well-known names did not make her journey easy. She was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi’s 2007 ‘Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar’ for her contributions to theatre and now juggles television, films, rehearsals, and theatre workshops.
Swatilekha Sengupta with husband Rudraprasad Sengupta and daughter Sohini Sengupta in rehearsals. Nandikar/Facebook
She has taken up the mantle now with Madhabi, and its emotional in many ways. Sohini and her mother’s relationship also nurtured their love for theatre. She would often check her mother’s reaction when trying something new on stage. Swatilekha would sit in the wing on a chair during the entire performance of Madhabi, even after her part was done. “For me, Ma will always be sitting on that chair. The days I got it right, the first clap would come from Ma. I dream about her constantly and in most of them, she is instructing me about theatre-related things. It is extremely painful but gives me strength. For as long as I live, she is going to be present with me,” shares an emotional Sohini.
Sohini believes that people would want them to “continue with a lot more power” and while there is deep personal loss colouring it all, she believes in marching on with positivity. “My father will also perform in Madhabi. His loneliness is an extreme loneliness, but his efforts of coming to rehearsals and performing is an inspiration” shares the actor. Rudraprasad is now more involved in the classes that Nandikar offers.
Rudraprasad Sengupta in Nandikar’s 2021 workshop sessions. Nandikar/Facebook
Carrying forward a legacy
Sohini introspects how Swatilekha’s failing health was also an indicator for her to take up the “holy duty” of running Nandikar. “We, who are still breathing, have to work harder so we continue to feel alive, carrying forward the memory and legacy, and respecting the love showered on us” she says.
“Nandikar is a team effort. There is always room for an exchange of thoughts and ideas,” says Sohini. She truly believes that the show must go on and derives inspiration from her mother, who despite severe kidney ailments would practice dance overcoming impediments.
In fact, the pandemic only added to Nandikar’s challenges over the last two years but “the spontaneous love of the audience and the positive approach of the team members” have kept them afloat. “We followed the COVID protocols not only during the rehearsals but also during productions. Despite the limited number of seats, our shows did well” says Sohini.
Audience attending Nandikar shows during COVID times. Nandikar/Facebook
Looking ahead
Apart from small breaks during the lockdowns, rehearsals continued, and members took to other mediums of conveyance to reach the rehearsals, such is the attachment and dedication. In fact, Sohini says that a member cycled from Naihati to Kolkata despite the team’s concerns.
Online sessions with children encouraged them in scriptwriting and making small films. Sohini and husband Saptarshi Maulik’s lockdown exercise involved reading stories from Byomkesh to each other to keep oration practice active.
Nandikar is ending the year with a packed calendar. Madhabi will be followed by Manush, a Sohini Sengupta directorial venture written by Saptarshi Maulik and Anindita Chakraborty based on Prafulla Roy’s story on 28 November at Girish Mancha. The annual Nandikar National Theatre Festival is slated for 25 and 26 December. The festival has a stellar line up including Jalchobi by theatre group Rangrup, Manush by Nandikar, Titumir by actor-director Joyraj Bhattacharya, and Bhanusundarir Pala by Suman Pal.
Nandikar is also gearing up to launch their theatre institution in Salt Lake next year, a project that was close to Swatilekha, and is equally special for every member of the group.
Saptarshi Maulik in Manush. nandikar.net