Every year, we para friends of DA Block stage a performance during Durga Puja. It not only gives us the opportunity to work together towards a common goal, but also rejuvenates our souls.
The performers are primarily ladies who are senior citizens. The rehearsals begin at least a month in advance and often double up as adda sessions, mimicking the caucus of magpies. Husbands are told to arrange for their own dinners on some of the nights as we rehearse, laugh and dine together to drive our worries and fatigue away.
At this stage of our lives most of us love to look back at our childhood memories of pursuing our favourite hobbies which have been lost along the way.
This year I conceptualised a musical show on this theme. When I shared the idea, 18 middle-aged women immediately wanted to participate and be the glamour girl on stage. Neither knee pain, nor high blood pressure nor household chores seemed to diminish their enthusiasm. Everyone planned their days in a way that rehearsals are not missed and the decorators were instructed to ensure that the stage and the steps leading to it were steady and provided sufficient support for the women to climb up on the day of the event.
The joys of collecting items in childhood formed the theme of the programme. Lekha brought her collection of pebbles, Milli her collection of shells in a jewellery box and Runa and Mausumi their albums of dried leaves. Lachhmi and Mala reminisced their days spent with their favourite dolls. Other props were also arranged and stored carefully.
The show explored the innocent yet heartfelt joy felt in childhood preparing for a doll’s wedding, watching a night sky full of stars, listening to ghost stories with bated breath, flying kites and releasing paper boats in the rain. These and other stories from childhood were narrated through poetry, prose, song and dance. The event was loved by all, and held the undisturbed attention of the audience till the very end.
Many people in the block, including the younger ladies and the men, helped make the show a success. The dresses of the participants were designed to look colourful. Similar kurtas of various colours were tailored by Jhumpa and all the participants wore kasavu Kerala cotton saris with the kurtis. I remember Chhanda asking during rehearsal how it would be possible to pair saris with knee -length kurtis. But the final look was loved by all. In fact, I had kept the draping a surprise till the day of the programme.
While directing whenever I would use a firm tone, Seema would remind me that they are like children in the show.
Staging Ichche Ronger Shokh (colourful desires of childhood) was a celebration for us, a joyful experience that will remain etched in our memories.
