Gauhar, play at Chowdiah Memorial Hall in Bengaluru. Photo by S K Dinesh
The lights faded in and out as scenes from a bygone era unfolded on screen. As she walked onto the stage, the audience sat back and stared. The character Gauhar Jaan went on to sing songs of romance and beyond to appreciative cheers. This was during the play ‘Gauhar’, which was staged recently as a part of the Bengaluru International Arts Festival at Chowdiah Memorial Hall.
The play ‘Gauhar’ is written by Mahesh Dattani and directed by Lillete Dubey and is inspired by Vikram Sampath’s meticulously researched book ‘My name is Gauhar Jaan’. It was based on the life of the famous ‘thumri’ singer of the same name. The play traces the life and times of the artiste who was the first to cut a gramophone record in 1902.
The onstage Gauhar’s expressions and expressive melancholy and the songs left the audience asking for more. The play saw memorable lines delivered in English and Hindi, which made the audience break into applause frequently.
The theatrics blended with grandeur, be it the poetic lines or the fine jewels that Gauhar wore. The costume for Gauhar and her mother was often elaborate, depicting the way ‘tawaifs’ or courtesans decked themselves up during those days.
The stage, which was simple, changed according to the different scenes with the lighting playing a major role.
The complications of love and the sacrifices required, along with a journey to explore music yet again, were the highlights of the story.
As the younger Gauhar, played by Rajeshwari Sachdev, the character displays emotions like love and longing, while wanting to be the free spirit that she is.
Renowned Sufi singer Zila Khan plays the role of Gauhar’s mother as well as Gauhar’s elderly version, who is shown as a more practical person who has experienced much in life.
The soulful music played a big part in the play and often left the audience wanting more.
Phrases like ‘a song is forever’ made quite an impact and made one empathise with the singer and her struggles with music and life.
The audience gave a standing ovation as the play ended.
Sudha K P, a retired teacher from Rajajinagar, enjoyed the play a lot and said that it was the second time she was watching it.
“I had watched the play last year too. Lillete Dubey’s direction and Rajeshwari and Zila’s portrayal of ‘Gauhar’ are magical. I haven’t seen any theatre artiste act the way Rajeshwari emotes on stage,” she said.
The music was the high point according to some members of the audience.
Akshay Sudhir, a software professional from Jayanagar, says, “I didn’t want the play to end. The music by Rajeshwari and Zila, even though starkly different, was well-coordinated and simply beautiful. The play leaves one with a lot of questions and is powerful enough to move you to tears,” he said.