Udhedbun: Amit Suthar-directed play takes a dig at dowry and the conflicts it creates
Urban Chaupaal’s dramedy Udhedbun is all set for its next shows at Jagriti Theatre on August 11
By Reema Gowalla
There is no denying that dowry is a social stigma and the cause of many gender discriminatory practices in India. Sadly though, despite awareness campaigns and preventive measures, dowry still prevails as a ‘custom’ in different parts of the country — hinting at the fact that we are far from dismantling patriarchy. This social evil has served as the premise for several films, documentaries and books in the past. Bengaluru-based playwright and theatre director Amit Suthar, who comes from a remote town in Rajasthan, has closely observed the dowry system and how it affects people’s lives. So, when he wrote a short play on this topic a few years ago, the script was bound to shed light on aspects that are often missed by the camera or not covered in a news report. Thanks to positive responses, Udhedbun was eventually developed into a full-length play, with shows currently running across venues. Its next is lined up for August 11 at Jagriti Theatre.
An Urban Chaupaal presentation, the story of Udhedbun focuses on conflicts that the dowry system creates within families, making it difficult for them to navigate relationships and lead a normal life. Dubbed a comedy drama, the 70-minute piece uses humour and wit to convey social messages. Udhedbun is a “heartwarming exploration of love, relationships and cultural clashes”. The plot revolves around a woman who goes to great lengths to secure her family’s happily-ever-after. In the play, a vivacious young girl, named Shruti, falls in love with Baswaraj, a charming man from a different cultural background. She struggles to convince her family about their relationship, resulting in a complex situation. As the narrative unfolds, “the characters undergo moments of self-discovery, challenging their own preconceived notions about love and tradition”.
The cast includes actors Sangeeta Panda, Amit Agarwal, Rupayan Ghosh, Rani, Devashish Singbal, Rashmi Kothari, Saurabh Soni, Mimansa Ojha and Vandana Dugar. Light design is done by Adnan Ahmed Khan.
Speaking about what led to the making of this play, Amit told TheatreRoom, “The journey of Udhedbun began some time in 2018. I had written a 10-minute play, and it received very good reviews. That’s when I thought of turning it into a full-length piece. The plot primarily dabbles in two themes — dowry and relationships. To be precise, it examines the impact of a social construct on human relationships. I come from a small town in Rajasthan’s Bikaner region, where the dowry culture is still prevalent. I have seen people taking loans and going through financial crises, just in order to arrange for such payments during their daughters’ marriage. And that’s not all. Many even have to face social humiliation, if they fail to conform to such social practices. There have also been instances where if the groom’s family refuses to take dowry, it is suspected that there might be some issue with him or his family. Again if it’s a love marriage, it’s believed that even though the groom wanted a dowry, he couldn’t ask for it from the bride’s family. In that case, he’s already labelled ‘unfortunate’ by society. Sometimes, even though families are not so much in favour of such practices, a dowry is accepted just to keep the age-old custom alive. Udhedbun, as a play, explores these layers in India’s social cultures and the complexities they lead to.”
Although dowry is a common problem in the country’s rural areas, according to Amit, people living in cities and urban neighbourhoods are not quite impacted by it. Through this play, the director has tried to focus on the “conflict of thought” arising from such practices. Udhedbun mixes elements of drama and comedy to drive home a social message. He said, “The conflict is not just depicted by the characters. It’s quite evident among the actors too. They too had their own points of view about it, which they navigated through the course of the play.”
There is also a subplot about theatre artistes, which runs parallelly with the main storyline. “It focuses on the dilemma and confusions that actors sometimes face while enacting certain roles that they do not really believe in. I have used humour and specific plot devices to blend the two narratives. The piece is presented in a non-linear format, with strong messages in between, but not necessarily in a preachy tone. While we want Udhedbun to be entertaining, we are hoping it remains with the audience long after the play ends,” the writer-director elaborated.
Along with humour and drama, Udhedbun also blends poetry and music in the narrative. Armaan Khan has composed the background score.
Catch the new shows of Udhedbun at Jagriti Theatre on August 11 (3.30pm and 7.30pm). You can book your tickets here.
