Theatre is losing its charisma for the present generation. Most youngsters these days prefer movies to theatre. If you cared to find out, you would find that a majority of youngsters today has never been to watch a play. They don’t know that modern theatre is no less entertaining than films and at times they are innovative and well executed as well.
Theatre group Charbak’s Cholo potol tuli, based on Shibram Chakraborty’s story, makes you laugh your heart out. The script includes a few of the author’s rib-tickling stories like Amar sompadok shikar, Aste aste bhango, Paropokarer bipodh and Ashwathhama hato, iti. The effect is a complete laugh-riot.
The narrative is a little complex with several sub-plots. The main plot tells us about Ashwini Chakladar (played by Sabyasachi Chakraborty), who suspecting that he is very ill, goes to a doctor.
The doctor tells him he has beriberi and refuses to listen when Ashwini claims that it’s not him, but his neighbour who’s afflicted with the disease. The doctor suggests that he go on a change and advises complete rest. But when our protagonist goes to his uncle’s house (who is a farmer) at Daltongunj, they take it for granted that Ashwini is going to help them harvest 15 lakh potol (parbels)! Ashwini fails to explain them that he has been prescribed complete rest.
Excellent acting by the likes of Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Sujit Ghosh and Kheyali Dastidar leave you gasping with laughter. Arindam Ganguly, donning the three-fold role of scriptwriter, music director and director, has done a great job.
If you’ve never watched a play, Cholo potol tuli would be a great way to begin. And if you are a theatre-buff and haven’t seen it yet, catch it as soon as you can.