Raja - Bengali Play By Natyam: Events in Hyderabad

REVIEW FOR RAJA - BENGALI PLAY...

The University of Hyderabad, along with Hyderabad Bangalee Samity and Department of Culture, is presenting Basanta Utsav: Roop-Raag, Rabindra Jayanti: 150 years celebrations, from 4th to 6th February, at the Ravindra Bharathi auditorium. As part of the utsav, Natyam from Kolkata will be staging a Bengali play "Raja" on 5th February. The play is directed by Abhijit Sen.

Raja is a famous play of Rabi Thakur. It's a symbolic as well as an allegorical play. It is not divided into acts and scenes. This play is a reflection of Tagore's philosophy, and the relation between an individual and the universe.

The play revolves around the Queen Sudarshana's search for Raja, the king, who is invisible. As a result, neither the queen nor the citizens of the state can see him. Some people, therefore, doubt if there is a king at all. But they don't know that God cannot be seen like any other earthly things (in this play, Raja symbolizes God). During her journey, Sudarshana is accompanied by Surangama and Thakur Da, who sings and communicates with the whole community to convey the idea of Raja's true self.

Like we mentioned, in this play Raja symbolizes God, and the dark chamber signifies the inner-self of man. Raja is available only in the dark chamber. It means God is not to be found outside, but should be searched for in one's own soul. In the play Raja, Rabindranath Tagore has depicted God and His relation to man symbolically. Sudarshana is the representation of everything human-like. She is guided by reasons. She decides of her own intellect. Kanchiraj is another round character and symbolizes materialism. Since he cannot not see the king, he is sure that there is no king all around the state.

In the face of all these, Rabindranath Tagore's play not only addresses the crisis of human existence, but also shows us how to face that crisis squarely. Natyam has felt it imperative to stage the play, in the hope that it will be able to share that vision with viewers through its enactment. In the end, we see that Raja is a play with themes like symbolism, allegory, metaphor, simile and, above all, philosophy.

Entry is free for everyone. Please contact Hyderabad Bangalee Samity at 2763-5920 / 2766-5977 for further details.