Prelude: The play began with an interesting “request” to the audiences to switch off their mobile phones or to keep them on silent. Despite that there were some phones that rang during the show. The attitude of Delhi audiences was sorry as far as theatre etiquettes are concerned. Personally, I think eatables should not be allowed inside auditoriums. It’s rude to munch your food when somebody is performing in front of you on the stage. Now, about the play:
The original script is from American playwright Neil Simon which has been adapted by Mr. Saurabh Shukla. The play is written and directed by Saurabh Shukla himself. The plot is about Parminder Singh Sethi (Saurabh Shukla), a restaurant owner who is depressingly bored of his life. Twenty-tree years of married life have failed to give him the excitement that he desires for. Now in his fifties, he fears that his life would go unnoticed. Parminder Sethi alias Pammi decides to ward off this boredom by trying his luck to the adventures of an extra-marital affair! That’s how the play begins.
Pammi, being the timid character that he is, uses his mother’s residence as the hideout for his lusty shenanigans. One by one, three prospective “candidates” enter his life. These three women come from different walks of life and have nothing in common with our chubby old guy Pammi. But they do have something in common within themselves, they all like Pammi. They know he can’t harm them and that is why they agree to come to the apartment inspite of knowing his intentions.
Candidate 1: Shomali Singh (Nigar Khan), who finds Pammi very cute and is only interested in having some “fun” with him.
Candidate 2: Rinky Chibber (Mona Wasu), a struggling model from Delhi trying to make it big in Mumbai, my favorite!
Candidate 3: Savita Prasann (Prieti Mamgain), a housewife and Pammi’s best friend, Jassi’s wife.
A hilarious comedy stems out of his encounters with these three women. The comedy is wholesome. It manages to extract smiles, giggles and laughter at different moments. Perfect for people who appreciate subtle, intelligent humor!
There’s no two-ways about the fact that everybody’s acting is meritorious. All the three women are perfect in their roles and so is Saurabh. He is the main attraction though and hence a special note for him:
Saurabh’s effortless portrayal of a 50-something aged man suffering from mid-life crisis, is breathtaking. His disillusionment from life, his anger at himself for not having done all those things that he wanted to do, and his regret of what a waste his life has been, all these emotions are beautifully summed up in a single line that touched my heart, “Basically, zindagi ne ignore kiya hai mujhe!” (Life has ignored me basically). A moment of catharsis is evoked during the play when Pammi’s situation makes everybody in the audience question their own lives. Amidst the comic punches and all the great fun, for me that was the play’s most powerful moment!
The music is catchy and fresh; the sets, lighting and the choreography are mesmerizing. A total paisa wasool experience! Has everything that theatre is all about, good script, good actors, dialogues, direction, music, sets, lighting, choreography…I say go for it!
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