Project brief: Design a set for the theatrical rendition of Rabindranath Tagore's play 'Kabuliwala'.
Format: Individual project
Approach: The set revolves around one structure of Mini’s house. The structure uses white, reflective surfaces and coloured lights to set the mood of each scene. If the director deems fit, this set also allows for all the actors to wear white and reflect the lights falling on the set.
The hinges on the doors and windows allow for the house to appear open and welcoming, shut, or semi-shut as the script requires.
The set sans light manipulation
An analysis of the tale
A tale of forgotten friendship that spans over generations, locations and cultures, Kabuliwala is an innocently raw piece of literature that touches our hearts. In this article, we will be speaking about the emotions that the tale brought forth in us. We recommend familiarizing yourself with the tale before proceeding to read further.
The overlying emotion in Kabuliwala is that of inclusivity of friendship and love. This can be seen foremost in the strength of the bond shared by Rahmun and Mini. Although the relationship began with Mini being scared of the strangely-clad, towering Pathan, it quickly blossomed into a repartee on varied topics. Mini and Rahmun would spend hours in each other’s company, exchanging anecdotes, sharing old jokes and building conspiracies. Neither their cultural differences nor the stark differences in stature could mar their bond. Even the semiotics of languages and dialects could not drive a wedge between the two friends.
Such a friendship is bound to raise eyebrows in a culturally-dependent country like India, and raise eyebrows it did. Mini’s mother, written like a stereotypical Indian mother, was skeptical of the uncanny friendship and highly suspicious of the foreign man who had become a companion to her little girl. Mini’s father, however, looked past the rough surface of the Kabuliwala and saw the young father who yearned to be united with his daughter back in Afghanistan. He knew that he could trust Rahmun with Mini as he saw her as a reflection of his daughter, Prabati, and found solace in spending time with her, regardless of how busy he might be.
Throughout Mini’s childhood, we get to see the affection that Rahmun had for her and her family. This is evident in the tact he displayed when he realized that Mini had not been introduced to the concept of marriage and her “father-in-law’s house”. He quickly turned the question around and used the semantic gap in their languages to divert Mini’s attention and preserve her innocence, as her parents wished.
Snuck between these happy emotions, we see traces of socio-political unrest when Rahmun is arrested by the police for stabbing the person who owed him money but the debtor goes scott free as Rahmun’s account of the incident is not taken into consideration by the authorities, owing to his nationality, appearance and social status. Reading between the lines, we may also deduce at the fact that Rahmun did not even consider approaching the police when he was in trouble before taking matters into his own hands, indicating at the lack of trust and hope he had in the authorities in India.
The story wraps up with a barrage of emotions as Rahmun is released from prison. He visits Mini’s house, hoping to reunite with his little friend. However, eight years have passed and Mini has grown from a chattering toddler to a demure bride. In spite of the long gap, Mini, unlike her father, instantly recognizes Rahmun when she sees him and is embarrassed about forgetting her childhood friend. Their relationship is now strained and wistful, affected by time and circumstance. While earlier they used to joke about going to the “father-in-law’s house”, now Rahman has just returned (from prison) and Mini is just about to leave (for her husband’s house).
Mini’s world-view has grown from the time she was a curious little girl playing with a kindly old man. She can now perceive the differences of age, space and culture between her and her Afghan friend and is bashfully aware of the bond they used to share. She is unable to even articulate words in front of the man who was almost like a second father to her during her childhood- a man with whom she had shared countless stories over days of laughter.
Mini’s father, too, feels a tug at his heart when he notices that the bond that Rahmun had held so dear was no more. He is transported to thoughts of Rahmun’s own daughter in his village in Afghanistan, who, like Mini, would have grown up into a complexly different woman during the time Rahmun was away. Mini’s father empathizes with Rahmun’s loss and his desolation at the realization of having lost both the little girls he loved as his daughters, since he (father) too is about to lose Mini as she moves into her husband’s house.
February 2020
