Dance Like A Man - A stage play

First performed on 22^nd September 1989 in Bangalore, Dance Like a Man is a play in two acts that deserves re-visiting of its layers for the purpose of intended enlightenment.

Plot:

The plot revolves around two main characters Ratna and Jairaj, sub-prime characters Lata and Viswas, and the authoritarian father of Jairaj – Amritlal Parekh. Ratna and Jairaj are disciples of Indian classical dance and used to practice in Amritlal’s library in 1940’s. Amritlal, a rich freedom fighter and reformer was strictly against Jairaj making his passion for dancing his career. In his attempt to stop Jairaj from dancing and spoiling family’s reputation, Amritlal repels his son and daughter-in-law away from the house. However, defeated by financial crisis and abuse, they return home.

In a very covert manner, Amritlal strikes a deal with Ratna where he will provide for all of Ratna’s learning needs if she ‘helps Jairaj become a man’ for him. Ratna being selfish agrees to do so at the cost of Jairaj’s career. She starts accepting invitations to perform alone, she portrays Jairaj into the her own shadow, makes him perform his bad pieces and insults him in front of others. Jairaj in this way becomes the victim of fate and turns out to be a drunkard.

This story is buried down deep in Ratna and Jairaj’s heart. It comes about as a result of blame game that the couple plays amongst each other. Ratna doesn’t consider Jairaj man enough for he returned back to his father’s house; it is because of him that they are nothing. As for Jairaj, the realization that he has been the guinea pig in his father’s plan and Ratna has been a conscious part of it eats him up. This topic was heated up back then and even now it boils up now up and then. But the sacrifice of their son Shankar who died an infant due to irresponsibility was just not worth it.

At the end, every thing resolves itself by the great pacifier death after which Jairaj and Ratna are free to dance like gods.

Exposition and Themes:

An appreciated method of Theatre is that which revitalizes matter from the mundane. Dance like A Man opens with general conversation between two semi-prime characters Lata and Viswas. It very effectively introduces the love-birds who wish to get married with Lata’s parent’s consent. Lata, a dancer tours Viswas through her house as they wait for her parents to come back home. Viswas is the son of a rich Marwadi who’s witty as well as nervous to-be-son-in-law attitude has audience pepped up with laughter.

The setting is well hinted at by the house the play is based in. It is the post independence era where freedom is predominant; Freedom for inter-cast marriages and freedom to dance. It kind of provides contrast to the theme of lack of freedom for a man to dance. Lata and Viswas in a sublte manner weave the whole web for the play to proceed fluently. They talk about their parents, grand-parents and economic conditions and apparent situation all in the opening conversation.

Lata’s Parent Ratna and Jairaj are caught in a desperate situation that takes a toll on them. They need a replacement for a musician in Lata’s debut performance. And just from their response to this ‘crisis’, leaks the stringent mud of their rotting relationship. One thing leads to another and Jairaj and Ratna’s past itself comes out on the stage; the jeopardy of their life, their loss that lead to the current scenario.

This exposition quite phenomenally leads to the primary theme of the play: The prejudice of a man’s image in society. This image is held sturdy by Jairaj’s father Amritlal Parekh who wishes Jairaj to discontinue his passion for dancing so that he becomes a man. Amritlal Parekh was rich and respected. A freedom fighter, yet ironically he is be-fated to be the villain in his son’s life. He ruined Jairaj by stealing his freedom to step out side the stereotype of a man’s role.

Another important theme is the political games that those in power play. Amritlal was in financial power while Ratna too had social power on her side in 1940’s. Both of them come together to suppress the helpless Jairaj. He too looses his stand in the confusion of the game where the tables have turned. Running along this circumstances Dance like A Man questions the sanity of a world where women can reside in a man’s world but a man isn’t allowed to live his dream of dancing.

Other intervened themes are jealousy which harbors in the mind of Ratna. She desired the kind of success that Lata has gained and tries to flatters herself and her ego by taking credit in it. Also, the hypocrisy of society is a theme that lives through Amritlal Parekh. He has attained a virtual freedom for his country yet is intolerant of  reality the way it is. Jairaj and Ratna having gone through such pains but the sacrifice proved worthless for being in the wrong direction.

Characters:

Amritlal Parekh: Father of Jairaj, Amritlal is a strict man, conservative and prudish His actions are mainly defined by this appearance in society. He accepted Ranta because it suited his image as a liberal-minded person to have a daughter-in-law from outside the community. The play shows him as an autocratic person who is filled with prejudice and hypocrisy. He did not fight for independence but for power. He dislikes his son dancing but not his daughter-in-law. He is against prostitutes. He is against Dance guru’s being half clad and keeping long hair. Amritlal is almost a nightmare that has turned Jairaj and Ratna’s life into hell.

Ratna: She is a bold and clever for all the play says. She is a charming, cheesy character who wishes to be in the spotlight forever. This could be the reason why she pushed Jairaj out from her competition. Ratna fixed up media and coverage for Lata’s debut performance and tried her best to make Lata very popular. By this, she seeks her own dream in Lata’s as her time didn’t serve her well.

She is also a hysterical character, always anxious and worried. She is conscious of her own actions as she speaks boldly to Amritlal Parekh about her preposition and stance in the situation. In fact, it is this boldness of hers that transits Jairaj’s role upon her. Therefore she wasn’t considerate enough about taking care of her first child Shankar.

Jairaj: He is the tragic character of the play Dance Like A Man, who was able to dance freely only after his death. Dancing is his passion which he was forced to discontinue from. This turned him into a good-for-nothing person who wasn’t man enough for his wife. Jairaj is a rebellious character who raised a confident voice against his father and out-ruled his believes. But unfortunately for him, the era wasn’t ready to see a man express his freedom outside his ideal roles. He is a man of spontaneous actions and yet an innocent who’s life was wasted in his father’s pursuit of a ‘grown up man’ in him.

Lata: A recurring name in Dattani’s plays, Lata signifies freedom, confidence of the younger generation. She is a bubbly yet sensible character. With her parent’s behind her back, Lata’s life is perfectly in place. Like her parent’s she too holds the torch for Indian classical dance. She represents Ratna’s only dreams of fame. Ratna makes the best arrangements for Lata’s debut performance. Lata is not just the winner of love but also of jealousy.

 

Critical Gender Perspective:

Dance Like A Man has a shrewd perspective of gender bias. As a matter of fact this perspective laces many of Dattani’s plays where the traditional woman such as Ratna is portrayed as the demon in the male protagonist Jairaj’s life. Such an image in Indian scenario is unacceptable. Though criticized for such image, Dattani’s efforts in making Ratna extremely plausible are commendable. She is like a spring that after being pushed too much bounces back. She probable bring to forefront the ambitions, aspiration, jealousy and conspiracy of a women. That of course lead her to a tragic end.

Mahesh Dattani arouses our sympathies for Jairaj in a subtle manner. Jairaj is very well justified as the victim of social contempt. And yes of course the tables have turned here in 1940’s itself. This seems a little bit more to digest but then men’s liberation is a part of feminism and hence depicted flawlessly in this play. The focus is on how liberal mined people like Amritlal Parekh harbor stereotypes on male’s gender role. It is a universal theme. Hence, Dance like a man has been an amazing play to watch and analyze.