'Waiting For...Naseer!' by Tamasha.

SPOILER ALERT.

"Aree..tumhara naam kya hai?" was what they called him.

His name in an instant could reveal the existential crisis he lived by, but not too soon! We wait, for an entire life and an afterlife to pass by, in catastrophe, so that we could experience the gratification there is in just waiting, for Naseer. 

'Waiting for Naseer' is the newest production of Tamasha Theatre group, currently running shows in Mumbai. it's a gem of a piece by the director Sunil Shanbag and playwright Sapan Sarang. Her style of writer is affluent, witty and interspersed with a variety of motifs that flutter around the tragedy just before clutching it with bare numb hands. Sarang's first play 'Club Desire' premiered in 2013 as a dynamic Indian adaptation of French Opera 'Carmen'. The brilliant rendition offers themes of power, music vs. words, love, feminism and sexuality in a stark presentation. 

The Play and Purpose:

Coming from the same pond of creativity, 'Waiting For Naseer' seems penned down with an immense research aid and philosophical thoughts in-making. It highlights the inexplicable ties of a Theatre artist to his art and inevitably to the theatre doyen Naseeruddin Shah. The script fuses facts and fiction in a commendable style, and curates a plot from the realm of mundane, yet taking it to surreal possibilities that comment on the absurdity of life. To begin with, is an epic situation where two dead men discuss life, afterlife and their hopes for future. But let's not assume it to be an 'all script's play'. Waiting for Naseer is much more beyond that. 

With Absurdity at its core, the play revolves around two dead men and a third human, waiting in vain to meet their own version of Godot - Naseeruddin Shah. The two are ardently at it as they engage in a series of conversation and competition, while the third is busy in his life - serving others and in his own innocent dreams. In each's case, there is a desire to make something meaningful of one's life, to find fame and for once see the glorious face of opportunity turn its attention to their efforts. The play is highly successful at paying tribute to theatre artists who sweats hard and struggled to break through as well known if not acclaimed actors. That too in an industry where waiting is the only resort and is rewarded-for only to a few.

However, these two 'adhmares', meaning half dead people consider their positions as esteemed than of humans, who unlike them 'eat but not taste'. A rapturous segment of dialogue affirming that theatre artists live life to the fullest, to the brim of satisfaction and liberation. (And that is very true, as they do attain a sense of enlightenment, perfection in an imperfect life, and a temporary meaning for their own existence.) Yet, all in vain. "One must imagine Sisyphus happy". The play is an attempt at capturing man's realization of life's absurdity, of finding our that there is no way out once you're in, of a journey from enthusiasm to dismay to making efforts and to hope, and to acceptance to no choice but endless endurance.

The Performance:

'Waiting for Naseer' can be hailed as a power packed philosophical comedy laden with dark humor and crazy conditions. It is another man's tragedy creating waves of laughter, yet a holistic piece of insight brought to live with astounding performances from Jaimini Pathak, Siddhesh Shelar and Debtosh Darjee. The play is lined with many comical analogies and philosophical thoughts of two dead men, and lot of nostalgic fun moments on stage that stir your wits and has your stomach tickling with humor and cheer. . 

The plot inculcates a series of competition, verbal relay, rebate, brainstorming followed by character's team work in reaching the illusion of their goals. The energy put forth in these scenes is commendable. The electrifying aura created on stage between the duo had kept us at the edge of us seats and wanting more. The performance held its ecstasy from head to toe and actors held to their character's despondence as if their own skin. And it may be as the play resembled an actor's journey. It is jeopardy of meeting ends with 'Naseeb' meaning fate rather than just the name sake 'Naseer'. Naseer is just an acronym for fate that they never meet. This truth is stated by Jaimini in an attempt of explaining their failure.  

Striking Feature:

Waiting for Naseer makes love with absurdity in the most amusing way. Apart from Surreal situation, a unique feature of this play is that it refers to a common theatre dictionary that rings a bell with theatre lovers. It sites number of cross references to plays such as 'Aadhe Ahure', 'Hayavadana', 'The Merchant of Venice', 'Hamlet', some of which slip in casually or in a deliberate manner. The idea seems to embed the eagerness and hunger for knowledge that a theatre practitioner carries with himself in every phase of life. How we, at times remember the lines of aadmi from Aadhe Adure and of Shylock from Venice. This runs quite parallel to the vibrancy on stage created by the Pathak and Shelar.

Critic: 

A drawback felt by a few was the mechanization of the performance. I am not sure if it was meant to compliment the concept that actors are shun from the innocence and mundane behavior of humans. The play was too well planned, perhaps baring scope for spontaneity. Nonetheless, with so much energy on stage, the play certainly overcomes all drawbacks and proves a post modernist piece reverberating current philosophical crisis.


Wrapping Up:

The Question 'why Naseer?' can not be answered, because its an absurd play. The only striking similarity between Naseer and Naseeb can to some extend untangle this maze of living and not-living. The play ends with a poem, confirming that 'intezaar' is the only exit we could possibly place our faith in.

I wish this play a lot more success, and for you my dear readers: despite all these words written, none can do justice to a live theater experience.  Do go and watch 'Waiting for Naseer'.  If it's still around, then lucky you!

Catch upcoming show of 'Wating for Naseer' here: 

https://in.bookmyshow.com/mumbai/plays/waiting-for-naseer/ET00039447