Taoos Chaman Ki Myna enthrals city theatre enthusiasts

Theatre enthusiasts of Mysore were in for a treat, with one of the well-acclaimed new plays, ‘Taoos Chaman Ki Myna’ - Myna of the Peacock Garden, being staged for the first time in the city. The play which was staged twice during the day at Bhoomigeetha, Kalamandir premises, once exclusively for children, was well-received by the crowd.

Even though ‘Taoos Chaman Ki Myna’ appears to be a story revolving around the relationship between a father and mother, it is also a depiction of the troubles faced by Indians during the colonial rule.

Adapted from Urdu writer Naiyer Masud’s story, the play by Gillo Theatre Repertory, Mumbai, is set in the years 1856 and 1857 at Lucknow, one of the most turbulent periods in Indian history. The play starts with Kale Khan, the protagonist of the play, recounting his troubles inside a jail, after being imprisoned by the British. His offence is his denial to part with Myna, a song bird, which his daughter, Falak Ara, loves so much.

Tragedy

Kale Khan’s wife, Ruqiya dies, leaving Khan to care for his only child. A bird lover herself, one of the last wishes of Ruqiya is to own a Myna-a song bird. Following her death, Kale Khan learns that Falak too wishes to have a Myna, as her pet. With the last Nawab of Lucknow, Wajid Ali Shah, being a great lover of birds, it is hard for Kale Khan to get his hands on these birds.

However, Khan’s luck changes as he is employed to work in Taoos Chaman, a peacock garden being maintained by the Nawab himself. The Nawab, during the same time, decides to keep about four dozen Mynas as pets in Taoos Chaman. The instruction of the Nawab, for Kale Khan, is to teach these Mynas to sing as soon as possible, so that he could impress a British officers wife, by these birds singing capabilities.

Compulsion

Even though Khan wishes to buy one of these birds, as a gift to his daughter with his first salary, his money is taken away by money-lenders. Aggrieved, Kale Khan is faced with a dilemma. His love for his daughter provokes him to steal one of the Myna’s from the Nawab’s garden.

What follows next is a depiction of how Indians suffered under the colonial mindset of the British.The two hour long play explores various aspects of life among the people of the period and also general issues pertaining to a father-daughter relationship.
Music, lighting and costume of the play, also adds to the gripping play.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Atul Tiwari, said that the political background of the story unravels itself, while the relationship between a father and daughter takes precedence.

The noted theatre personality, said that even though the play is in Hindustani and Urdu, there has been a good response by people across the country. The play which was first staged in 2013, has been staged about 25 times already, he said.